Potentiation of serum response factor activity by a family of myocardin-related transcription factors

DZ Wang, S Li, D Hockemeyer… - Proceedings of the …, 2002 - National Acad Sciences
DZ Wang, S Li, D Hockemeyer, L Sutherland, Z Wang, G Schratt, JA Richardson…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2002National Acad Sciences
Myocardin is a SAP (SAF-A/B, Acinus, PIAS) domain transcription factor that associates with
serum response factor (SRF) to potently enhance SRF-dependent transcription. Here we
describe two myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs), A and B, that also interact with
SRF and stimulate its transcriptional activity. Whereas myocardin is expressed specifically in
cardiac and smooth muscle cells, MRTF-A and-B are expressed in numerous embryonic and
adult tissues. In SRF-deficient embryonic stem cells, myocardin and MRTFs are unable to …
Myocardin is a SAP (SAF-A/B, Acinus, PIAS) domain transcription factor that associates with serum response factor (SRF) to potently enhance SRF-dependent transcription. Here we describe two myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs), A and B, that also interact with SRF and stimulate its transcriptional activity. Whereas myocardin is expressed specifically in cardiac and smooth muscle cells, MRTF-A and -B are expressed in numerous embryonic and adult tissues. In SRF-deficient embryonic stem cells, myocardin and MRTFs are unable to activate SRF-dependent reporter genes, confirming their dependence on SRF. Myocardin and MRTFs comprise a previously uncharacterized family of SRF cofactors with the potential to modulate SRF target genes in a wide range of tissues.
National Acad Sciences