bHLH proteins encoded by theEnhancer of split complex ofDrosophila negatively interfere with transcriptional activation mediated by proneural genes

1994 ◽  
Vol 244 (5) ◽  
pp. 465-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja Oellers ◽  
Michaela Dehio ◽  
Elisabeth Knust
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Proneural Genes ◽  
Bhlh Proteins

scholarly journals NeuroD2 and neuroD3: distinct expression patterns and transcriptional activation potentials within the neuroD gene family.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 5792-5800 ◽  
Author(s):  
M B McCormick ◽  
R M Tamimi ◽  
L Snider ◽  
A Asakura ◽  
D Bergstrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Predicted Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Related Family ◽  
New Genes ◽  
Bhlh Proteins ◽  
High Degree

We have identified two new genes, neuroD2 and neuroD3, on the basis of their similarity to the neurogenic basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene neuroD. The predicted amino acid sequence of neuroD2 shows a high degree of homology to neuroD and MATH-2/NEX-1 in the bHLH region, whereas neuroD3 is a more distantly related family member. neuroD3 is expressed transiently during embryonic development, with the highest levels of expression between days 10 and 12. neuroD2 is initially expressed at embryonic day 11, with persistent expression in the adult nervous system. In situ and Northern (RNA) analyses demonstrate that different regions of the adult nervous system have different relative amounts of neuroD and neuroD2 RNA. Similar to neuroD, expression of neuroD2 in developing Xenopus laevis embryos results in ectopic neurogenesis, indicating that neuroD2 mediates neuronal differentiation. Transfection of vectors expressing neuroD and neuroD2 into P19 cells shows that both can activate expression through simple E-box-driven reporter constructs and can activate a reporter driven by the neuroD2 promoter region, but the GAP-43 promoter is preferentially activated by neuroD2. The noncongruent expression pattern and target gene specificity of these highly related neurogenic bHLH proteins make them candidates for conferring specific aspects of the neuronal phenotype.

scholarly journals Intramolecular Regulation of MyoD Activation Domain Conformation and Function

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 5478-5484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Huang ◽  
Hal Weintraub ◽  
Larry Kedes
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Activation Domain ◽  
Transcriptional Activation Domain ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Dna Binding Specificity ◽  
E Box ◽  
And Function ◽  
Bhlh Proteins ◽  
Basic Region

ABSTRACT The MyoD family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins is required for myogenic determination and differentiation. The basic region carries the myogenic code and DNA binding specificity, while the N terminus contains a potent transcriptional activation domain. Myogenic activation is abolished when the basic region, bound to a myogenic E box, carries a mutation of Ala-114. It has been proposed that DNA binding of the MyoD basic region leads to recruitment of a recognition factor that unmasks the activation domain. Here we demonstrate that an A114N mutant exhibits an altered conformation in the basic region and that this local conformational difference can lead to a more global change affecting the conformation of the activation domain. This suggests that the deleterious effects of this class of mutations may result directly from defective conformation. Thus, the activation domain is unmasked only upon DNA binding by the correct basic region. Such a coupled conformational relationship may have evolved to restrict myogenic specificity to a small number of bHLH proteins among many with diverse functions yet with DNA binding specificities known to be similar.

scholarly journals Molecular Distinction between Specification and Differentiation in the Myogenic Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor Family

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2404-2412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald A. Bergstrom ◽  
Stephen J. Tapscott
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Alpha Helix ◽  
Endogenous Gene ◽  
Transcriptional Activation Domain ◽  
Basic Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Muscle Genes ◽  
Bhlh Proteins

ABSTRACT The myogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins regulate both skeletal muscle specification and differentiation: MyoD and Myf5 establish the muscle lineage, whereas myogenin mediates differentiation. Previously, we demonstrated that MyoD was more efficient than myogenin at initiating the expression of skeletal muscle genes, and in this study we present the molecular basis for this difference. A conserved amphipathic alpha-helix in the carboxy terminus of the myogenic bHLH proteins has distinct activities in MyoD and myogenin: the MyoD helix facilitates the initiation of endogenous gene expression, whereas the myogenin helix functions as a general transcriptional activation domain. Thus, the alternate use of a similar motif for gene initiation and activation provides a molecular basis for the distinction between specification and differentiation within the myogenic bHLH gene family.

