Investigation of nuclear factor one function by forced expression of wildtype and dominant negative NFI proteins

Nuclear Factor One (NFI) transcription factors are site specific DNA binding proteins that play important roles in regulation of central nervous system development. NFI family comprise four genes in vertebrate genomes: NFIA, NFIB, NFIC and NFIX. Each family member is composed of a highly conserved amino (N-) terminal DNA-binding and dimerization domain (DBD) and a distinct carboxyl (C-) terminal transcription activation and repression domain. NFI proteins specifically recognize the palindromic consensus sequence TTGGC(N5)GCCAA on double stranded DNA and bind as homo- or heterodimers. Three members of the NFI family, NFIA, NFIB, and NFIX, are highly expressed in the central nervous system and gene inactivation studies have shown that these nervous system specific NFIs are involved in development of different brain regions, such as the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and spinal cord, and regulating neuro and gliogenesis and terminal differentiation.