The ABF-1 gene encodes for a protein that belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors. ABF-1 mRNA molecules have been detected in the lymphoid tissues, which include the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and appendix, as well as transformed B cells lines infected with Epstein-Barr virus. This study investigates the role of ABF-1 in regulating downstream target genes in the human mature B cell line RAJI, as well as the plasma cell line, ARH-77. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and DNA microarray technology was used to investigate target genes that are subjected to transcriptional regulation by ABF-1. Using ABF-1 inducible cell lines or B cell lines that overexpress ABF -1 by transient transfection experiments, we discovered many cellular genes that change in their transcriptional profiles in response to ABF -1 expression. Based upon the analysis of genes being affected following ABF-1 induction, our results support the hypothesis that ABF-1 primarily functions as a transcriptional repressor in vivo. Many genes that regulate the cellular processes of apoptosis, as well as the cell cycle, were repressed following ABF-1 expression. Because EBV has been reported to control ABF-1 gene expression, the identification of downstream target genes regulated by ABF-1 may provide insight into the molecular events that follow after EBV infection.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-1617 |
| Date | 01 January 2005 |
| Creators | Eusebio, Anthony R. |
| Publisher | Scholarly Commons |
| Source Sets | University of the Pacific |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations |
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