tailieunhanh - Báo cáo khoa học: Roles of AP-2 transcription factors in the regulation of cartilage and skeletal development

During embryogenesis, most of the mammalian skeletal system is preformed as cartilaginous structures that ossify later. The different stages of cartilage and skeletal development are well described, and several molecular factors are known to influence the events of this enchondral ossification, especially transcription factors. | REVIEW ARTICLE Roles of AP-2 transcription factors in the regulation of cartilage and skeletal development Ann-Kathrin Wenke and Anja K. Bosserhoff Institute of Pathology University of Regensburg Germany Keywords AP-2 cartilage chondrogenesis limb transcriptional regulation Correspondence . Bosserhoff Institute of Pathology University of Regensburg Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11 D-93053 Regensburg Germany Fax 49 941 944 6602 Tel 49 941 944 6705 E-mail Received 12 October 2009 revised 13 November 2009 accepted 20 November 2009 During embryogenesis most of the mammalian skeletal system is preformed as cartilaginous structures that ossify later. The different stages of cartilage and skeletal development are well described and several molecular factors are known to influence the events of this enchondral ossification especially transcription factors. Members of the AP-2 family of transcription factors play important roles in several cellular processes such as apoptosis migration and differentiation. Studies with knockout mice demonstrate that a main function of AP-2s is the suppression of terminal differentiation during embryonic development. Additionally the specific role of these molecules as regulators during chondrogenesis has been characterized. This review gives an overview of AP-2s and discusses the recent findings on the AP-2 family in particular AP-2a AP-2P and AP-2e as regulators of cartilage and skeletal development. doi The AP-2 family AP-2a was first identified by its ability to bind to enhancer regions of SV40 and human metallothionein IIA 1 . The AP-2 family of transcription factors is composed of five members AP-2a AP-2P AP-2y AP-2Ỗ and AP-2e 2-7 described for humans and mice. Orthologs of some AP-2s have also been found in frogs and fish and homologs occur in invertebrates. All AP-2s have a highly conserved basic helix-span-helix DNA-binding and dimerization domain at their .