Systematic method to obtain novel genes that are regulated by mi transcription factor: impaired expression of granzyme B and tryptophan hydroxylase in mi/mi cultured mast cells.

The mi locus encodes a member of the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein family of transcription factors (hereafter called MITF). We have reported that the expression of several genes was impaired in cultured mast cells (CMCs) of mi/mi genotype, and demonstrated the involvement of MITF in the transcription of these genes. To obtain new genes whose transcription may be regulated by MITF, we prepared a subtracted cDNA library using +/+ and mi/mi CMCs. We found two clones carrying the granzyme (Gr) B and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) cDNAs in the subtracted library. The expression of the Gr B and TPH genes decreased in mi/mi CMCs, and recovered to nearly normal level by the overexpression of normal (+) MITF but not of mutant (mi) MITF. The +-MITF bound three and one CANNTG motifs in the Gr B and TPH promoters, respectively, and transactivated these two genes, indicating the involvement of +-MITF in their expression. Because TPH is the rate-limiting enzyme for serotonin synthesis, we examined the serotonin content of +/+ and mi/mi CMCs. The serotonin content was significantly smaller in mi/mi CMCs than in +/+ CMCs. The introduction of +-MITF but not of mi-MITF normalized the serotonin content in mi/mi CMCs.