Regulation of MuSK Expression by a Novel Signaling Pathway*

MuSK is a receptor tyrosine kinase essential for neuromuscular junction formation. Expression of the MuSK gene is tightly regulated during development and at the neuromuscular junction. However, little is known about molecular mechanisms regulating its gene expression. Here we report a characterization of the promoter of the mouse MuSK gene. The transcription of MuSK starts at multiple sites with a major site 51 nt upstream of the translation start site. We have identified an E-box-like cis-element that is both required and sufficient for differentiation-dependent transcription. Interestingly, the promoter activity of the MuSK gene did not respond to neuregulin, a factor believed to mediate the synapse-specific transcription of acetylcholine receptor subunit genes. Rather, MuSK expression is increased in muscle cells stimulated with Wnt or at conditions when the Wnt signaling was activated. These results suggest a novel mechanism for the MuSK synapse-specific expression.

• Publication year

  2003

• Venue

  Journal of Biological Chemistry

• Publication date

  2003-10-03

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1074/jbc.M305058200PMID 12885777
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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