The 5'-AT-rich half-site of Maf recognition element: a functional target for bZIP transcription factor Maf

The 5′-AT-rich half-site of Maf recognition element: a functional target for bZIP transcription factor Maf

The Maf family of proteins are a subgroup of basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors, which recognize a long palindromic DNA sequence [TGCTGAC(G)TCAGCA] known as the Maf recognition element (MARE). Interestingly, the functional target enhancer sequences present in the alphaA-crystallin gene contain a well-conserved half-site of MARE rather than the entire palindromic sequence. ...

Requirement for the c-Maf transcription factor in crystallin gene regulation and lens development.

The vertebrate lens is a tissue composed of terminally differentiated fiber cells and anterior lens epithelial cells. The abundant, preferential expression of the soluble proteins called crystallins creates a transparent, refractive index gradient in the lens. Several transcription factors such as Pax6, Sox1, and L-Maf have been shown to regulate lens development. Here we show that mice lacking...

The protooncogene c-Maf is an essential transcription factor for IL-10 gene expression in macrophages.

IL-10 is an important immunoregulatory factor. However, our understanding of IL-10 gene regulation remains very limited. In this study, following up on our previous novel finding that the protooncogene c-Maf of the basic leucine zipper family of transcription factors is expressed in monocytes and macrophages, we investigate the role of c-Maf in the transcriptional regulation of IL-10 and the un...

Expression in Macrophages Transcription Factor for IL-10 Gene The Protooncogene c-Maf Is an Essential

A critical regulatory role of leucin zipper transcription factor c-Maf in Th1-mediated experimental colitis.

In this study, we investigated the role of c-Maf, a transcription factor known to induce IL-4 production, in inflammatory bowel diseases and experimental colitis. Although Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with low IL-4 production by T-bet-expressing Th1 cells in the lamina propria, surprisingly a higher expression of c-Maf in these cells was found as compared with control patients. The releva...