FEATURES

DESCRIPTION

Also known as ISL1_HUMAN, ISL1. DNA-binding transcriptional activator. Recognizes and binds to the consensus octamer binding site 5'-ATAATTAA-3' in promoter of target genes. Plays a fundamental role in the gene regulatory network essential for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation. Cooperates with the transcription factor POU4F2 to achieve maximal levels of expression of RGC target genes and RGC fate specification in the developing retina. Involved in the specification of motor neurons in cooperation with LHX3 and LDB1 (By similarity). Binds to insulin gene enhancer sequences (By similarity). Essential for heart development. Marker of one progenitor cell population that give rise to the outflow tract, right ventricle, a subset of left ventricular cells, and a large number of atrial cells as well, its function is required for these progenitors to contribute to the heart. Controls the expression of FGF and BMP growth factors in this cell population and is required for proliferation and survival of cells within pharyngeal foregut endoderm and adjacent splanchnic mesoderm as well as for migration of cardiac progenitors into the heart (By similarity). At neuronal promoters, displaces LDB1 from LHX3 LIM domain to form a ternary complex in which ISL1 contacts both LHX3 and LDB1; allosteric structural changes in the DNA binding domain of LHX3, induced by the ISL1:LHX3 interaction, may explain differences in sequence specificity of the different complexes. Interacts with LHX3. Interacts (via C-terminus) with POU4F2 (via C-terminus) isoform 1. Interacts with POU3F2. Interacts with POU4F3. Interacts (via N-terminal domain) with MLIP; the interaction represses ISL1 transactivator activity. Interacts with GCN5/KAT2A. Interactions of ISL1 with MLIP1 or KAT2A may be mutually exclusive (By similarity).

EXTERNAL LINKS

ISL1

Insulin gene enhancer protein ISL-1

ISL1

Molecular Synopsis