gtaC

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term	Evidence	Action	Reason
GO:0000976 transcription cis-regulatory region binding	IBA GO_REF:0000033	ACCEPT	Summary: Phylogenetic inference that GtaC binds cis-regulatory regions is correct and independently confirmed by direct ChIP-seq evidence in the same organism, where GtaC occupies GATA-like promoter elements genome-wide. Reason: This IBA annotation transfers the conserved GATA-family DNA-binding function and is fully corroborated by direct experimental evidence (ChIP-seq) showing GtaC binds thousands of promoters at a GATA-like motif. This is a core molecular function. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 We found enrichment for a GATA-like motif only in regions bound by the WT GtaC PMID:26144553 We identified 2,091 genes whose promoter regions were bound by GtaC
GO:0005634 nucleus	IBA GO_REF:0000033	ACCEPT	Summary: Nuclear localization inferred by phylogeny is correct; GtaC acts as a transcription factor in the nucleus and multiple direct studies show nuclear accumulation. Reason: As a DNA-binding transcription factor, GtaC is active in the nucleus. This is directly supported by localization studies of GFP-GtaC. Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 GFP-GtaC underwent oscillatory nucleocytoplasmic shuttling during early development
GO:0006357 regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II	IBA GO_REF:0000033	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC regulates developmental gene expression by binding promoter cis-regulatory elements and modulating transcription of target genes, so involvement in regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription is well founded. Reason: Direct target identification (integrated ChIP-seq and RNA-seq) shows GtaC binding to promoters is associated with both up- and downregulation of target gene expression, establishing it as a bona fide transcriptional regulator. This is a core biological process. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 GtaC binding to GATA-like sequences has a direct role in upregulating gene expression
GO:0006355 regulation of DNA-templated transcription	IEA GO_REF:0000002	ACCEPT	Summary: InterPro2GO inference of transcriptional regulation from the GATA zinc-finger domain is correct but is a more general parent of the RNA polymerase II term already annotated. Reason: The annotation is biologically accurate (GtaC regulates DNA-templated transcription) but is a less specific parent of GO:0006357 (regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II), which is also annotated. It is retained as correct though non-preferred relative to the more specific term. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 GtaC binding to GATA-like sequences has a direct role in upregulating gene expression
GO:0008270 zinc ion binding	IEA GO_REF:0000002	KEEP AS NON CORE	Summary: The GATA-type Cys2-Cys2 zinc finger of GtaC coordinates a zinc ion that is required for DNA binding, so zinc ion binding is correct but is a supporting activity rather than the core function. Reason: GtaC contains a Cys2-Cys2 (type IV) GATA zinc finger whose structural zinc ion is required for sequence-specific DNA binding. The annotation is accurate but represents an underlying structural activity that enables the core DNA-binding transcription-factor function rather than a function in its own right. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 mediates DNA binding with a zinc ion
GO:0043565 sequence-specific DNA binding	IEA GO_REF:0000002	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC binds a specific GATA-like DNA motif, as shown directly by ChIP-seq motif enrichment, so sequence-specific DNA binding is correct. Reason: The InterPro2GO inference of sequence-specific DNA binding is directly confirmed by ChIP-seq, which identified enrichment of a GATA-like motif only in GtaC-bound regions. This underpins its transcription-factor activity. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 We found enrichment for a GATA-like motif only in regions bound by the WT GtaC
GO:0003700 DNA-binding transcription factor activity	IMP PMID:39672161 Collective oscillatory signaling in Dictyostelium discoideum...	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC is a DNA-binding transcription factor essential for developmental gene expression; this is a core molecular function established by multiple experimental studies. Reason: The full text of PMID:39672161 is not available in the cache, but GtaC's identity as a DNA-binding transcription factor is firmly established by direct ChIP-seq and genetic evidence in other studies. Per repository policy the experimental (IMP) curator annotation is retained; the function is independently corroborated below. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 We found enrichment for a GATA-like motif only in regions bound by the WT GtaC PMID:24653039 The insertion occurred in the second exon of the gtaC gene, which encodes a GATA family zinc finger transcription factor
GO:0005634 nucleus	IDA PMID:39672161 Collective oscillatory signaling in Dictyostelium discoideum...	ACCEPT	Summary: Nuclear localization of GtaC is directly demonstrated; GtaC acts as a transcription factor in the nucleus. Reason: GtaC nuclear localization is directly observed (GFP-GtaC accumulates in the nucleus). Although the cited paper's full text is uncached, nuclear activity is well established by multiple direct studies. Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 GFP-GtaC underwent oscillatory nucleocytoplasmic shuttling during early development
