P-OTX: A PIT-1-Interacting Homeodomain Factor Expressed during Anterior Pituitary Gland Development

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 93; no. 15; pp. 7706 - 7710
• Main Authors: Szeto, Daniel P., Ryan, Aimee K., O'Connell, Shawn M., Rosenfeld, Michael G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 23-07-1996; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animals; Anterior pituitary; Biology; Branchial Region - metabolism; Developmental biology; DNA; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Duodenum - metabolism; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Embryos; Epithelium; Epithelium - metabolism; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Library; Growth hormones; Hindlimb; Homeodomain Proteins - biosynthesis; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; In situ hybridization; Mice; Molecular Sequence Data; Organ Specificity; Paired Box Transcription Factors; Phenotype; Pituitary gland; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - embryology; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - metabolism; Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Transcription Factor Pit-1; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcriptional Activation; Transfection; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.93.15.7706

A novel OTX-related homeodomain transcription factor has been identified on the basis of its ability to interact with the transactivation domain of the pituitary-specific POU domain protein, Pit-1. This factor, referred to as P-OTX (pituitary OTX-related factor), is expressed in primordial Rathke's pouch, oral epithelium, first branchial arch, duodenum, and hindlimb. In the developing anterior pituitary, it is expressed in all regions from which cells with distinct phenotypes will emerge in the mature gland. P-OTX is able to independently activate and to synergize with Pit-1 on pituitary-specific target gene promoters. Therefore, P-OTX may subserve functions in generating both precursor and specific cell phenotypes in the anterior pituitary gland and in several other organs.