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NRSF: A Coordinate Repressor of Neuron-Specific Genes Expressed in CNS Neural Progenitor Cells

  • Conference paper
Isolation, Characterization and Utilization of CNS Stem Cells

Part of the book series: Research and Perspectives in Neurosciences ((NEUROSCIENCE))

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Summary

We have isolated cDNA clones encoding a novel zinc finger protein that silences neuron-specific gene expression, called the neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF). NRSF binds a DNA sequence element called the neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE) that functions to repress neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. Consensus NRSEs have been identified in at least 17 neuron-specific genes. Cloned NRSF can bind to multiple NRSEs and represses transcription in an NRSE-dependent manner. Expression of NRSF mRNA is detected in most non-neuronal tissues at several developmental stages. In the nervous system, NRSF mRNA is expressed in undifferentiated CNS neural progenitors but not in mature neurons. NRSF represents the first example of a vertebrate silencer protein that coordinately regulates a battery of cell type-specific genes. During development, NRSF may function as a master negative regulator of neuronal determination or differentiation in CNS stem cells.

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Authors
  1. C. J. Schoenherr
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  2. D. J. Anderson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, P. O. Box 85800, 92186-5800, San Diego, CA, USA

    F. H. Gage Ph. D.

  2. Fondation IPSEN, 24, rue Erlanger, 75781, Paris, Cedex 16, France

    Y. Christen Ph. D.

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Schoenherr, C.J., Anderson, D.J. (1997). NRSF: A Coordinate Repressor of Neuron-Specific Genes Expressed in CNS Neural Progenitor Cells. In: Gage, F.H., Christen, Y. (eds) Isolation, Characterization and Utilization of CNS Stem Cells. Research and Perspectives in Neurosciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80308-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80308-6_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-80310-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-80308-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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