myocardin (MYOCD, MYCD)

Function

• transcriptional factor that uses the canonical single or multiple CArG boxes DNA sequence
• binds CArG boxes only in the presence of serum response factor (SRF)
• acts as a cofactor of SRF & modulates SRF-target genes
• regulates expression of a set of cardiac & smooth muscle- specific genes
• role in cardiogenesis & differentiation of the smooth muscle cell lineage (putative)
• homodimer
• interacts with SRF; its association does not depend on specific DNA sequences for ternary complex formation
• interacts with MLLT7/FOXO4

Structure

• the C-terminal region contains a general transcription activation domain
• the N-terminal region, comprising a basic domain & a Gln-rich domain, confers transcriptional potency & specificity by mediating association with the MADS box of SRF
• the basic domain may be required for nuclear localization
• the SAP domain is important for transactivation & ternary complex formation
• contains 3 RPEL repeats
• contains 1 SAP domain

Compartment

nucleus (putative)

Alternative splicing

named isoforms=3

Expression

• expressed in heart, aorta, & in smooth muscle cell- containing tissues: stomach, bladder, small intestine, colon, lung, placenta & uterus
• very faint expression in prostate & skeletal muscle

More general terms

• transcription factor (TF)

Database

• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=93649
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/606127
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8IZQ8.html