GO:0005829 cytosol	IDA PMID:39672161 Collective oscillatory signaling in Dictyostelium discoideum...	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC is found in the cytoplasm/cytosol during the cytoplasmic phase of its cAMP-driven nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Reason: GtaC shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm; upon cAMP-receptor occupancy it exits the nucleus into the cytosol. Cytosolic localization is part of its normal shuttling behaviour and is directly documented. Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 GtaC shifted from the nucleus to the cytoplasm with a half-life of ~65 s
GO:0005634 nucleus	IDA PMID:24653039 Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of a GATA transcription factor f...	ACCEPT	Summary: Direct imaging of GFP-GtaC demonstrates nuclear localization during early development, where GtaC acts as a transcription factor. Reason: Cai et al. 2014 directly visualized GtaC oscillating into the nucleus during early development, consistent with its role as a nuclear transcription factor. This is a core localization. Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 GFP-GtaC underwent oscillatory nucleocytoplasmic shuttling during early development
GO:0005737 cytoplasm	IDA PMID:24653039 Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of a GATA transcription factor f...	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC directly localizes to the cytoplasm during the cytoplasmic phase of its cAMP-driven shuttling cycle. Reason: Cai et al. 2014 directly showed GtaC moving from nucleus to cytoplasm in response to cAMP-receptor occupancy. Cytoplasmic localization is an intrinsic part of the shuttling mechanism. Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 GtaC shifted from the nucleus to the cytoplasm with a half-life of ~65 s
GO:0043326 chemotaxis to folate	IMP PMID:35916164 An atypical MAPK regulates translocation of a GATA transcrip...	KEEP AS NON CORE	Summary: Loss of GtaC enhances chemotactic movement toward folate, indicating GtaC negatively modulates folate chemotaxis; it acts upstream of this foraging process. Reason: Hadwiger et al. 2022 showed that gtaC-null cells have enhanced folate chemotaxis, so GtaC influences (suppresses) this foraging response. The annotation is experimentally supported, but this modulatory foraging role is peripheral to GtaC's core function as a developmental transcription factor. Supporting Evidence: PMID:35916164 Loss of GtaC function resulted in enhanced chemotactic movement to folate, suggesting that GtaC suppresses responses to folate. PMID:35916164 Erk2 was also found to be essential for the translocation of GtaC in response to external folate, a foraging signal that directs the chemotaxis of amoeba to bacteria.
GO:0140582 adenylate cyclase-activating G protein-coupled cAMP receptor signaling pathway	IDA PMID:24653039 Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of a GATA transcription factor f...	KEEP AS NON CORE	Summary: GtaC is a downstream effector within the cAMP-receptor signalling pathway; its shuttling is driven by cAMP-receptor occupancy and it regulates expression of core cAMP-signalling genes such as acaA and carA. Reason: GtaC participates in the cAMP GPCR signalling relay - its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling is driven by cAMP-receptor occupancy and it decodes cAMP pulses to regulate expression of cAMP-signalling components. The annotation captures a genuine signalling role, but the core molecular function of GtaC is transcriptional regulation, so this is retained as non-core. Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of GtaC is driven by periodic occupancy of the surface receptor from self-organized cAMP oscillations. PMID:26144553 GtaC is a key regulator that decodes extracellular cAMP pulses and establishes downstream signalling pathways, ensuring timely development.
GO:0000976 transcription cis-regulatory region binding	IDA PMID:26144553 The GATA transcription factor GtaC regulates early developme...	ACCEPT	Summary: Direct ChIP-seq evidence demonstrates GtaC binds cis-regulatory promoter regions at a GATA-like motif genome-wide. This is a core molecular function. Reason: Santhanam et al. 2015 provided direct genome-wide evidence that GtaC binds thousands of promoter cis-regulatory regions, with enrichment for a GATA-like motif specifically in wild-type GtaC-bound regions. This is the strongest support for GtaC's core DNA-binding function. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 We identified 2,091 genes whose promoter regions were bound by GtaC PMID:26144553 We found enrichment for a GATA-like motif only in regions bound by the WT GtaC
GO:0003700 DNA-binding transcription factor activity	IDA PMID:26144553 The GATA transcription factor GtaC regulates early developme...	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC binds specific promoter motifs and its binding is directly associated with up- and downregulation of target genes, establishing DNA-binding transcription factor activity. This is a core molecular function. Reason: Integration of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq directly demonstrates that GtaC binding to GATA-like sequences regulates target gene expression, confirming its DNA-binding transcription-factor activity. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 GtaC binding to GATA-like sequences has a direct role in upregulating gene expression
