Neuron
Volume 33, Issue 3, 31 January 2002, Pages 383-395
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Article
A Calcium-Responsive Transcription Factor, CaRF, that Regulates Neuronal Activity-Dependent Expression of BDNF

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Abstract

Transcription of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is regulated in a calcium- and neuron-selective manner; however, the mechanisms that underlie this selectivity are not known. We have characterized a new calcium-response element, CaRE1, that is required for activity-dependent transcription of BDNF exon III and have cloned a transcription factor, CaRF, that activates transcription from BDNF promoter III in a CaRE1-dependent manner. The transcriptional activity of CaRF is regulated in a calcium- and neuron-selective manner, suggesting that CaRF may confer selectivity upon the activity-dependent induction of BDNF exon III expression.

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Present address: Curis Incorporated, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.