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Identification of a novel serum response factor cofactor in cardiac gene regulation

Xiaomin Zhang1, Gohar Azhar, Ying Zhong

  • 1Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Geriatric Research, 4301 W. Markham #748, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|October 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A newly identified protein, p49/STRAP, acts as a cofactor for serum response factor (SRF) in regulating cardiac genes. This protein

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Serum response factor (SRF) is crucial for cardiac gene regulation during development and aging.
  • A novel SRF cofactor, p49/STRAP (SRF-dependent transcription regulation-associated protein), has been identified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and function of the novel SRF cofactor, p49/STRAP.
  • To determine the impact of p49/STRAP on SRF-mediated transcriptional activity in cardiac genes.

Main Methods:

  • Co-transfection assays to study the interaction between p49/STRAP, SRF, and other cofactors (myocardin, Nkx2.5).
  • Analysis of promoter activity of SRF target genes (MLC2v, cardiac actin, atrial natriuretic factor).
  • Quantitative analysis of p49/STRAP mRNA expression in human and mouse heart tissues across different life stages.

Main Results:

  • p49/STRAP interacts with the transcriptional activation domain of SRF.
  • p49/STRAP exhibits differential effects on SRF target gene promoters: activation of MLC2v and cardiac actin, but repression of atrial natriuretic factor.
  • p49/STRAP mRNA is highly expressed in human and mouse hearts throughout development and aging.

Conclusions:

  • p49/STRAP functions as a significant cofactor for SRF in regulating cardiac gene expression.
  • The differential regulatory effects of p49/STRAP suggest a complex role in cardiac transcriptional control.
  • p49/STRAP is likely important for mammalian cardiac muscle gene regulation across the lifespan.

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