GO:0005634 nucleus	IDA PMID:18367552 Cell type specificity of a diffusible inducer is determined ...	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC translocates to the nucleus (in response to the morphogen DIF), consistent with its role as a nuclear transcription factor. Reason: Keller and Thompson 2008 directly showed GtaC rapidly translocating to the nucleus in response to DIF, supporting nuclear activity as a transcription factor. Supporting Evidence: PMID:18367552 GtaC rapidly translocates to the nucleus in response to DIF
GO:0005737 cytoplasm	IDA PMID:18367552 Cell type specificity of a diffusible inducer is determined ...	ACCEPT	Summary: GtaC is cytoplasmic prior to signal-induced nuclear translocation, consistent with its regulated nucleocytoplasmic distribution. Reason: In the DIF-signalling context, GtaC resides in the cytoplasm and translocates to the nucleus upon stimulation, consistent with its signal-regulated shuttling behaviour documented elsewhere. Supporting Evidence: PMID:18367552 GtaC rapidly translocates to the nucleus in response to DIF
GO:0006351 DNA-templated transcription	IDA PMID:24653039 Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of a GATA transcription factor f...	MODIFY	Summary: GtaC regulates transcription of target genes but does not itself perform DNA-templated transcription (it is a transcription factor, not the polymerase). The regulatory term is more appropriate. Reason: GO:0006351 (DNA-templated transcription) denotes the catalytic process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, an activity of RNA polymerase, not of a sequence-specific transcription factor. GtaC controls the expression of target genes by binding cis-regulatory elements, so the regulatory term regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II better captures its role. Proposed replacements: regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II Supporting Evidence: PMID:24653039 receptor occupancy promotes nuclear exit of GtaC, which leads to a transient burst of transcription at each cAMP cycle PMID:26144553 GtaC binding to GATA-like sequences has a direct role in upregulating gene expression
GO:0060176 regulation of aggregation involved in sorocarp development	IMP PMID:24653039 Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of a GATA transcription factor f...	ACCEPT	Summary: gtaC-null cells are defective in aggregation and cannot progress through early development, establishing GtaC as an upstream regulator of aggregation during sorocarp development. This is a core developmental role. Reason: Loss of gtaC impairs aggregation and arrests morphological and transcriptional progression; expression of GFP-GtaC rescues these defects. This directly places GtaC upstream of aggregation during sorocarp development. Supporting Evidence: PMID:26144553 Cells lacking gtaC are defective in aggregation and in morphological and transcriptional progression. PMID:24653039 GtaC shuttling is required for proper control of developmental gene expression and development progression.
GO:0031152 aggregation involved in sorocarp development	IEP PMID:25887420 Leaps and lulls in the developmental transcriptome of Dictyo...	KEEP AS NON CORE	Summary: gtaC transcript abundance is developmentally regulated with a peak during the aggregation phase, and gtaC is described as a master transcriptional regulator of aggregation-associated genes; this expression-pattern annotation is consistent with its established aggregation role. Reason: The IEP annotation is based on gtaC's developmental expression profile, which peaks during aggregation, and its identification as a master regulator of aggregation genes. It corroborates GtaC's aggregation role but, being derived from an expression pattern, is retained as non-core relative to the direct genetic and molecular evidence (GO:0060176). Supporting Evidence: PMID:25887420 The master transcriptional regulator gtaC, and several of its putative target genes involved in aggregation (such as the cell-cell adhesion gene csaA), looked markedly different at different time scales
GO:0031149 sorocarp stalk cell differentiation	IMP PMID:18367552 Cell type specificity of a diffusible inducer is determined ...	KEEP AS NON CORE	Summary: GtaC acts downstream of the morphogen DIF-1 to regulate prestalk (pstB) and basal-disc cell differentiation, a stalk-lineage cell-type role that is secondary to its core early-developmental transcriptional function. Reason: Keller and Thompson 2008 showed that GtaC is required for DIF-dependent pstB and basal-disc (stalk-lineage) differentiation. The annotation is experimentally supported but represents a later, cell-type-specific role that is peripheral to GtaC's core function in early developmental gene regulation. Supporting Evidence: PMID:18367552 GtaC is instead required to regulate DIF-dependent pstB and basal disc cell differentiation. PMID:18367552 gtaC expression is directly regulated by DIF, and GtaC rapidly translocates to the nucleus in response to DIF.

Gene Description

Existing Annotations Review

Core Functions

GtaC is a sequence-specific GATA-family transcription factor that binds GATA-like cis-regulatory elements in target-gene promoters via its Cys2-Cys2 zinc-finger domain, directly controlling developmental gene expression by both activating and repressing target genes.

GtaC binds cis-regulatory promoter regions genome-wide and is essential for early development, acting upstream of aggregation; through cAMP-driven nucleocytoplasmic shuttling it decodes oscillatory cAMP pulses to time developmental gene expression.

References

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