Blimp-1, a novel zinc finger-containing protein that can drive the maturation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin-secreting cells

Cell. 1994 Apr 22;77(2):297-306. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(94)90321-2.

Abstract

We describe a novel gene, Blimp-1 (for B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein), transcripts of which are rapidly induced during the differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin secretory cells and whose expression is characteristic of late B and plasma cell lines. The 856 amino acid open reading frame contains five Krüppel-type zinc finger motifs and proline-rich and acidic regions similar to those of known transcription factors. Serological studies show an approximately 100 kd protein that localizes to the nucleus. Stable or transient transfection of Blimp-1 into B cell lymphoma lines leads to the expression of many of the phenotypic changes associated with B cell differentiation into an early plasma cell stage, including induction of J chain message and immunoglobulin secretion, up-regulation of Syndecan-1, and increased cell size and granularity. Thus, Blimp-1 appears to be a pleiotropic regulatory factor capable of at least partially driving the terminal differentiation of B cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA, Complementary / isolation & purification
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin J-Chains / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin J-Chains / biosynthesis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasma Cells / cytology
  • Plasma Cells / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / physiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Transfection
  • Zinc Fingers / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Immunoglobulin J-Chains
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Prdm1 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U08185