The N-terminal domain unique to the long form of the Brn-3a transcription factor is essential to protect neuronal cells from apoptosis and for the activation of Bcl-2 gene expression NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH Smith, M. D., DAWSON, S. J., Boxer, L. M., Latchman, D. S. 1998; 26 (18): 4100-4107

Abstract

The ability of the POU family transcription factor Brn-3a to stimulate neurite outgrowth and the expression of the genes encoding neuronal proteins such as the neurofilaments and SNAP-25 has previously been shown to be dependent upon the C-terminal POU domain which can mediate both DNA binding and transcriptional activation. We show here, however, that the ability of Brn-3a to activate Bcl-2 expression and protect neuronal cells from apoptosis (programmed cell death) requires a distinct N-terminal activation domain. Bcl-2 gene activation and protection from apoptosis are thus produced only by the long form of Brn-3a which contains this domain and not by a naturally occurring short form lacking this domain or by the isolated POU domain, although all these forms of Brn-3a can stimulate neurite outgrowth. Hence Brn-3a is a multi-functional transcription factor with different regions of the factor mediating its different effects and two distinct forms with different properties being generated by alternative splicing.

View details for Web of Science ID 000076004500002

View details for PubMedID 9722627

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC147830