ATF3 enhances c-Jun-mediated neurite sprouting.

The AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun is induced in axotomized neurons of the peripheral and central nervous systems, and in both cases upregulation of c-Jun expression has been correlated with axonal regeneration. More recently there has been interest in the c-Jun-related bZIP transcription factor, ATF3, and its function in neurons. ATF3 ...
is also induced in nerve cells in response to axotomy and there is a correlation between increased ATF3 expression and upregulation of c-Jun in surviving neurons. Moreover, c-Jun is able to induce expression of ATF3. We investigated the effect of co-expressing c-Jun and ATF3 in two neuronal-like cell lines to model transcriptional events occurring in axotomized neurons undergoing regeneration. We show that expression of ATF3 with c-Jun significantly enhances c-Jun-mediated neurite sprouting, and that this phenotype is most likely mediated by a physical association of these two transcription factors. Our results suggest that a program of axonal regeneration is initiated when both c-Jun and ATF3 are upregulated in neurons in response to axotomy.
Mesh Terms:
Activating Transcription Factor 3, Animals, Blotting, Western, Cell Count, Cell Line, Tumor, Immunohistochemistry, Mice, Neurites, Neurons, Precipitin Tests, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun, Rats, Transcription Factors, Transfection, Tubulin
Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res.
Date: Dec. 12, 2003
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