Transcription factor osteoblast-specific

Tintut Y, Parhami F, Le V, Karsenty G, and Demer LL (1999) Inhibition of osteoblast-specific transcription factor Cbfal by the cAMP pathway in osteoblastic cells. Ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent regulation. J. Biol. Chem. 274 28875-28879. 

A key to the development of osteoblasts appears to be an osteoblast-specific transcription factor OS/2 or Cbfal.693-695 Mutations in human Cbfal are linked to a series of skeletal defects.696 A unique change accompanying conversion of a precursor cell into an osteoblast is the formation of a 49-residue y-carboxyglutamate (Gla)-containing protein called osteocalcin.697 (See also Box 15-F). It is the most abundant noncollagenous protein of bone. Its three Gla residues doubtless help to bind calcium ions and osteocalcin may be an initiator of crystallization. Osteocalcin has also been found in fish scales.698 Also present in bone is a 74-residue matrix Gla protein which has 5 Gla residues.699... 

Tamura T, Noda M. Identification of a DNA sequence involved in osteoblast-specific gene expression via interaction with helix-loop-helix (HLH)-type transcription factors. J Cell Biol. 1994 126 773-782. 

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