First Author | Li H | Year | 1996 |
Journal | Brain Res Mol Brain Res | Volume | 37 |
Issue | 1-2 | Pages | 96-104 |
PubMed ID | 8738140 | Mgi Jnum | J:33014 |
Mgi Id | MGI:80502 | Doi | 10.1016/0169-328x(95)00276-x |
Citation | Li H, et al. (1996) Characterization of the structure and function of the gene for transcription factor BF-1, an essential regulator of forebrain development. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 37(1-2):96-104 |
abstractText | Brain factor-1 (BF-1) is a winged-helix transcription factor which has been shown to be essential for the development of the cerebral hemispheres. We report here the cloning and characterization of the mouse BF-1 gene. We have identified two classes of alternatively spliced mouse BF-1 cDNA which are transcribed from distinct promoters. Both classes of cDNA encode identical BF-1 proteins. The class 1 mouse cDNA is the homolog of the previously reported rat and human BF-1 cDNAs, and accounts for about 90-95% of BF-1 expression in brain. Primer extension analyses show that the major promoter, P1, is TATA-less and has multiple transcription start sites. We identified neural cell lines which express BF-1 primarily from the P1 promoter, including the OBL21a and OBL21 cell lines derived from the olfactory bulb. Expression of BF-1 is highest in proliferating OBL21 cells, declining as the cells differentiate in vitro. This correlates well with the reduction of BF-1 expression as the cells of the telencephalic neuroepithelium differentiate. Using these cells, we demonstrate that the genomic region between -3.7kb and -79 bp upstream of the P1 promoter contains cell-specific enhancer activity in transient transfection assays. |