Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Gene. 2019 Mar 1;687:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.11.029. Epub 2018 Nov 14.
Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) is a zinc finger protein transcription factor of the KLF family and plays an important role in various important biological process, including cell proliferation, differentiation, embryonic development, and cancer formation. In this study, the full length Klf4 cDNA sequence of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was analyzed. Phylogenetic, gene structure, and synteny analysis revealed that PoKlf4 was conserved to that of teleost. Transcript of PoKlf4 showed that its expression was high during early embryonic development but reduced when gastrulation began, thus indicating its possible role in embryonic development. Tissue expression pattern showed that PoKlf4 was expressed higher in ovaries than in testes. ISH revealed that PoKlf4 was also expressed in spermatogonium, oocytes, and oogonia and in high levels in epithelial and lamellar epithelial cells of gills. Functional characterization of PoKlf4 gene promoter provided valuable information in understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of PoKlf4 gene. PoKlf4 could up-regulate Nanog, a gene that prevents ES cells from differentiating and being up-regulated by Pou5f3 and Stat3 genes that could maintain ES cell self-renewal. These results suggested that PoKlf4 maintains the pluripotency of ES cells. This study provides valuable information in exploring the regulatory network of PoKlf4 and lays the foundation for further research on the function of this gene.
Krüppel 样因子 4（Klf4）是 KLF 家族的锌指蛋白转录因子，在多种重要的生物学过程中发挥着重要作用，包括细胞增殖、分化、胚胎发育和癌症形成。本研究分析了牙鲆（Paralichthys olivaceus）全长 Klf4 cDNA 序列。系统进化、基因结构和基因同线性分析表明，PoKlf4 与硬骨鱼类保守。PoKlf4 的转录本显示，其在早期胚胎发育过程中表达量较高，但当原肠胚形成开始时表达量降低，表明其可能在胚胎发育中发挥作用。组织表达模式表明，PoKlf4 在卵巢中的表达高于睾丸。原位杂交显示，PoKlf4 也在精原细胞、卵母细胞和卵原细胞中表达，在鳃的上皮细胞和板层上皮细胞中表达水平较高。PoKlf4 基因启动子的功能特征分析为理解 PoKlf4 基因的分子调控机制提供了有价值的信息。PoKlf4 可以上调 Nanog 基因，该基因可阻止 ES 细胞分化，并受 Pou5f3 和 Stat3 基因的上调，这些基因可维持 ES 细胞自我更新。这些结果表明 PoKlf4 维持 ES 细胞的多能性。本研究为探索 PoKlf4 的调控网络提供了有价值的信息，为进一步研究该基因的功能奠定了基础。
