Abstracts » Biological sciences

The C terminus of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel [Ca.sub.v]1.2 encodes a transcription factor

Article Abstract:

The C-terminal fragment of [Ca.sub.v]1.2, an L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (LTC), associated transcription regulator (CCAT) binds to a nuclear protein, associates with an endogenous promoter and regulates the expression of a wide variety of endogeneous genes important for neuronal signaling and excitability. The results have provided evidence that voltage-gated calcium channels can directly activate transcription and have described a mechanism linking voltage-gated channels to the function and differentiation of excitable cells.

Calcium channels

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GATA-3 maintains the differentiation of the luminal cell fate in the mammary gland

Article Abstract:

A genome-wide screen was carried out to identify GATA-3 as the most highly enriched transcription factor in the mammary ductal epithelium of pubertal mice and show that GATA-3 is localized to the body cells of terminal end buds (TEBs) and to the mature luminal cells of mammary ducts. The findings suggest that GATA-3 actively maintains luminal epithelial differentiation in the adult mammary gland, which raises important implications for the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Cell differentiation

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Re-evaluating cell-cycle regulation by E2Fs

Article Abstract:

An alternative model of the activation of E2F transcription factors, which is thought to drive the expression of genes essential for the transition of cells from G1 to S phase and for the initiation of DNA replication, is presented. The findings suggest that E2Fs establish a link between the cell cycle and either cell-extrinsic or cell-intrinsic factors involved in cell-cycle regulation that might be either pro- or antimitogenic.

Cell cycle, DNA replication

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