NF-X, a transcription factor implicated in MHC class II gene regulation

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 146; no. 9; pp. 3197 - 3204
• Main Authors: Kouskoff, V, Mantovani, RM, Candeias, SM, Dorn, A, Staub, A, Lisowska-Grospierre, B, Griscelli, C, Benoist, CO, Mathis, DJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Assoc Immnol 01.05.1991; American Association of Immunologists; Publisher : Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins, c1950-. Latest Publisher : Bethesda, MD : American Association of Immunologists
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Biochemistry; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; histocompatibility locus HLA; HLA-D Antigens - genetics; Humans; Immunology; Life Sciences; Major Histocompatibility Complex; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Oligonucleotides - chemistry; Promoter Regions, Genetic; promoters; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Transcription Factors - physiology; Transcription, Genetic; In vitro transcription; Lymphoid cell; Major histocompatibility system; Rodentia; Class II histocompatibility antigen; Binding site; Gel retardation technique; Gene expression; Myeloid cell; Characterization; Vertebrata; Immunogenetics; Regulation(control); Mammalia; Cell line; Gene; Mouse; Transcription factor
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.146.9.3197

The X box has been shown in several assay systems to be a critical element of MHC class II gene promoters. Several X box-binding activities have been discovered in nuclear extracts from a variety of cell lines. The critical question is: which of these are responsible for mediating X box function? This report provides a further characterization of NF-X, a highly specific X box-binding activity we described previously. The cell-type distribution, structural features, and binding site characteristics of NF-X are analyzed in detail, to facilitate comparison with other reported activities. Most importantly, the functional relevance of NF-X is assessed by scanning mutagenesis, and the results indicate that this complex is indeed involved in regulating MHC class II gene expression. With these data in mind, the relationship between NF-X and RF-X, an X box-binding activity reported to be absent in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency, is discussed.