Genetic complementation reveals a novel regulatory role for 3' untranslated regions in growth and differentiation

Article Abstract:

A genetic complementation experiment to characterize the regulators of mammalian growth and differntiation is presented. The study protocol involved the isolation of cDNAs which activated muscle-specific promoters after the introduction of a cDNA expression library into a differentiation-deficient myoblast mutant. The results showed that the muscle structural genes troponin 1, tropomyosin and alpha-cardiac actin complemented differentiation, and their activity was traced to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of their RNAs. These results indicate a role for 3' UTRs in a feedback loop that inhibits proliferation and initiates differentiation.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

The homebox gene GBX2, a target of the myb oncogene, mediates autocrine growth and monocyte differentiation

Article Abstract:

Research was conducted to determine whether GBX2 is a myb target gene by studying a macrophage cell line that harbors a chimeric estrogen receptor v-Myb fusion protein and can be conditionally activated by estradiol. Estrogen treatment of 10,4HD11 cells rapidly induced the expression of both GBX2 and mim-1. Cells were treated with hydroxytamoxifen or estrogen to determine the specificity of GBX2 activation by v-mybER. Results indicate that Myb or factors it interacts with contribute to hematopoietic line choice and differentiation in a signal transduction-dependent fashion.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 regulates cell fate in Dictyostelium

Article Abstract:

Cloning and analysis of a glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) homolog (gskA) gene from Dictyostelium reveal that gskA is essential for the activation of prespore cell formation and suppression of stalk cell formation by extracellular cyclic AMP in Dictyostelium. Disruption of gskA affects cellular differentiation and prevents both the activities of cAMP. Thus, gskA mediates a cAMP-activated signal translocation pathway during cellular differentiation that modulates the pstB and prespore cell levels.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code: