Abstract
De novo protein synthesis in eukaryotes is mainly controlled at the level of gene transcription by transcription factors in the nucleus. In this communication, DNA binding activities of nuclear factor (NF) -κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) were determined in the brain from streptozotocin (STZ) -injected diabetic rats in order to explore particular proteins related with diabetes. Gel retardation electrophoresis using core consensus elements containing NF-κB or AP-1 probe revealed that STZ significantly potertiated NF-κB binding in the cerebral cortex and medulla-pons. Moreover, STZ markedly decreased NF-κB binding in the striatum and hypothala-mus. However, no significant changes was detected in NF-κB binding in the hippocampus, midbrain and cerebellum. In contrast, STZ significantly potentiated AP-1 binding in the cerebellum and medulla-pons, whereas STZ markedly decreased AP-1 binding in the striatum, hypothalamus and midbrain. However, AP-1 binding was not markedly affected by the injection of STZ in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These results suggest that the STZ-injected diabetic rat shows differential alterations in DNA binding activities of transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 in the brain.
