title: Transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6: molecular characterization, expression patterns and possible functions during goose (Anser cygnoides) follicle development.
abstract: The transcription factors GATA-4 and GATA-6, members of the GATA family, play an important role in ovarian cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In this study, the full-length coding sequences of goose GATA-4 and GATA-6 were cloned and characterized. GATA-4 and GATA-6 consist of 1236 and 1104 nucleotides encoding proteins with 411 and 367 amino acids, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of both proteins include two adjacent zinc finger domains with the distinctive form (CVNC-X17-CNAC)-X29-(CANC-X17-CNAC) and share 84.76% identity within this domain. In silico prediction together with matching of the high affinity RRXS(T)Y motif revealed that the GATA-4 protein might be phosphorylated predominantly at S(233), but no phosphorylation site was found in the GATA-6 protein. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that GATA-4 and GATA-6 mRNAs were co-expressed in goose follicles, moderately expressed in granulosa cells and weakly expressed in theca cells. The expression level of GATA-4 mRNA in healthy follicles was significantly higher than in atretic follicles or postovulatory follicles (P<0.01), and the expression level of GATA-6 mRNA in healthy follicles was significantly lower than in atretic follicles or postovulatory follicles (P<0.01). The expression level of GATA-4 mRNA in granulosa cells was downregulated during follicle development; the peak of expression occurred in the 8-10 mm follicles, and the lowest expression was in the F1 follicles. GATA-6 was upregulated and reached its peak expression in the F1 follicles. These results indicate that the molecular structural differences in goose GATA-4 and GATA-6 may be related to their different roles during follicle development.
authors: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan 625014, P.R. China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Yuan
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Xia
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: Dong
authors: Shenqiang
authors: S
authors: Hu
authors: Yingying
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Ding
authors: Hehe
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Jiwen
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005777:Geese / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D012313:RNA