Early growth response 1 (Egr1) regulates cholesterol biosynthetic gene expression.

The early growth response (EGR) family of transcription factors has been implicated in control of lipid biosynthetic genes. Egr1 is induced by insulin both in vitro and in vivo and is the most highly expressed family member in liver. In this study, we investigated whether Egr1 regulates cholesterol biosynthetic genes in liver.

hERG gating microdomains defined by S6 mutagenesis and molecular modeling.

Human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels mediate cardiac repolarization and bind drugs that can cause acquired long QT syndrome and life-threatening arrhythmias. Drugs bind in the vestibule formed by the S6 transmembrane domain, which also contains the activation gate that traps drugs in the vestibule and contributes to their efficacy of block. Although drug-binding residues have been identified, we know little about the roles of specific S6 residues in gating.

Regulation of cholesterol/lipid biosynthetic genes by Egr2/Krox20 during peripheral nerve myelination.

Myelination of peripheral nerves by Schwann cells requires a large amount of lipid and cholesterol biosynthesis. To understand the transcriptional coordination of the myelination process, we have investigated the developmental relationship between early growth response 2 (Egr2)/Krox20--a pivotal regulator of peripheral nerve myelination--and the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) pathway, which controls expression of cholesterol/lipid biosynthetic genes. During myelination of sciatic nerve, there is a very significant induction of SREBP1 and SREBP2, as well as their target genes, suggesting that the SREBP transactivators are important regulators in the myelination process.