Expression of Stra13 during mouse endochondral bone development

We have examined the expression of the basic helix-loop-helix factor Stra13 (DEC1/Sharp2) during endochondral bone development in the mouse. Stra13 expression was examined by in situ hybridization in the tibia from E14.5-E18.5, and at post-natal day 24. At E14.5, expression of Stra13 mRNA was very low, with expression limited to scattered hypertrophic chondrocytes. At E15.5 Stra13 mRNA was present in post-mitotic hypertrophic chondrocytes, co-localizing with collagen X expression. At E16.5-E18.5, Stra13 was expressed in both the proliferating chondrocytes and in the late hypertrophic chondrocytes. At E15.5-E18.5, Stra13 expression was also observed in the primary spongiosa. Stra13 expression was also maintained in the 24-day post-natal tibia, with expression detectable only in the late hypertrophic chondrocytes. Because Stra13 has been shown to be induced by hypoxia, and the growth plate is hypoxic during embryonic development, we compared the expression pattern of Stra13 and the HIF1-alpha target gene VEGF. VEGF is expressed predominantly in the late hypertrophic chondrocytes, with lower expression in the proliferating chondrocytes. Thus, there was a large degree of overlap in the expression patterns of Stra13 and VEGF in chondrocytes during embryonic development.     

转录因子DEC1和DEC2通过Ebox元件下调大鼠Gclc基因的表达

为研究Ebox元件在谷氨酸 半胱氨酸连接酶催化亚基(glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit,GCLC)基因表达中的地位,构建含Gclc上游5.9 kb调控序列,及突变Ebox（-3 853～ -3 848）的萤火虫荧光素酶报道载体.转染大鼠Ⅱ型肺泡上皮细胞（L2）,比较野生与突变报道载体的转录活性.共转染野生型载体与转录因子分化型胚胎软骨发育基因1/2（differentiated embryo chondrocyte expressed gene1/2,DEC1/2）真核表达载体,检测DEC1/2对Gclc转录活性的影响;电泳迁移率（electrophoretic mobility shift assays, EMSA）和超级迁移率实验（supershift assay）检测Ebox元件是否与DEC1/2特异结合.蛋白免疫印迹技术检测Dec1/2过表达对Gclc表达的影响. 结果显示,载体构建符合预期;突变Ebox元件可显著上调Gclc荧光素酶活性(P<0.01);共转染DEC1/2表达载体显著下调Gclc荧光素酶活性(P<0.01);EMSA证实Ebox元件(－3 853～－3 848）与核蛋白结合,且特异性强;超级迁移率显示,结合的核蛋白有转录因子DEC1、DEC2;Western 印迹结果显示,DEC1/2的表达明显下调Gclc的内源性表达.结果提示,转录因子DEC1与DEC2具有Gclc表达抑制活性,可能与Ebox（－3 853～－3 848）有关.