In:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 95, No. 24 ( 1998-11-24), p. 14459-14463
Abstract:
Mouse models show that congenital neural tube defects (NTDs) can occur as a result of mutations in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α gene ( PDGFR α). Mice heterozygous for the PDGFR α-mutation Patch , and at the same time homozygous for the undulated mutation in the Pax1 gene, exhibit a high incidence of lumbar spina bifida occulta, suggesting a functional relation between PDGFRα and Pax1. Using the human PDGFRα promoter linked to a luciferase reporter, we show in the present paper that Pax1 acts as a transcriptional activator of the PDGFRα gene in differentiated Tera-2 human embryonal carcinoma cells. Two mutant Pax1 proteins carrying either the undulated -mutation or the Gln → His mutation previously identified by us in the PAX1 gene of a patient with spina bifida, were not or less effective, respectively. Surprisingly, Pax1 mutant proteins appear to have opposing transcriptional activities in undifferentiated Tera-2 cells as well as in the U-2 OS osteosarcoma cell line. In these cells, the mutant Pax1 proteins enhance PDGFRα-promoter activity whereas the wild-type protein does not. The apparent up-regulation of PDGFRα expression in these cells clearly demonstrates a gain-of-function phenomenon associated with mutations in Pax genes. The altered transcriptional activation properties correlate with altered protein–DNA interaction in band-shift assays. Our data provide additional evidence that mutations in Pax1 can act as a risk factor for NTDs and suggest that the PDGFRα gene is a direct target of Pax1. In addition, the results support the hypothesis that deregulated PDGFRα expression may be causally related to NTDs.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0027-8424
,
1091-6490
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.95.24.14459
Language:
English
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Date:
1998
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209104-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461794-8
SSG:
11
SSG:
12
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