Nuclear factor I-A represses expression of the cell adhesion molecule L1.
BACKGROUND
The neural cell adhesion molecule L1 plays a crucial role in development and plasticity of the nervous system. Neural cells thus require precise control of L1 expression.


RESULTS
We identified a full binding site for nuclear factor I (NFI) transcription factors in the regulatory region of the mouse L1 gene. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed binding of nuclear factor I-A (NFI-A) to this site. Moreover, for a brain-specific isoform of NFI-A (NFI-A bs), we confirmed the interaction in vivo using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Reporter gene assays showed that in neuroblastoma cells, overexpression of NFI-A bs repressed L1 expression threefold.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that NFI-A, in particular its brain-specific isoform, represses L1 gene expression, and might act as a second silencer of L1 in addition to the neural restrictive silencer factor (NRSF).
Schneegans
Tanja
T
Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. Tanja.Schneegans@gmx.de
Borgmeyer
Uwe
U
Hentschke
Moritz
M
Gronostajski
Richard M
RM
Schachner
Melitta
M
Tilling
Thomas
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051839:NFI Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D051839:NFI Transcription Factors; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D020033:Protein Isoforms