PUBLICATION

A Regulatory Domain Is Required for Foxn4 Activity During Retinogenesis

Authors
Lelièvre, E.C., Benayoun, B.A., Mahieu, L., Roger, J.E., Sahel, J.A., Sennlaub, F., Veitia, R.A., Goureau, O., and Guillonneau, X.
ID
ZDB-PUB-110629-40
Date
2012
Source
Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN   46(2): 315-323 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
foxn4, foxn1, forkhead, retinogenesis, activation domain
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chick Embryo
  • Eye Proteins/chemistry
  • Eye Proteins/genetics
  • Eye Proteins/physiology*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors/chemistry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors/physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurons/metabolism
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins/physiology
  • Retina/embryology*
  • Retina/growth & development
  • Retina/metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transcription, Genetic*
PubMed
21701787 Full text @ J. Mol. Neurosci.
Abstract
Foxn4, a member of the N-family forkhead transcription factors, controls fate decision in mouse retina and spinal cord as well as in zebrafish heart. Analysis of Foxn4 amino acid sequence revealed the presence of a region homologous to the activation domain of its close relative Foxn1 in between C-terminal amino acids 402 and 455 of Foxn4 protein. The requirement of Foxn4 putative activation domain remains to be elucidated. Using a gain-of function approach in rat and chick retinal explants, we report that deletion of Foxn4 putative activation domain results in a complete loss of its activity during retinogenesis. Target promoter transcription assay indicates that this domain is critical for Foxn4 transcriptional regulatory properties in vitro. Accordingly, in chick retinal explants, this domain is required for proper regulation of target retinogenic factors expression by Foxn4. Thus, our study demonstrates that the domain between amino acids 402 and 455 is necessary for Foxn4 transcriptional activity both in vitro and in the retina.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping