Showing papers by "Pascal Dollé published in 1998"

Differential expression of the TEF family of transcription factors in the murine placenta and during differentiation of primary human trophoblasts in vitro.

Abstract: We describe the molecular cloning of murine (m) Transcriptional Enhancer Factor (TEF)-5 belonging to the TEF family of transcription factors. We show that mTEF-5 is specifically expressed in trophoblast giant cells and other extra-embryonic structures at early stages of development. At later stages, mTEF-5 is specifically expressed in the labyrinthine region of the placenta and in several embryonic tissues. We further show that the other mTEFs are differentially expressed in extraembryonic structures and in the mature placenta. Interestingly, human (h)TEF-5 is specifically expressed in the differentiated syncytiotrophoblast of the human term placenta and its expression is upregulated during the differentiation of cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblast in vitro, whereas that of hTEF-1 is down-regulated. Together with previous results describing hTEF-binding sites in the human placental lactogen-B gene enhancer, these novel observations support a role for hTEF-5 in the regulation of this gene. We further propose that the hTEF factors may play a more general role in placental gene regulation and development.

Stra3/lefty, a retinoic acid-inducible novel member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily.

Abstract: We report the structure, chromosomal localization and expression features of Stra3, a novel mouse gene whose expression is upregulated by retinoic acid in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells. The Stra3 cDNA sequence, which encodes a novel member of the TGF-beta superfamily, corresponds to, but extends more 3' than the recently published lefty sequence (Meno et al., 1996, Nature 381:151-155). The Stra3/lefty protein, which exhibits characteristics of secreted proteins, is synthesized as a precursor of 42 kDa and secreted after cleavage, suggesting that it may function as an intercellular signaling molecule. There are four exons in the Stra3/lefty gene and its 5' flanking region contains, among other putative regulatory elements, an unusual retinoid response element consisting of two half sites arranged as a palindrome, with an 8 base pairs spacer. We also show that Stra3/lefty is ectopically induced in the endodermal and ectodermal layers following in vivo administration of retinoic acid to gastrulating mouse embryos.

Expression of T:G mismatch-specific thymidine-DNA glycosylase and DNA methyl transferase genes during development and tumorigenesis.

Abstract: Expression of T : G mismatch-specific thymidine-DNA glycosylase and DNA methyl transferase genes during development and tumorigenesis

Spatial distributions of retinoic acid receptor gene transcripts in the prenatal mouse inner ear.

Abstract: The expression patterns of the three mouse retinoic acid (RA) receptor gene isotypes (RARalpha, RARbeta, and RARgamma) and retinoid X receptor gene isotypes (RXRalpha, RXRbeta, and RXRgamma) have been investigated by in situ hybridization analysis of their RNA transcripts in the inner ear of mouse fetuses at 18.5 days of gestation. Two RARs (RARalpha and RARgamma) and two RXRs (RXRalpha and RXRbeta) presented an almost ubiquitous transcript distribution with overlapping expression in several regions of the cochlea, such as Kolliker's organ, the organ of Corti, the spiral limbus, and nervous structures. The organ of Corti showed an enhanced in situ labeling with RARalpha and RXRbeta. By contrast, RARbeta and RXRgamma displayed more restricted expression patterns. RXRgamma in particular was strongly expressed in Kolliker's organ and in the spiral ganglion. This expression pattern suggests that RA may be involved in the differentiation of several cochlear cell types. Moreover, the colocalization of several RAR and RXR gene transcripts suggests possible heterodimerization between these receptors in several regions of the cochlea.