RGD Reference Report - Pdx1 level defines pancreatic gene expression pattern and cell lineage differentiation. - Rat Genome Database

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Pdx1 level defines pancreatic gene expression pattern and cell lineage differentiation.

Authors: Wang, H  Maechler, P  Ritz-Laser, B  Hagenfeldt, KA  Ishihara, H  Philippe, J  Wollheim, CB 
Citation: Wang H, etal., J Biol Chem. 2001 Jul 6;276(27):25279-86. Epub 2001 Apr 17.
RGD ID: 2311194
Pubmed: PMID:11309388   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1074/jbc.M101233200   (Journal Full-text)

The absence of Pdx1 and the expression of brain-4 distinguish alpha-cells from other pancreatic endocrine cell lineages. To define the transcription factor responsible for pancreatic cell differentiation, we employed the reverse tetracycline-dependent transactivator system in INS-I cell-derived subclones INSralphabeta and INSrbeta to achieve tightly controlled and conditional expression of wild type Pdx1 or its dominant-negative mutant, as well as brain-4. INSralphabeta cells express not only insulin but also glucagon and brain-4, while INSrbeta cells express only insulin. Overexpression of Pdx1 eliminated glucagon mRNA and protein in INSralphabeta cells and promoted the expression of beta-cell-specific genes in INSrbeta cells. Induction of dominant-negative Pdx1 in INSralphabeta cells resulted in differentiation of insulin-producing beta-cells into glucagon-containing alpha-cells without altering brain4 expression. Loss of Pdx1 function alone in INSrbeta cells, which do not express endogenous brain-4 and glucagon, was also sufficient to abolish the expression of genes restricted to beta-cells and to cause alpha-cell differentiation. In contrast, induction of brain-4 in INSrbeta cells initiated detectable expression of glucagon but did not affect beta-cell-specific gene expression. In conclusion, Pdx1 confers the expression of pancreatic beta-cell-specific genes, such as genes encoding insulin, islet amyloid polypeptide, Glut2, and Nkx6.1. Pdx1 defines pancreatic cell lineage differentiation. Loss of Pdx1 function rather than expression of brain4 is a prerequisite for alpha-cell differentiation.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
cell differentiation  IMP 2311194pancreatic alpha and beta cellsRGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Pdx1  (pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1)


Additional Information