Odorant Receptor Gene Regulation

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目研究两种同源结构域转录因子的作用，这两种转录因子有助于控制几乎所有超过1,000种小鼠气味受体基因的表达，表达受到如此精细的调节，以至于每个嗅觉神经细胞仅表达一种气味受体基因的一个等位基因。该项目的总体假设提出，同源结构域转录因子刺激气味受体基因转录，通过活性染色质修饰触发局部正反馈，同时通过抑制性染色质修饰增强全局负反馈，竞争事件能够解释气味受体表达的奇异性。该项目测试转录因子是否直接作用于气味受体基因的启动子和增强子，以及这些事件是否与气味受体基因的选定活性染色质修饰相关。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project investigates the actions of two homeodomain transcription factors that help control expression of nearly all of the more than 1,000 mouse odorant receptor genes, expression so finely regulated that each olfactory nerve cell expresses just one allele of one odorant receptor gene. The overarching hypothesis for the project proposes that homeodomain transcription factor stimulation of odorant receptor gene transcription triggers local positive feedback acting through active chromatin modifications while simultaneously enhancing global negative feedback acting through repressive chromatin modifications, competing events capable of explaining the singularity of odorant receptor expression. This project tests whether the transcription factors act directly at promoters and enhancers of odorant receptor genes, and whether these events are associated with selected active chromatin modifications at odorant receptor genes.