A NOVEL HOMEOBOX FACTOR WHICH STIMULATES INSULIN EXPRESSION IN PANCREATIC ISLET CELLS

摘要

1n accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel homeobox-type pancreatic islet transcription factor proteins usefulto bind to tissue-specific elements (TSEs) within a pancreatic islet hormonegene promoter and modulate hormone gene expression both invivo and in vitro. Nucleic acid sequences eroding such transcription factorproteins and assays employing same are also disclosed. Theinvention transcription factor proteins can be employed in a variety of ways,for example, to modulate RNA transcription, for productionof antibodies thereto, in therapeutic compositions and methods employing suchproteins and/or antibodies.