Insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1 is a member of a novel class of proteins containing both a homeo-and a Cys–His domain
- 1 April 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Nature
- Vol. 344 (6269), 879-882
- https://doi.org/10.1038/344879a0
Abstract
The activity of the rat insulin I gene enhancer is mainly dependent on two cis-acting protein-binding domains. Here we report the isolation of a complementary DNA encoding a protein, Isl-1, that binds to one of these domains. Isl-1 contains a homeodomain with greatest similarity to those of the Caenorhabditis elegans proteins encoded by mec-3 and lin-11. In addition, Isl-1, like the lin-11 and mec-3 gene products, contains a novel Cys-His domain which is reminiscent of known metal-binding regions. Together these proteins define a novel class of proteins containing both a homeo- and a Cys His-domain. Isl-1 is preferentially expressed in cells of pancreatic endocrine origin. If the structural homologies between Isl-1 and the C. elegans gene products reflect functional similarities, a role for Isl-1 in the development of pancreatic endocrine cells could be envisaged.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Novel cysteine-rich motif and homeodomain in the product of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell lineage gene lin-IINature, 1990
- The Hox-1.3 homeo box protein is a sequence-specific DNA-binding phosphoprotein.Genes & Development, 1989
- mec-3, a homeobox-containing gene that specifies differentiation of the touch receptor neurons in C. elegansCell, 1988
- Hybrid insulin genes reveal a developmental lineage for pancreatic endocrine cells and imply a relationship with neuronsCell, 1988
- Oncogene jun encodes a sequence-specific trans- activator similar to AP-1Nature, 1988
- A genetic pathway for the specification of the vulval cell lineages of Caenorhabditis elegansNature, 1987
- Cloned cell lines from a transplantable islet cell tumor are heterogeneous and express cholecystokinin in addition to islet hormones.The Journal of cell biology, 1986
- Purification of Mouse Immunoglobulin Heavy‐Chain Messenger RNAs from Total Myeloma Tumor RNAEuropean Journal of Biochemistry, 1980
- Isolation of biologically active ribonucleic acid from sources enriched in ribonucleaseBiochemistry, 1979
- Preparation and characterization of plasma membrane-enriched fractions from rat pancreatic islets.The Journal of cell biology, 1976