Open AccessIsolation and Characterization of a Novel Epithelium-Specific Transcription Factor, ESE-1, a Member of the ets Family
Author(s) -
Peter Oettgen,
Rhoda M. Alani,
Marcello A. Barcinski,
Lawrence F. Brown,
Yasmin Akbarali,
Jay Boltax,
Charles Kunsch,
Karl Münger,
Towia A. Libermann
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.17.8.4419
Subject(s) - biology , ets transcription factor family , transcription factor , enhancer , keratinocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , dna binding protein , dna binding domain , gene , genetics , cell culture
We report here the isolation of a novel, highly tissue-restricted member of the ets transcription factor/oncogene family, ESE-1 (for epithelium-specific Ets), which has features distinct from those of any other ets-related factor. ESE-1 contains two putative DNA binding domains: an ETS domain, which is unique in that the 5' half shows relatively weak homology to known ets factors, and an A/T hook domain, found in HMG proteins and various other nuclear factors. In contrast to any known ets factors, ESE-1 is expressed exclusively in epithelial cells. ESE-1 expression is induced during terminal differentiation of the epidermis and in a primary human keratinocyte differentiation system. The keratinocyte terminal differentiation marker gene, SPRR2A, is a putative target for ESE-1, since SPRR2A expression during keratinocyte differentiation correlates with induction of ESE-1 expression, and ESE-1 binds with high affinity to and transactivates the ets binding site in the SPRR2A promoter. ESE-1 also binds to and transactivates the enhancer of the Endo A gene, a potential target for ESE-1 in simple epithelia. Due to the important role that other ets factors play in cellular differentiation, ESE-1 is expected to be a critical regulator of epithelial cell differentiation.