title: Novel protein RGPR-p117: its role as the regucalcin gene transcription factor.
abstract: RGPR-p117 was originally discovered as a novel protein that binds to a nuclear factor I (NFI) consensus motif TTGGC(N)(6)CC, which is present in the 5'-flanking region of the regucalcin gene (rgn). RGPR-p117 has been identified in human, rat, mouse, bovine, rabbit, and chicken livers. Phylogenetic analysis of six vertebrates shows that RGPR-p117 appears to form a single cluster, indicating a common evolutionary relationship of the RGPR-p117 family. The RGPR-p117 gene consists of at least 26 exons spanning approximately 4.1 kbp and is localized on human chromosome 1q25.2. RGPR-p117 mRNA is expressed in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and brain of rats. RGPR-p117 mRNA expression is stimulated through signaling mechanisms. Mammalian RGPR-p117 conserves a leucine zipper motif, which is present in many gene regulatory proteins. RGPR-p117 has been shown to translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in NRK52E cells, a process which is mediated through protein kinase C signaling following hormonal stimulation. The phosphorylated RGPR-p117 binds to the TTGGC motif in the promoter region of the regucalcin gene and enhances regucalcin mRNA expression in the cells, indicating a role as a transcriptional factor. RGPR-p117 is also localized in the plasma membranes, nucleus, mitochondria, microsomes, and cytoplasm. Overexpression of RGPR-p117 has been found to induce a significant decrease in protein and DNA contents in cells, suggesting that RGPR-p117 may regulate the gene expression of other related proteins as well as the transcription factor. Also, overexpression of RGPR-p117 has a suppressive effect on cell death by inhibiting the gene expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, and Fas-associating death domain protein whose TTGGC motif is present in the promoter region of their genes. The novel protein RGPR-p117 has been shown to play an important role as a transcription factor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Lipids, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 101 Woodruff Circle, 1305 WMRB, Atlanta, GA 30322-0001, USA. yamamasa1155@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors