神经元限制性沉默因子在干细胞发育及分化中的作用

Regulatory Role of NRSF/REST on Development and Differentiation of Stem Cells

神经元限制性沉默因子NRSF/REST(neuron-restrictive silencer factor,NRSF;又称RE-1 silencing transcription factor,REST)是一种具有锌指结构的蛋白质,通过与特异的作用元件NRSE(neuron-restrictive silencer element,NRSE;又称Repressorelement,RE1)相结合,调节靶基因的转录.NRSF/REST通过与多种辅助因子的相互作用不同程度地影响靶基因的表达,其功能受到干扰则导致多种病理状态.近年来研究表明,NRSF/REST蛋白参与调控胚胎干细胞自我更新和全能性的维持,及干细胞的定向分化等多个生理过程.综述了最近NRSF/REST的研究进展,探讨其在胚胎干细胞自我更新、胚胎早期发育,以及干细胞向神经元、胰岛细胞分化中的作用.

Neuronal restrictive silencing factor （NRSF）, also known as repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor （REST）, a Kruppel-type zinc finger protein, functions as a transcription regulator of a myriad of target genes through binding to a specific DNA sequence （repressor element-I/neuron-restrictive silencer element, RE-I/ NRSE）. REST differentially influences target-gene expression through interaction with a wide variety of cellular cofactors in a context-dependent manner. Perturbations in the levels and functions of REST lead to various disorders. Recent studies have shown that REST is maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic involves in multiple physiological processes such as stem cell and regulating the differentiation of stem cells into neuron or islet cells. The current understanding of NRSF/REST was presented, focusing on its roles in embryonic stem cell self-renewal, early embryonic development, neuron and islet cells diffentiation of stem cells.