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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome
Published on: June 15, 2016
Transcriptional regulation by changes in tonicity
1Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. jhandler@jhmi.edu
Abstract:
Most organisms respond to a hypertonic environment by accumulating small organic solutes. In contrast to high concentrations of electrolytes, the small organic solutes do not perturb the activity of enzymes and other macromolecules within the cell. When the renal medulla becomes hypertonic during antidiuresis, multiple signaling pathways are activated. Here, we review the role of tonicity responsive enhancers (TonE) binding protein (TonEBP), a transcription factor activated in hypertonic cells. The activation of TonEBP by hypertonicity results from its translocation to the nucleus as well as an increase in TonEBP mRNA and protein. TonEBP may have a role beyond the response to tonicity since it is highly expressed in activated lymphocytes and in developing tissues.
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