Alternative titles; symbols
HGNC Approved Gene Symbol: CARF
Cytogenetic location: 2q33.2 Genomic coordinates (GRCh38) : 2:202,912,275-202,988,263 (from NCBI)
Using a calcium-response element from the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; 113505) promoter in a yeast 1-hybrid screen, Tao et al. (2002) cloned CARF. They used RACE to assemble a 3.1-kb human CARF cDNA predicted to encode a 725-amino acid protein with a nuclear localization signal, 2 glutamine-rich helices found in many transcriptional activators, and consensus phosphorylation sites for several kinases. Multiple splice variants were identified. Tao et al. (2002) sequenced the mouse homolog and determined that the human and mouse sequences share 71% identity. Northern blot analysis of adult mouse tissues detected low CARF expression of a 5-kb transcript in several tissues with a high expression level in brain. A 3-kb transcript was detected at high levels in testis. In situ hybridization of mouse brain sections detected highest levels of CARF expression in hippocampus, with lower levels of expression throughout the cortex and in the granule cells of the adult cerebellum.
Tao et al. (2002) determined that the CARF gene contains 14 exons spanning approximately 50 kb.
By sequence analysis, Tao et al. (2002) mapped the CARF gene to chromosome 2q33.
Using yeast 1-hybrid screening and gel shift analysis, Tao et al. (2002) found that CARF is a nuclear transcription factor that binds to a calcium-response element, which they named CaRE1, within the BDNF promoter. Based on a variety of experiments with cultured cortical neurons, They concluded that the transcriptional activity of CARF is regulated in a calcium- and neuron-selective manner. They hypothesized that CARF may play a key role in neuronal development and plasticity.
Tao, X., West, A. E., Chen, W. G., Corfas, G., Greenberg, M. E. A calcium-responsive transcription factor, CaRF, that regulates neuronal activity-dependent expression of BDNF. Neuron 33: 383-395, 2002. [PubMed: 11832226] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00561-x]