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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Proliferation and Differentiation of Murine Myeloid Precursor 32D/G-CSF-R Cells
Published on: February 21, 2018
Sp1 control of gene expression in myeloid cells
Karen K Resendes1, Alan G Rosmarin
1Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
Abstract:
Gene transcription plays a critical role in the differentiation of myeloid cells. However, there is no single, master regulator of all myeloid genes. Rather, myeloid gene transcription is regulated by the combinatorial effects of a limited number of key transcription factors. Sp1 is a powerful activator of gene transcription in many cell types. Although it is wildly expressed, Sp1 binds and activates the promoters of a large number of important myeloid genes. This presents the paradox of how a widely expressed transcription factor can regulate lineage-specific gene transcription. This review discusses the structure, function, and expression patterns of Sp1 and its related Sp family members. Illustrative examples of the tissue-specific regulation of myeloid target genes are presented. The roles of post-translational modifications of Sp1, alterations in target gene chromatin structure, and important cooperating transcription factors are discussed. Thus, Sp1 serves as a model of how a widely expressed transcription factor regulates the expression of tissue-specific genes.
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