Olig1 and Sox10 interact synergistically to drive myelin basic protein transcription in oligodendrocytes.
The oligodendrocyte lineage genes (Olig1/2), encoding basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, were first identified in screens for master regulators of oligodendrocyte development. OLIG1 is important for differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursors into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes during development and is thought to play a crucial role in remyelination during multiple sclerosis. However, it is still unclear how OLIG1 interacts with its transcriptional cofactors and DNA targets. OLIG1 was reportedly restricted to mammals, but we demonstrate here that zebrafish and other teleosts also possess an OLIG1 homolog. In zebrafish, as in mammals, Olig1 is expressed in the oligodendrocyte lineage. Olig1 associates physically with another myelin-associated transcription factor, Sox10, and the Olig1/Sox10 complex activates mbp (myelin basic protein) transcription via conserved DNA sequence motifs in the mbp promoter region. In contrast, Olig2 does not bind to Sox10 in zebrafish, although both OLIG1 and OLIG2 bind SOX10 in mouse.
Li
Huiliang
H
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Lu
Yan
Y
Smith
Hazel K
HK
Richardson
William D
WD
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019556:COS Cells; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay / Q000379:methods; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000502:physiology; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D047468:Immunoprecipitation / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C442229:sox10 protein, zebrafish