scholarly journals A chimeric enhancer-of-split transcriptional activator drives neural development and achaete-scute expression.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 4355-4362 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Jiménez ◽  
D Ish-Horowicz
Keyword(s):  
Neural Development ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Activation Domain ◽  
Transcriptional Activation Domain ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Inhibition Process ◽  
Bhlh Proteins ◽  
Enhancer Of Split

Drosophila melanogaster neurogenesis requires the opposing activities of two sets of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins: proneural proteins, which confer on cells the ability to become neural precursors, and the Enhancer-of-split [E(spl)] proteins, which restrict such potential as part of the lateral inhibition process. Here, we test if E(spl) proteins function as promoter-bound repressors by examining the effects on neurogenesis of an E(spl) derivative containing a heterologous transcriptional activation domain [E(spl) m7Act (m7Act)]. In contrast to the wild-type E(spl) proteins, m7Act efficiently induces neural development, indicating that it binds to and activates target genes normally repressed by E(spl). Mutations in the basic domain disrupt m7Act activity, suggesting that its effects are mediated through direct DNA binding. m7Act causes ectopic transcription of the proneural achaete and scute genes. Our results support a model in which E(spl) proteins normally regulate neurogenesis by direct repression of genes at the top of the neural determination pathway.

scholarly journals Drosophila Tufted Is a Gain-of-Function Allele of the Proneural Gene amos

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (4) ◽  
pp. 1413-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric C Lai
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Proneural Gene ◽  
Sensory Organs ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
Proneural Genes ◽  
Bhlh Proteins ◽  
Do So ◽  
Drosophila Mutant

Abstract Tufted is a classical Drosophila mutant characterized by a large number of ectopic mechanosensory bristles on the dorsal mesothorax. Unlike other ectopic bristle mutants, Tufted is epistatic to achaete and scute, the proneural genes that normally control the development of these sensory organs. In this report, I present genetic and molecular evidence that Tufted is a gain-of-function allele of the proneural gene amos that ectopically activates mechanosensory neurogenesis. I also systematically examine the ability of the various proneural bHLH proteins to cross-activate each other and find that their ability to do so is in general relatively limited, despite their common ability to induce the formation of mechanosensory bristles. This phenomenon seems instead to be related to their shared ability to activate Asense and Senseless.

scholarly journals The Basic Domain of ATH5 Mediates Neuron-Specific Promoter Activity during Retina Development

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 10029-10039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk ◽  
Lidia Matter-Sadzinski ◽  
Marc Ballivet ◽  
Jean-Marc Matter
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Bhlh Transcription Factor ◽  
Specific Marker ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor ◽  
Retina Development ◽  
Basic Domain ◽  
Bhlh Proteins

ABSTRACT In the developing retina, the gene encoding the β3 subunit of the neuronal nicotinic receptor, a specific marker of retinal ganglion cells, is under the direct control of the atonal homolog 5 (ATH5) basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor. Although quite short (143 bp in length), the β3 promoter has the remarkable capacity to discriminate between ATH5 and the other neuronal bHLH proteins expressed in the developing nervous system. We have identified three amino acids within the basic domain that confer specificity to the ATH5 protein. These residues do not mediate direct DNA binding but are required for interaction between ATH5 and chromatin-associated proteins during retina development. When misexpressed in neurons, the myogenic bHLH factor MyoD is also able to activate the β3 gene. This, however, is achieved not by binding of the protein to the promoter but by dimerization of MyoD with a partner, a process that depends not on the basic domain but on the HLH domain. By sequestering an E-box-binding protein, MyoD relieves the active repression that blocks the β3 promoter in most neurons. The mechanisms used by bHLH proteins to activate β3 thus highlight how ATH5 is selected by the β3 promoter and coordinates the derepression and transcriptional activation of the β3 gene during the specification of retinal ganglion cells.

scholarly journals Multiple Roles for the MyoD Basic Region in Transmission of Transcriptional Activation Signals and Interaction with MEF2

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian L. Black ◽  
Jeffery D. Molkentin ◽  
Eric N. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Protein Protein Interactions ◽  
Activation Domain ◽  
Basic Domain ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Bhlh Proteins ◽  
Basic Region

