| Modification Notes |
Tissue-restricted POU domain transcription factors, which bind octamer or octamer-like gene sequences, play roles in cellular differentiation and the development of several organs. POU2F3, also designated Oct-11, PLA-1 protein or transcription factor Skn-1, represents a member of the class 2 POU domain family of transcriptional activators, highly related to Oct-2, that are selectively expressed in terminally differentiating epidermal and hair follicles. POU2F3 is characterized by an N-terminal domain that inhibits DNA binding and can inhibit transactivation by Oct-2. Alternative splicing of the N-terminus serves to activate cytokeratin 10 (K10) gene expression. When POU2F3 is expressed in eukaryotic cells it can bind to an octamer site, suggesting that in vivo cellular factors modulate the activity of the inhibitory domain to permit DNA-binding. The inhibitory domain does not allow transactivation by POU2F3 or by a heterologous transactivator containing this domain in cis. POU2F3 contributes to epidermal stratification by primarily promoting keratinocyte proliferation and secondarily by enhancing the subsequent keratinocyte differentiation. |
