1. Pax-6 expression and activity are induced in the reepithelializing cornea and control activity of the transcriptional promoter for matrix metalloproteinase gelatinase B
- Author
-
Pin-Xian Xu, William B. Rinehart, Jeremy M Sivak, Royce Mohan, Richard L. Maas, and M. Elizabeth Fini
- Subjects
matrix oprpteinase ,PAX6 Transcription Factor ,Transcription, Genetic ,Pax-6 ,Mice, Transgenic ,Biology ,Cell Line ,Mice ,cornea ,Gene expression ,Animals ,Paired Box Transcription Factors ,Gelatinase ,Electrophoretic mobility shift assay ,Eye Proteins ,Promoter Regions, Genetic ,Gene ,Transcription factor ,Molecular Biology ,DNA Primers ,Homeodomain Proteins ,Base Sequence ,gelatinase ,Epithelial Cells ,DNA ,Transfection ,Cell Biology ,healing ,eye ,Molecular biology ,DNA-Binding Proteins ,Repressor Proteins ,body regions ,Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ,embryonic structures ,Eye development ,Homeobox ,sense organs ,epithelium ,MMP-9 ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
Recent evidence supports the idea that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) act as morphogenetic regulators in embryonic and adult events of tissue remodeling. MMP activity is controlled primarily at the level of gene expression. In a recent study we characterized the transcriptional promoter of the MMP gene, gelatinase B (gelB), in transgenic mice, demonstrating the requirement for DNA sequences between -522 and +19 for appropriate activity. In this study we investigated factors required for gelB promoter activity in the developing eye and reepithelializing adult cornea. Pax-6 is a homeobox and paired domain transcription factor that acts at the top of the hierarchy of genes controlling eye development. Pax-6 is also expressed in the adult eye. We show here that the tissue expression pattern of Pax-6 overlaps extensively with gelB promoter activity in the developing and adult eye. In addition Pax-6 is observed to be upregulated in repairing corneal epithelium, as is gelB promoter activity. In cell culture transfection experiments, we identified two promoter regions which mediate positive response to Pax-6. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we further pinpoint two Pax-6 binding sites within these response regions and demonstrate direct interaction of the Pax-6 paired domain with one of these sites. These data suggest a mechanism by which Pax-6 may direct gelB expression in an eye-specific manner.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF