Nulp1, a novel basic helix-loop-helix protein expressed broadly during early embryonic organogenesis and prominently in developing dorsal root ganglia.

Summary, in English

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins control differentiation and development of a variety of organs. We have isolated the complementary DNA (cDNA) of a novel class of bHLH transcription factors. The previously uncharacterized bHLH messenger RNA (mRNA) was identified by RNA fingerprinting by comparing embryonic and adult mRNA. The reading frame sequence predicts a new class of bHLH family. Northern blotting of embryonic stages demonstrated a 3.2-kb transcript present in several embryonic tissues, including kidney, brain, heart, and lung, in a fashion confirmatory with the RNA-fingerprinting data. In situ hybridization of cryosections detected strong signals in the dorsal root ganglia of 14-day-old mouse embryos (E14). Transient transfection of human embryonic kidney cells with Nulp1-EGFP demonstrated nuclear localization. The complex expression pattern and unique protein sequence, including an acidic amino terminal and putative transcription activation domain, suggests that Nulp1 may have a distinct role in embryonic development of many organs, including the adult brain.

• Author: Magnus Olsson; Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt; Peter Ekblom; Tord Hjalt
• Department/s: Muscle Biology; Department of Experimental Medical Science
• Publishing year: 2002
• Language: English
• Pages: 361-370
• Publication/Series: Cell and Tissue Research
• Volume: 308
• Issue: 3
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12107429&dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00441-002-0544-9
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Springer
• Topic: Cell Biology
• Status: Published
• Research group: Muscle Biology
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1432-0878