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Circadian phosphorylation of ATF‐2, a potential activator of Period2 gene transcription in the chick pineal gland
Author(s) -
Shimizu Fumiko,
Fukada Yoshitaka
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04900.x
Subject(s) - creb , transactivation , creb1 , pineal gland , circadian rhythm , biology , response element , transcription factor , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , promoter , gene , gene expression , genetics
Stimulus‐induced transcription of the Period gene is a critical step for phase‐shift of vertebrate circadian systems. The promoter region of chicken Period2 contains a canonical calcium/cAMP‐responsive element, but its functional relevance is not known. The present study shows that cAMP‐responsive element‐binding protein (CREB) and activating transcription factor‐2 (ATF‐2) bind to the promoter region of the Period2 gene in the chick pineal gland. In transient transfection assays, a reporter construct containing 0.7‐kbp upstream region of chicken Period2 was transactivated by ATF‐2, but it was poorly responsive to CREB. In the chick pineal gland, phosphorylation of CREB protein at the kinase‐inducible domain was negatively regulated by light. On the other hand, phosphorylation of ATF‐2 at the amino‐terminal transactivation domain exhibited a circadian rhythm with a daytime peak, suggesting a role for ATF‐2 in circadian rhythmicity in the chick pineal gland.