P-Lim, a LIM homeodomain factor, is expressed during pituitary organ and cell commitment and synergizes with Pit-1.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.7.2720
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T13:29:38Z
• Authors: I Bach; S J Rhodes; R V Pearse; T Heinzel; B Gloss; K M Scully; P E Sawchenko; M G Rosenfeld
• Keywords: Homeodomain Proteins; 0301 basic medicine; Genomic Library; Base Sequence; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Gene Expression; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins; DNA-Binding Proteins; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Pituitary Gland, Posterior; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Pituitary Gland; Animals; Amino Acid Sequence; Transcription Factor Pit-1; In Situ Hybridization; Gene Library; Transcription Factors

A pituitary LIM homeodomain factor, P-Lim, is expressed as Rathke's pouch forms and as specific pituitary cell phenotypes are established, suggesting functional roles throughout pituitary development. While selectively expressed in both anterior and intermediate pituitary in mature mice, P-Lim is also transiently expressed in the developing ventral neural cord and brainstem. P-Lim binds to and activates the promoter of the alpha-glycoprotein subunit gene, a marker of early pituitary development, and synergizes with Pit-1 in transcriptional activation of genes encoding terminal differentiation markers. The LIM domain of P-Lim specifically interacts with the Pit-1 POU domain and is required for synergistic interactions with Pit-1, but not for basal transcriptional activation events.