ABSTRACT Establishment of skeletal muscle lineages is controlled by the MyoD family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. The ability of these factors to initiate myogenesis is dependent on two conserved amino acid residues, alanine and threonine, in the basic domains of these factors. It has been postulated that these two residues may be responsible for the initiation of myogenesis via interaction with an essential myogenic cofactor. The myogenic bHLH proteins cooperatively activate transcription and myogenesis through protein-protein interactions with members of the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family of MADS domain transcription factors. MyoD-E12 heterodimers interact with MEF2 proteins to synergistically activate myogenesis, while homodimers of E12, which lack the conserved alanine and threonine residues in the basic domain, do not interact with MEF2. We have examined whether the myogenic alanine and threonine in the MyoD basic region are required for interaction with MEF2. Here, we show that substitution of the MyoD basic domain with that of E12 does not prevent interaction with MEF2. Instead, the inability of alanine-threonine mutants of MyoD to initiate myogenesis is due to a failure to transmit transcriptional activation signals provided either from the MyoD or the MEF2 activation domain. This defect in transcriptional transmission can be overcome by substitution of the MyoD or the MEF2 activation domain with the VP16 activation domain. These results demonstrate that myogenic bHLH-MEF2 interaction can be uncoupled from transcriptional activation and support the idea that the myogenic residues in myogenic bHLH proteins are essential for transmission of a transcriptional activation signal.

Copper-dependent ATP7B up-regulation drives the resistance of TMEM16A-overexpressing head-and-neck cancer models to platinum toxicity

2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (24) ◽  
pp. 3705-3719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avani Vyas ◽  
Umamaheswar Duvvuri ◽  
Kirill Kiselyov
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Platinum Resistance ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Platinum Compounds ◽  
Copper Chelation ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Cancer Models

Platinum-containing drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin are routinely used for the treatment of many solid tumors including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). However, SCCHN resistance to platinum compounds is well documented. The resistance to platinum has been linked to the activity of divalent transporter ATP7B, which pumps platinum from the cytoplasm into lysosomes, decreasing its concentration in the cytoplasm. Several cancer models show increased expression of ATP7B; however, the reason for such an increase is not known. Here we show a strong positive correlation between mRNA levels of TMEM16A and ATP7B in human SCCHN tumors. TMEM16A overexpression and depletion in SCCHN cell lines caused parallel changes in the ATP7B mRNA levels. The ATP7B increase in TMEM16A-overexpressing cells was reversed by suppression of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), by the antioxidant N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) and by copper chelation using cuprizone and bathocuproine sulphonate (BCS). Pretreatment with either chelator significantly increased cisplatin's sensitivity, particularly in the context of TMEM16A overexpression. We propose that increased oxidative stress in TMEM16A-overexpressing cells liberates the chelated copper in the cytoplasm, leading to the transcriptional activation of ATP7B expression. This, in turn, decreases the efficacy of platinum compounds by promoting their vesicular sequestration. We think that such a new explanation of the mechanism of SCCHN tumors’ platinum resistance identifies novel approach to treating these tumors.

Role of molecular chaperones in steroid receptor action

2004 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 41-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B Pratt ◽  
Mario D Galigniana ◽  
Yoshihiro Morishima ◽  
Patrick J M Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Protein Trafficking ◽  
Steroid Receptors ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome ◽  
Proteasome Pathway ◽  
Receptor Action ◽  
Binding Cleft ◽  
Hsp 90

Unliganded steroid receptors are assembled into heterocomplexes with heat-shock protein (hsp) 90 by a multiprotein chaperone machinery. In addition to binding the receptors at the chaperone site, hsp90 binds cofactors at other sites that are part of the assembly machinery, as well as immunophilins that connect the assembled receptor-hsp90 heterocomplexes to a protein trafficking pathway. The hsp90-/hsp70-based chaperone machinery interacts with the unliganded glucocorticoid receptor to open the steroid-binding cleft to access by a steroid, and the machinery interacts in very dynamic fashion with the liganded, transformed receptor to facilitate its translocation along microtubular highways to the nucleus. In the nucleus, the chaperone machinery interacts with the receptor in transcriptional regulatory complexes after hormone dissociation to release the receptor and terminate transcriptional activation. By forming heterocomplexes with hsp90, the chaperone machinery stabilizes the receptor to degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway of proteolysis.

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