S. Benkhelifa et al., MAFA, A NOVEL MEMBER OF THE MAF PROTOONCOGENE FAMILY, DISPLAYS DEVELOPMENTAL REGULATION AND MITOGENIC CAPACITY IN AVIAN NEURORETINA CELLS, Oncogene, 17(2), 1998, pp. 247-254
Transcription factors of the Maf proto-oncogene family have been shown
to participate in the regulation of several differentiation specific
genes. We previously reported that a member(s) of this family is invol
ved in the regulation of the neuroretina specific gene, QR1, through a
promoter region, designated the A box, that is closely related to the
Maf recognition element (MARE). We undertook an identification of Maf
family genes expressed in the quail neuroretina (QNR) and we report t
he isolation of mafA, a gene encoding a novel member of the large Maf
proteins subgroup. Expression of this gene is developmentally regulate
d in the neuroretina, MafA is able to bind to MARE sequence and to het
erodimerize with v-Maf, MafB, Jun and Fos, but not with the small MafF
and MafK proteins. Accordingly, it is able to transactivate the QR1 p
romoter A box. We also show that increased expression of mafA induces
sustained proliferation of postmitotic QNR cells.