Development of the mammalian central nervous system is an important process, which is accomplished through precise regulations of many different genes. Zinc finger protein 179 (Znf179) is one of the essential genes that plays a critical role in neuronal differentiation. In our previous study, Znf179 knockout mice displayed brain malformation and impaired brain functions. We have also previously shown that Znf179 involves in cell cycle regulation, but the regulatory mechanism of Znf179 expression is not yet fully characterized. Herein, we identified that Purα is an essential factor for the promotor activity of Znf179. We also showed concurrent expression of Znf179 and Purα during neuronal differentiation. We also found that overexpression of Purα increased Znf179 expression in neuronal differentiated P19 cells. Through its direct binding to Znf179, as shown using DAPA, Purα upregulates Znf179 expression, suggesting that Purα is important for the regulation of Znf179 expression during neuronal differentiation. Our data indicated that Purα is involved in the transcriptional regulation of Znf179 gene during neuronal differentiation, and is indispensable during the brain development.

哺乳动物中枢神经系统的发育是重要的过程，这是通过许多不同基因的精确调控来完成的。锌指蛋白179（Znf179）是在神经元分化中起关键作用的必需基因之一。在我们先前的研究中，Znf179基因敲除小鼠表现出大脑畸形和大脑功能受损。先前我们还表明Znf179参与细胞周期调控，但是Znf179表达的调控机制尚未完全阐明。在本文中，我们确定Purα是Znf179促进活性的重要因素。我们还显示了神经元分化过程中Znf179和Purα的同时表达。我们还发现，Purα的过表达增加了神经元分化的P19细胞中Znf179的表达。通过使用DAPA显示，Purα通过直接与Znf179结合而上调Znf179表达，这表明Purα在神经元分化过程中对Znf179表达的调节很重要。我们的数据表明，Purα在神经元分化过程中参与Znf179基因的转录调控，在大脑发育过程中是必不可少的。