0000000000774883
AUTHOR
Reinhard Heiermann
Neuronal Cell Nuclear Factor. A Nuclear Receptor Possibly Involved in the Control of Neurogenesis and Neuronal Differentiation
We have cloned from a cDNA library of neuronal derivatives of retinoic-acid-induced embryonic carcinoma cells a nuclear receptor that may be involved in the control of late neurogenesis and early neuronal differentiation. The receptor which is practically identical in sequence with germ cell nuclear factor, has been designated neuronal cell nuclear factor (NCNF). NCNF is exclusively expressed in the neuronal derivatives of PCC7-Mz1 cells, with the expression beginning within hours of exposure to retinoic acid. In the developing mouse brain, NCNF is expressed in the marginal zones of the neuroepithelium which are known to contain young postmitotic neurons. NCNF binds to the DRO sequence ther…
Cloning of Several Genes Coding for Retinoic Acid Nuclear Receptors in the Mouse Embryonal Carcinoma Cell Line PCC7–MZ1
Mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line PCC7-Mz1 can be induced by retinoic acid (RA) to differentiate into several well defined phenotypes of neuroectodermal origin (Lang, E. et al. (1989) J. Cell. Biol. 109, 2481-2493). Several subclones of the cell line (clonal variants) differ from each other in their developmental potential. To test whether these differences in cellular fate are due to somatic mutations in specific genes of these cells, we have cloned full length cDNAs coding for the alpha 1 and beta 2 isoforms, and partial length cDNAs coding for the alpha 2, beta 1 and beta 3 isoforms of the retinoic acid nuclear receptor (RAR). The cloned cDNAs did not differ in sequence from those of n…
Expression of retinoic acid nuclear receptors in the mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line PCC7-Mz1
Mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line PCC7-Mz1 can serve as a model of mammalian neural development [1989, J. Cell. Biol. 109, 2481-2493]. Upon exposure to all-trans retinoic acid (RA), Mz1 cells differentiate into a stable pattern of neurons, astroglia and fibroblasts whereas variants of the parental cell line either are restricted in their patterns of derivatives or do not respond at all to RA. Using gene probes specific for the alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta 2 isoforms of the retinoic acid nuclear receptor, we have studied by Northern blot analysis the expression of these transcription factors in uninduced and induced cells of clone Mz1 and in variants with different developmental potential. al…
Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors in the Locust Locusta migratoria
We have identified five cDNA clones that encode nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits expressed in the nervous system of the locust Locusta migratoria. Four of the subunits are ligand-binding α subunits, and the other is a structural β subunit. The existence of at least one more nAChR gene, probably encoding a β subunit, is indicated. Based on Northern analysis and in situ hybridization, the five subunit genes are expressed. locα1, locα3, andlocβ1 are the most abundant subunits and are expressed in similar areas of the head ganglia and retina of the adult locust. Because Locα3 binds α-bungarotoxin with high affinity, it may form a homomeric nAChR subtype such as the mammalian α7…
Cloning of the human NCNF gene.
We have cloned from a cDNA library of human testis tissue the human homologue to the mouse nuclear orphan receptor NCNF (neuronal cell nuclear factor). The open reading frame encodes a protein of 480 amino acids, the sequence of which (EMBL accession no. X99975) is 98.3% identical to the mouse homologue. Northern blot analysis of adult human tissues revealed a broad pattern of tissue expression. Similar to NCNF expression in mouse testis, two transcript forms of the single copy gene are expressed in human tissues. The two transcript forms which differ only in their 3'UTR, result in human from differential polyadenylation, in mouse from alternative splicing. Based on the high level of sequen…