Human interleukin-1 alpha gene expression is regulated by Sp1 and a transcriptional repressor.

The regulation of the human IL-1alpha gene was studied using a series of 5' deletion promoter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter constructs. The IL-1alpha promoter from -967 to +64 produced no significant expression of CAT. Progressive 5' deletion indicated the presence of a repressor binding site between -477 and -305 bp as deletion in this region resulted in CAT expression.

A conserved truncated isoform of the ATR-X syndrome protein lacking the SWI/SNF-homology domain.

Mutations in the ATRX gene cause a severe X-linked mental retardation syndrome that is frequently associated with alpha thalassemia (ATR-X syndrome). The previously characterized ATRX protein (approximately 280 kDa) contains both a Plant homeodomain (PHD)-like zinc finger motif as well as an ATPase domain of the SNF2 family. These motifs suggest that ATRX may function as a regulator of gene expression, probably by exerting an effect on chromatin structure, although the exact cellular role of ATRX has not yet been fully elucidated.

The ATRX syndrome protein forms a chromatin-remodeling complex with Daxx and localizes in promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies.

ATRX syndrome is characterized by X-linked mental retardation associated with alpha-thalassemia. The gene mutated in this disease, ATRX, encodes a plant homeodomain-like finger and a SWI2/SNF2-like ATPase motif, both of which are often found in chromatin-remodeling enzymes, but ATRX has not been characterized biochemically. By immunoprecipitation from HeLa extract, we found that ATRX is in a complex with transcription cofactor Daxx.