Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Zebrafish Model of Neuroblastoma Metastasis
05:20

Zebrafish Model of Neuroblastoma Metastasis

Published on: March 14, 2021

Neuroblastoma and pre-B lymphoma cells share expression of key transcription factors but display tissue restricted

Anna Lagergren1, Christina Manetopoulos, Håkan Axelson

  • 1Stem Cell Center, Lund University, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Anna.Lagergren@stemcell.lu.se <Anna.Lagergren@stemcell.lu.se>

BMC Cancer
|November 17, 2004
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Transcription factors like EBF regulate genes selectively. In neuroblastoma cells, chromatin structure, not transcription factor presence, prevents target gene activation, but can be overcome with specific treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Transcription factors are crucial in cellular transformation and cancer development.
  • Tissue-specific effects of transcription factors in cancer are not well understood.
  • Mechanisms governing restricted transcription factor activity remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the selectivity of transcription factor target gene activation.
  • To compare gene expression patterns for the transcription factor EBF in lymphoma and neuroblastoma.
  • To elucidate the role of chromatin structure in regulating transcription factor activity.

Main Methods:

  • Micro-array analysis for overall gene expression patterns.
  • RT-PCR to assess target gene expression for EBF.
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) to detect transcription factor presence.

Main Results:

  • EBF-1, Pax-5, and E-proteins regulate mb-1 and CD19 in pre-B cells.
  • Neuroblastoma cells express these key transcription factors but lack target gene expression.
  • Chromatin disruption via 5-azacytidine and Trichostatin A induced mb-1 expression in neuroblastoma.

Conclusions:

  • Transcription factors exhibit selective target gene activation across different tissues.
  • Chromatin structure is a critical regulator of transcription factor activity.
  • Epigenetic modifications can restore transcription factor function in cancer cells.

More Related Videos

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells09:37

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

Published on: August 25, 2021

Genetic Profiling and Genome-Scale Dropout Screening to Identify Therapeutic Targets in Mouse Models of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor09:33

Genetic Profiling and Genome-Scale Dropout Screening to Identify Therapeutic Targets in Mouse Models of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor

Published on: August 25, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming01:29

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...