Expression of GATA‐binding transcription factors in rat hepatocytes

Abstract

Recently, we demonstrated that a DNA‐binding protein(s) is involved in transcriptional repression of the rat serine dehydratase gene in fetal liver. Here, we report that a GAT(A/T) motif is the target sequence for the DNA‐binding protein. By screening a fetal liver cDNA library, we isolated a rat homolog of GATA‐1. Rat GATA‐1 expressed as a GST‐fusion protein in E. coli bound to the GAT(A/T) motif in the serine dehydratase gene. Northern analysis show that GATA‐1 and GATA‐4 mRNAs are expressed in fetal hepatocytes.