Sox4 mediates Tbx3 transcriptional regulation of the gap junction protein Cx43

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011 Dec;68(23):3949-61. doi: 10.1007/s00018-011-0693-7. Epub 2011 May 3.

Abstract

Tbx3, a T-box transcription factor, regulates key steps in development of the heart and other organ systems. Here, we identify Sox4 as an interacting partner of Tbx3. Pull-down and nuclear retention assays verify this interaction and in situ hybridization reveals Tbx3 and Sox4 to co-localize extensively in the embryo including the atrioventricular and outflow tract cushion mesenchyme and a small area of interventricular myocardium. Tbx3, SOX4, and SOX2 ChIP data, identify a region in intron 1 of Gja1 bound by all tree proteins and subsequent ChIP experiments verify that this sequence is bound, in vivo, in the developing heart. In a luciferase reporter assay, this element displays a synergistic antagonistic response to co-transfection of Tbx3 and Sox4 and in vivo, in zebrafish, drives expression of a reporter in the heart, confirming its function as a cardiac enhancer. Mechanistically, we postulate that Sox4 is a mediator of Tbx3 transcriptional activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Connexin 43 / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • SOXC Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • SOXC Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Connexin 43
  • SOXC Transcription Factors
  • Sox4 protein, mouse
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • TBX3 protein, human
  • Tbx3 protein, mouse

Associated data

  • GENBANK/NM005996
  • GENBANK/NM009238
  • GENBANK/NM016569
  • GENBANK/NM198052