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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148745
Title: PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF THE ORPHANS GCNF AND COUP-TF

Author
item Cooney, Austin
item LEE, CHRISTOPHER - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item LIN, SONG-CHANG - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item TSAI, SOPHIA - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item TSAI, MING-JER - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED

Submitted to: Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: Cooney, A., Lee, C.T., Lin, S., Tsai, S.Y., Tsai, M. 2001. Physiological function of the orphans gcnf and coup-tf. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 12(6):247-251.

Interpretive Summary: This is a review article updating the scientific community on the effects of inactivating some steroid receptor like genes. These kinds of receptors bind hormones like estrogen and testosterone. The factors described in this review GCNF, COUP-TF I and II are all essential for normal development of the mouse fetus.

Technical Abstract: Orphan nuclear receptors are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors for which ligands and functions have not been identified. Since the cloning of the original orphans, ligands have been identified for several orphan receptors that heterodimerize with retinoid X receptor and are no longer classified as orphan receptors. Considering the central role that nuclear receptors play in differentiation, development, metabolic regulation, homeostasis, and disease, it is critical that we understand the roles of the remaining orphans. However, the identification of ligands for those orphans that form homodimers has proven more difficult. Thus, in order to gain greater insight into the functions of orphan receptors, gene targeting has been used to knock-out these factors to study mouse development in their absence. Here we will review the progress made in understanding the roles of the orphans GCNF and the COUP-TFs using gene knock-outs.