Activation of cardiac gene expression by myocardin, a transcriptional cofactor for serum response factor

Da Zhi Wang, Priscilla S. Chang, Zhigao Wang, Lillian Sutherland, James A. Richardson, Eric Small, Paul A. Krieg, Eric N. Olson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

770 Scopus citations

Abstract

Serum response factor (SRF) regulates transcription of numerous muscle and growth factor-inducible genes. Because SRF is not muscle specific, it has been postulated to activate muscle genes by recruiting myogenic accessory factors. Using a bioinformatics-based screen for unknown cardiac-specific genes, we identified a novel and highly potent transcription factor, named myocardin, that is expressed in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. Myocardin belongs to the SAP domain family of nuclear proteins and activates cardiac muscle promoters by associating with SRF. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of myocardin in Xenopus embryos interferes with myocardial cell differentiation. Myocardin is the founding member of a class of muscle transcription factors and provides a mechanism whereby SRF can convey myogenic activity to cardiac muscle genes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)851-862
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume105
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 29 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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