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Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2004, p. 4372-4383, Vol. 24, No. 10
0270-7306/04/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/MCB.24.10.4372-4383.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, and Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
Received 21 May 2003/ Returned for modification 16 July 2003/ Accepted 9 February 2004
Hox factors are evolutionarily conserved homeodomain-containing transcription factors that activate and repress gene expression in a precise temporally and spatially regulated manner during development and differentiation. Pancreatic-duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1) is a Hox-type protein that is a critical requirement for normal pancreas development and for proper differentiation of the endocrine pancreas. In humans, PDX-1 gene mutation causes pancreatic agenesis and early- and late-onset type 2 diabetes. PDX-1 consists of an N-terminal transactivation domain, a homeodomain responsible for DNA binding and nuclear localization, and a conserved C terminus that is mutated in human diabetes but whose function is poorly understood. We have identified a novel POZ domain protein, PDX-1 C terminus-interacting factor 1 (PCIF1)/SPOP, that interacts with PDX-1 both in vitro and in vivo. PCIF1 is localized to the nucleus in a speckled pattern, and coexpression of PDX-1 alters the subnuclear distribution of PCIF1. Functionally, PCIF1 inhibits PDX-1 transactivation of established target gene promoters in a specific and dose-dependent manner that requires critical amino acids in the PDX-1 C terminus. PCIF1 is expressed in adult pancreatic insulin-producing ß cells, and overexpression of PCIF1 inhibits the rat insulin 1 and rat insulin 2 promoters in the MIN6 insulinoma ß cell line. The coexpression of PCIF1 with PDX-1 in ß cells and the ability of PCIF1 to repress PDX-1 transactivation suggest that modulation of PDX-1 function by PCIF1 may regulate normal ß cell differentiation.
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