MafA is a transcription factor that binds to the promoter in the insulin gene and has been postulated to regulate insulin transcription in response to serum glucose levels, but there is no current in vivo evidence to support this hypothesis. To analyze the role of MafA in insulin transcription and glucose homeostasis in vivo, we generated MafA-deficient mice. Here we report that MafA mutant mice display intolerance to glucose and develop diabetes mellitus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLarge Maf transcription factors, which are members of the basic leucine zipper (b-Zip) superfamily, have been reported to be involved in embryonic development and cell differentiation. Previously, we isolated a novel zebrafish large Maf cDNA, somite Maf1 (SMaf1), which possesses transactivational activity within its N-terminus domain. To elucidate SMaf1 function in mammals, we tried to isolate the mouse homologue of zebrafish SMaf1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain Res Mol Brain Res
December 2003
As a first step toward elucidating the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of glucocorticoids on acute noise-induced hearing loss, we used semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to study the level of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA in the cochlea of the guinea pig after acoustic overstimulation. The cochleas were dissected and divided into three portions (lateral portion, medial portion and modiolus). In the lateral portion, the glucocorticoid receptor mRNA level was significantly decreased 2 h after exposure to a 120 dB SPL sound and both 2 and 6 h after exposure to a 130 dB SPL sound.
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