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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Production of Nurr-1 Specific Polyclonal Antibodies Free of Cross-reactivity Against Its Close Homologs, Nor1 and Nur77
Published on: August 17, 2015
Identification of two novel isoforms of mouse NUR77 lacking N-terminal domains
Sayeed Ur Rehman1,2, Tarique Sarwar1,2, Mohammed Amir Husain1,2
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, A.M. University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Abstract:
Nur77 is a member of nuclear receptor superfamily that acts as a transcription factor and regulates expression of multiple genes. Subcellular localization of Nur77 protein plays an important role in the survival and cell death. In this study, we have predicted and confirmed alternatively spliced two new transcripts of Nur77 gene in mouse. The newly identified transcripts have their alternatively spliced first exon located upstream of published 5'-UTR of the gene. Transcription factor binding sites in the possible promoter regions of these transcripts were also analyzed. Expression of novel transcript variants was found to be significantly lower than the already published transcript. New transcript variants encode for NUR77 protein isoforms which are significantly smaller in size due to lack of transactivation domain and a part of DNA binding domain. Western blot analysis using NUR77 specific antibody confirmed the existence of these smaller variants in mouse. Localization of these new isoforms was predicted to be majorly outside the nucleus. In silico analysis of the conceptually translated proteins was performed using different bioinformatics tools. The results obtained in this study offer further insight into novel area of research on extensively studied Nur77. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(2):106-114, 2017.
Insights
Researchers discovered two new, smaller Nur77 protein variants in mice, encoded by novel gene transcripts. These variants, with altered domains, are primarily located outside the nucleus, offering new research avenues for this transcription factor.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Nur77, a nuclear receptor superfamily member, functions as a transcription factor regulating gene expression.
- Subcellular localization of Nur77 is critical for cell survival and death pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel alternatively spliced transcripts of the Nur77 gene in mice.
- To investigate the functional implications of these new Nur77 variants.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic analysis to predict and analyze novel transcripts and their promoter regions.
- Experimental validation using Western blot analysis to confirm protein variant expression.
- In silico analysis of protein isoforms using bioinformatics tools.
Main Results:
- Two novel alternatively spliced Nur77 transcripts were identified in mice, with unique upstream first exons.
- These new transcripts express smaller NUR77 protein isoforms lacking key functional domains (transactivation and part of DNA binding).
- Western blot confirmed the presence of these smaller variants, predicted to localize mainly outside the nucleus.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals novel, smaller Nur77 protein isoforms resulting from alternative splicing.
- These findings expand the understanding of Nur77's molecular diversity and subcellular localization.
- This research opens new avenues for investigating Nur77's role in cellular processes.
