title: Genomic structure, promoter activity, and developmental expression of the mouse homologue of the Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) gene.
abstract: Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, caused by the expansion of the (CAG)n tract in the MJD gene. This encodes the protein ataxin-3, of unknown function. The mouse Mjd gene has a structure similar to that of its human counterpart and it also contains a TATA-less promoter. Its 5' flanking region contains conserved putative binding regions for transcription factors Sp1, USF, Arnt, Max, E47, and MyoD. Upon differentiation of P19 cells, the Mjd gene promoter is preferentially activated in endodermal and mesodermal derivatives, including cardiac and skeletal myocytes; and less so in neuronal precursors. Mouse ataxin-3 is ubiquitously expressed during embryonic development and in the adult, with strong expression in regions of the CNS affected in MJD. It is particularly abundant in all types of muscle and in ciliated epithelial cells, suggesting that it may be associated with the cytoskeleton and may have an important function in cell structure and/or motility.
authors.affiliation: Neurobehavior Unit, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomes-da-Silva
authors.forename: Carlos J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sequeiros
authors.forename: Manuela M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maciel
mesh_terms: D024506:5' Flanking Region / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000067699:Ataxin-3; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D017570:MyoD Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C092341:ATXN3 protein, human; D000067699:Ataxin-3; C511594:Atxn3 protein, mouse