Cell
Volume 89, Issue 4, 16 May 1997, Pages 619-628
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Article
Transcription Factor Sp1 Is Essential for Early Embryonic Development but Dispensable for Cell Growth and Differentiation

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Abstract

Transcription factor Sp1 has been implicated in the expression of many genes. Moreover, it has been suggested that Sp1 is linked to the maintenance of methylation-free CpG islands, the cell cycle, and the formation of active chromatin structures. We have inactivated the mouse Sp1 gene. Sp1−/− embryos are retarded in development, show a broad range of abnormalities, and die around day 11 of gestation. In Sp1−/− embryos, the expression of many putative target genes, including cell cycle-regulated genes, is not affected, CpG islands remain methylation free, and active chromatin is formed at the globin loci. However, the expression of the methyl-CpG-binding protein MeCP2 is greatly reduced in Sp1−/− embryos. MeCP2 is thought to be required for the maintenance of differentiated cells. We suggest that Sp1 is an important regulator of this process.

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