HOW IS CHOLINE KINASE ALPHA REGULATED DURING RA-INDUCED NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION?

DOMIZI, P AND BANCHIO C

Congreso; SAIB; 2014

Neuronal differentiation involves several steps, being one of the most characteristic the neurites sprouting and elongation. As in this process there is high demand for membrane components, and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) is the major component of mammalian membranes, PtdCho biosynthesis plays a key role during neuronal differentiation. We have previously reported that the increased in PtdCho biosynthesis after retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation is supported, at least in part, by an enhanced expression of Chka gene. Moreover, we have demonstrated that the stimulation of CK expression during RA-induced differentiation depend on the promoter region that contains two boxes, which are highly conserved in different species. The Box1 includes a CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein- (C/EBP) sites, and the Box2 is an inverted repeat sequence GGGGCCTTGGCCCC. We have demonstrated that RA induces Chka expression by a mechanism that involves the binding of C/EBP to the Box1. However, the mechanism by which Box2 regulates Chka expression remains unresolved. We have determined that the Box2, preferentially under basal condition, recruits a putative unknown repressor protein. Our present efforts are focused in the elucidation of the nature of this protein.