TEF gene

Drolet DW et al (1991)

The TEF gene (TEF stands for: Transcription Factor, PAR BZIP Family Member) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 22q13.2. An important paralog of this gene is HLF.

The TEF gene encodes a member of the PAR (proline and acidic amino acids) subfamily of bZIP (basic region/leucine zipper) transcription factors. It is expressed in a variety of cells and tissues in adult animals. However, during embryonic development, TEF expression appears to be restricted to the developing anterior pituitary, which coincides with the appearance of thyroid stimulating hormone beta (TSHB). TEF can bind to the TSHB promoter and transactivate it. It shows homology (in functional domains) with other members of the PAR-bZIP subfamily of transcription factors, which includes albumin D-box-binding protein (DBP), human hepatic leukemia factor (HLF), and chicken vitellogenin gene-binding protein (VBP); VBP is considered the chicken homolog of TEF. The DNA binding and dimerization domains of TEF correspond to those of other bZIP proteins.

Different members of the subfamily can easily form heterodimers and have common DNA-binding and transcription-regulating properties. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. Diseases associated with TEF include:

• Tinea barbae (fungal infection caused mainly by Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum. In recent years there has been an increase in T. tonsurans infections.

and

• senile reticular degeneration of the retina.

1. Drolet DW et al. (1991) TEF, a transcription factor expressed specifically in the anterior pituitary during embryogenesis, defines a new class of leucine zipper proteins. Genes Dev (10):1739-1753.
2. Fonjallaz P et al. (1996) The two PAR leucine zipper proteins, TEF and DBP, display similar circadian and tissue-specific expression, but have different target promoter preferences. EMBO J 15:351-362.
3. Kaur KJ et al. (1994) Protein translation elongation factor-1 alpha from Trypanosoma brucei binds calmodulin. J Biol Chem 269:23045-2350.