We are studying how genes that encode the pituitary hormones are controlled, and particularly how regulatory DNA elements and specific nuclear proteins confer responses to developmental and physiological signals. By analyzing the structure and function of transcription regulators such as Pit-1, we want to better define the mechanism of hormone gene regulation in the pituitary and differentiation of specific endocrine cell types. Neurotransmitters and peptides from the hypothalamus regulate the release of pituitary hormones and also control synthesis of these hormones at the transcriptional level. Dopamine, for example, is a potent inhibitor of prolactin gene transcription and its analogs can be used therapeutically in the management of prolactin-secreting tumors.
Dopamine regulates prolactin gene function by binding to specific G-protein coupled receptors.
We are interested in how the signals from activated G proteins lead to changes in gene transcription in endocrine cells, and how cell-type specific effector proteins mediate or attenuate these signals. Elsholtz HP.Selective inhibition of prolactin gene transcription by the ETS-2 repressor factor. Sci USA 93, 1996.