INVERSE EXPRESSION PATTERN OF REST AND SYNAPSIN-I IN HUMAN NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

The zinc finger protein REST is a repressor of neuronal genes in nonne uronal tissues. We have analyzed the expression of REST, together with the expression of a REST target gene, encoding synapsin I, in human n euroblastoma cells. It was found that REST and synapsin I are coexpres sed in neuroblastoma cell lines, although the expression of REST was i nversely proportional to the levels of synapsin I mRNA. Thus, increase d expression of synapsin I was directly correlated with decreased expr ession of REST. These expression data are in excellent correlation wit h synapsin I promoter activity measured in neuroblastoma cells showing that an increase in the REST concentration switched off synapsin I pr omoter activity. We conclude that the concentration of REST determines the expression level of neuronal genes such as the synapsin I gene.