Differentially expressed Maf family transcription factors, c-Maf and MafA, activate glucagon and insulin gene expression in pancreatic islet alpha- and beta-cells.

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A basic-leucine zipper transcription factor, MafA, was recently identified as one of the most important transactivators of insulin gene expression. This protein controls the glucose-regulated and pancreatic beta-cell-specific expression of the insulin gene through a cis-regulatory element called RIPE3b/MARE (Maf-recognition element). Here, we show that MafA expression is restricted to beta-cells of pancreatic islets in vivo and in insulinoma cell lines. We also demonstrate that c-Maf, another member of the Maf family of transcription factors, is expressed in islet alpha-cells and in a glucagonoma cell line (alphaTC1), but not in gamma- and delta-cells. An insulinoma cell line, betaTC6, also expressed c-Maf, albeit at a low level. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Maf proteins associate with insulin and glucagon promoters in beta- and alpha-cell lines, respectively. c-Maf protein stimulated glucagon promoter activity in a transient luciferase assay, and activation of the glucagon promoter by c-Maf was more efficient than by the other alpha-cell-enriched transcription factors, Cdx2, Pax6, and Isl-1. Furthermore, inhibition of c-Maf expression in alphaTC1 cells by specific short hairpin RNA resulted in marked reduction of the glucagon promoter activity. Thus, c-Maf and MafA are differentially expressed in alpha- and beta-cells where they regulate glucagon and insulin gene expression, respectively.