Open AccessPhenotypic characterization of mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking heat shock factor 2
Author(s) -
Paslaru Liliana,
Morange M.,
Mezger Valérie
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2003.tb00245.x
Subject(s) - hsf1 , heat shock factor , heat shock , hsp70 , biology , heat shock protein , microbiology and biotechnology , embryonic stem cell , transcription factor , gene , genetics
In murine cells, the heat shock response is regulated by a transcription factor, HSF1, which triggers the transcription of heat shock genes. HSF2 has been shown to be involved in meiosis and mouse brain development. We characterized the effects of the absence of HSF2 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). The temperature threshold of the heat shock response appeared lowered in Hsf2 ‐/‐ MEFS as monitored by the synthesis of heat shock protein HSP70. In contrast to unstressed wild type MEFS, HSP70 and HSF1 are localized in the nucleus of unstressed Hsf2 ‐/‐ MEFS, a characteristic of stressed cells. HSF1 is not activated for DNA‐binding at unstressed temperature in Hsf2 ‐/‐ MEFS. Therefore, the absence of HSF2 induces some but not all of the characteristics of the stress response. In addition, Hsf2 ‐/‐ MEFS exhibited proliferation defects, altered morphology, remodeling of the fibronectin network.