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Zinc-finger Transcription Factor (zinc-finger + transcription_factor)
Selected AbstractsZic4, a zinc-finger transcription factor, is expressed in the developing mouse nervous systemDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2005Carles Gaston-Massuet Abstract Zic genes comprise a family of transcription factors, characterized by the presence of a zinc-finger domain containing two cysteines and two histidines (C2-H2). Whereas the embryonic expression patterns of Zic1, 2, 3, and 5 have been described in detail, Zic4 has not yet received close attention. We studied the expression of Zic4 by in situ hybridization during mouse embryogenesis. Zic4 mRNA was first detected at low intensity at embryonic day (E) 9 and, by E10.5, expression was up-regulated in the dorsal midline of the forebrain with a strong, expanded expression domain at the boundary between the diencephalon and telencephalon, the septum, and the lamina terminalis. The choroid plexus of the third ventricle expresses Zic4, as does the dorsal part of the spinal neural tube, excluding the roof plate. The dorsal sclerotome and the dorsomedial lip of the dermomyotome also express Zic4 whereas dorsal root ganglia are negative. At E12.5, Zic4 continues to be expressed in the midline of the forebrain and in the dorsal spinal neural tube. Postnatally, Zic4 is expressed in the granule cells of the postnatal day 2 cerebellum, and in the periventricular thalamus and anterior end of the superior colliculus. We conclude that Zic4 has an expression pattern distinct from, but partly overlapping with, other members of the Zic gene family. Developmental Dynamics 233:1110,1115, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] crabp and maf highlight the novelty of the amphioxus club-shaped glandACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2 2004William R. Jackman Abstract The club-shaped gland (csg) is a prominent organ during the development of amphioxus. However, the evolutionary significance of this pharyngeal structure has been a mystery because of the lack of an obvious corollary in vertebrates or other close relatives. To address the homology of the csg by molecular means, we report the cloning and expression patterns of two amphioxus genes expressed during its development, crabp and maf. Amphioxus maf is a bzip transcription factor expressed early in csg formation in the forming of the ventral duct of the gland. crabp encodes a cellular retinoic acid binding protein and is expressed widely in the csg later in its development. We compare these genes to the expression of AmphiKrox, a zinc-finger transcription factor previously reported to be expressed during csg development. Together these genes mark different spatial and temporal aspects of csg formation. However, we find little evidence to suggest homology of the csg with other organs in amphioxus or other chordates. We therefore propose that the csg can be viewed as an evolutionary novelty that probably arose within the amphioxus lineage. [source] Prostanoids induce egr1 gene expression in cementoblastic OCCM cellsJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2007L. Pham Background and Objective:, Prostanoids that activate protein kinase C signaling are potent anabolic stimulators of cementoblastic OCCM cells. Using cDNA subtractive hybridization, we identified early growth response gene-1 (egr1) as a prostanoid-induced gene. Egr1, a zinc-finger transcription factor expressed during tooth development, regulates cell growth and differentiation. We hypothesize that Egr1 may mediate part of the prostanoid-induced anabolic effect in cementoblasts. Our objective was to characterize prostanoid-induced egr1 gene expression in OCCM cells. Material and Methods:, Total RNA and proteins were assayed by northern blot and western immunoblot assays. Results:, Prostaglandin E2 -, prostaglandin F2, - and fluprostenol-induced egr1 mRNA levels peaked at 0.5 h and returned to baseline by 4 h. Prostaglandin F2, and fluprostenol more potently induced egr1 compared with prostaglandin E2. The phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which activates protein kinase C signaling, induced egr1 mRNA levels 66-fold over the control, whereas forskolin (a cAMP-protein kinase A activator) and ionomycin (a calcium activator) had no effect. Protein kinase C inhibition significantly inhibited prostaglandin E2 -, prostaglandin F2, - and fluprostenol-induced egr1 mRNA levels. Finally, prostanoids maximally induced Egr1 protein at 1 h. Conclusion:,egr1 is a primary response gene induced by prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2, and fluprostenol in OCCM cells through protein kinase C signaling, suggesting that Egr1 may be a key mediator of anabolic responses in cementoblasts. Cementum is vital for periodontal organ maintenance and regeneration. Periodontal ligament fibers (Sharpey's fibers) insert into bone and cementum, thereby supporting the tooth in the alveolus (1). If the periodontal organ is lost, its regeneration requires cementoblast differentiation in order to form new cementum for periodontal ligament fiber insertion. Early attempts to regenerate cementum have proven difficult and rarely generate sufficient tissue (2). A better understanding of the molecular and cellular regulators that promote cementoblast differentiation is critical for developing targeted periodontal regeneration. [source] Zinc-finger paralogues tsh and tio are functionally equivalent during imaginal development in Drosophila and maintain their expression levels through auto- and cross-negative feedback loopsDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 1 2009José Bessa Abstract teashirt (tsh) and tiptop (tio) are two Drosophila gene paralogues encoding zinc-finger transcription factors. While tsh is an important developmental regulator, tio null individuals are viable and fertile. Here, we show that tio and tsh have coincident expression domains in the imaginal discs, the precursors of the adult body, and that both genes show similar functional properties when expressed ectopically. Furthermore, tio is able to rescue the development of tsh mutants, indicating that both genes are functionally equivalent during imaginal development. Of interest, the transcriptional regulation of tio and tsh is linked by a negative feedback loop. This mechanism might be required to maintain a tight control on the total levels of tio/tsh and could help explaining why Drosophila keeps an apparently dispensable gene. Developmental Dynamics 238:19,28, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differential expression of transcriptional repressor snail gene at implantation site in mouse uterusMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2006Xing-Hong Ma Abstract The snail superfamily of zinc-finger transcription factors is involved in pronounced cell movements during both embryonic development and tumor progression. This study was to examine snail expression in mouse uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation under pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, steroid hormone treatment, and artificial decidualization by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. There was a low level of snail mRNA signal and immunostaining in mouse uteri on day 1,4 of pregnancy. When embryo implanted on day 5, both snail mRNA signal and immunostaining were strongly detected in the subluminal stroma immediately surrounding the implanting blastocyst, but not detected in the inter-implantation sites. Under delayed implantation, there was no detectable snail expression. After delayed implantation was terminated by estrogen treatment and embryo implanted, there was a strong level of snail mRNA and immunostaining in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst, which was similar to that on day 5 of pregnancy. Furthermore, there was no detectable snail expression in mouse uterus on day 5 of pseudopregnancy. From day 6,8 of pregnancy, both snail mRNA signal and immunostaining were detected in the decidua. Our data suggest that snail may play an important role during mouse embryo implantation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||