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Molecular and Cellular Biology logoLink to Molecular and Cellular Biology
. 1997 Oct;17(10):5946–5951. doi: 10.1128/mcb.17.10.5946

Novel dimeric Nur77 signaling mechanism in endocrine and lymphoid cells.

A Philips 1, S Lesage 1, R Gingras 1, M H Maira 1, Y Gauthier 1, P Hugo 1, J Drouin 1
PMCID: PMC232442  PMID: 9315652

Abstract

Within the nuclear receptor family, Nur77 (also known as NGFI-B) distinguishes itself by its ability to bind a target sequence (the NBRE) as a monomer and by its role in T-cell receptor (TCR)-induced apoptosis in T cells. We now report on a novel mechanism of Nur77 action that is mediated by homodimers. These dimers bind a Nur77 response element (NurRE), which has been identified as a target of CRH-induced Nur77 in the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene promoter. Both halves of the palindromic NurRE are required for responsiveness to physiological signals, like CRH in pituitary-derived AtT-20 cells. Similarly, in T-cell hybridomas, TCR activation induced NurRE but not NBRE reporters. The in vivo signaling function of Nur77 thus appears to be mediated by dimers acting on a palindromic response element of unusual spacing between its half-sites. This mechanism may represent the biologically relevant paradigm of action for this subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors.

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Selected References

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