An intronic MYLK variant associated with inflammatory lung disease regulates promoter activity of the smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase isoform

2011 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoo Jeong Han ◽  
Shwu-Fan Ma ◽  
Michael S. Wade ◽  
Carlos Flores ◽  
Joe G. N. Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Smooth Muscle Myosin ◽  
Inflammatory Lung Disease ◽  
Muscle Myosin

scholarly journals Naturally Extended CT · AG Repeats Increase H-DNA Structures and Promoter Activity in the Smooth Muscle Myosin Light Chain Kinase Gene

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 863-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoo-Jeong Han ◽  
Primal de Lanerolle
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Myosin Light Chain Kinase ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Myosin Light Chain ◽  
Smooth Muscle Myosin ◽  
Insertion Mutation ◽  
Hypertensive Rats ◽  
Dna Structures ◽  
Muscle Myosin

ABSTRACT Naturally occurring repeat sequences capable of adopting H-DNA structures are abundant in promoters of disease-related genes. In support of this, we found (CT)22 · (AG)22 repeats in the promoter of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK), a key regulator of vascular smooth muscle function. We also found an insertion mutation that adds another six pairs of CT · AG repeats and increases smMLCK promoter activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Therefore, we used the smMLCK promoters from normotensive and hypertensive rats as a model system to determine how CT · AG repeats form H-DNA, an intramolecular triplex, and regulate promoter activity. High-resolution mapping with a chemical probe selective for H-DNA showed that the CT · AG repeats adopt H-DNA structures at a neutral pH. Importantly, the SHR promoter forms longer H-DNA structures than the promoter from normotensive rats. Reconstituting nucleosomes on the promoters, in vitro, showed no difference in nucleosome positioning between the two promoters. However, chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that histone acetylations are greater in the hypertensive promoter. Thus, our findings suggest that the extended CT · AG repeats in the SHR promoter increase H-DNA structures, histone modifications, and promoter activity of the smMLCK, perhaps contributing to vascular disorders in hypertension.

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