Strongylocentrotus
purpuratus Genes in Development: Transcription Factors
SpEts4
Function
SpEts4 is a new member of the Ets transcription factor family.
Identification of SpEts4 suggests that SpEts4 and
its closest relative Drosophila Ets4 constitute
a new group within the Ets family (Wei et al., 1999).
Protein
The C-terminal amino acid region comprises a conserved domain
of about 85 amino acids that is related to the DNA binding
domain of the Ets family of transcription factors.
A second conserved sequence in the N-terminal region is called the pointed domain, its function is not well understood.
SpEts4 protein contains a transcription activation domain
at position 36-123.
The activating region of SpEts4 is characterized by a relatively high density of residues that are also found in the activation
domains of other transcription factors, which include glutamine,
serine, proline, and acidic residues.
The sequences between amino acids
184 and 274 may be required for optimal activity of the
upstream domain by providing either a coactivation
or structural function (Wei et al., 1999).
GenBank: 4406284
Subcellular location
Expression Pattern
RNase protection assay demonstrated that SpEts4 transcripts
are relatively abundant and present at nearly equivalent
levels in the unfertilized egg and in embryos through the first six
cleavages (8.5 h; 64-cell stage).
SpEts4 is also expressed at much later stages,
after gastrulation is complete.
The timing of SpEts4 gene expression precedes the transient
expression of SpHE in the very early sea urchin blastula (Wei et al., 1999).
mRNA level
Temporal accumulation
Method: RNase protection assay
Reference: Wei et al., 1999