Interaction of retinal bZIP transcription factor NRL with Flt3-interacting zinc-finger protein Fiz1: possible role of Fiz1 as a transcriptional repressor

NRL (neural retina leucine zipper) is a basic motif leucine zipper transcription factor of the Maf-subfamily. Multiple phosphorylated isoforms of NRL are detected specifically in rod photoreceptors. NRL regulates the expression of several rod-specific genes, including rhodopsin and cGMP phosphodiesterase P-subunit, in synergy with other transcription factors (e.g. the homeodomain protein CRX). Missense mutations in the human NRL gene are associated with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, whereas the loss of its function leads to rodless retina in Nrl-knockout mice that exhibit enhanced S-cone function. To further elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) underlying NRL-mediated transcriptional regulation, we used yeast two-hybrid screening to isolate NRL-interacting proteins in the retina and report the identification of Flt3-interacting zinc-finger protein, Fiz1. Interaction of Fiz1 and NRL-leucine zipper was validated by GST pulldown assays and co-immunoprecipitation from bovine retinal nuclear extracts. Fiz1 suppressed NRL- but not CRX-mediated transactivation of rhodopsin promoter activity in transiently transfected CV1 cells. The mRNA and the protein for both Fiz1 and its only other known interacting protein Flt3, a receptor tyrosine kinase, are expressed in the retina. Our results indicate potential cross-talk among signaling pathways in the retina and suggest that the function of NRL is modulated by its interaction with specific repressor proteins.