scholarly journals Mechanoregulation of h2-Calponin Gene Expression and the Role of Notch Signaling

2013 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. 1617-1628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-rui Jiang ◽  
Geoffrey Cady ◽  
M. Moazzem Hossain ◽  
Qi-Quan Huang ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
C2c12 Cells ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Signaling Mechanism ◽  
Mechanical Signals ◽  
Promoter Construct ◽  
In Cells

The essential role of mechanical signals in regulating the function of living cells is universally observed. However, how mechanical signals are transduced in cells to regulate gene expression is largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that the gene encoding h2-calponin (Cnn2) is sensitively regulated by mechanical tension. In the present study, mouse genomic DNA containing the Cnn2 promoter was cloned, and a nested set of 5′ truncations was studied. Transcriptional activity of the Cnn2 promoter-reporter constructs was examined in transfected NIH/3T3, HEK293, and C2C12 cells for their responses to the stiffness of culture substrate. The results showed significant transcriptional activities of the −1.00- and −1.24-kb promoter constructs, whereas the −0.61-kb construct was inactive. The −1.38-, −1.57-, and −2.12-kb constructs showed higher transcriptional activity, whereas only the −1.57- and −2.12-kb constructs exhibited repression of expression when the host cells were cultured on low stiffness substrate. Internal deletion of the segment between −1.57 and −1.38 kb in the −2.12-kb promoter construct abolished the low substrate stiffness-induced repression. Site-specific deletion or mutation of an HES-1 transcription factor binding site in this region also abolished this repression effect. The level of HES-1 increased in cells cultured under a low tension condition, corresponding to the down-regulation of h2-calponin. h2-Calponin gene expression is further affected by the treatment of cells with Notch inhibitor and activator, suggesting an upstream signaling mechanism.

Retrovirus-induced interference with collagen I gene expression in Mov13 fibroblasts is maintained in the absence of DNA methylation

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
H Chan ◽  
S Hartung ◽  
M Breindl
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Chromatin Structure ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Oocytes ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Type I ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Col1a1 Gene

We have studied the role of DNA methylation in repression of the murine alpha 1 type I collagen (COL1A1) gene in Mov13 fibroblasts. In Mov13 mice, a retroviral provirus has inserted into the first intron of the COL1A1 gene and blocks its expression at the level of transcriptional initiation. We found that regulatory sequences in the COL1A1 promoter region that are involved in the tissue-specific regulation of the gene are unmethylated in collagen-expressing wild-type fibroblasts and methylated in Mov13 fibroblasts, confirming and extending earlier observations. To directly assess the role of DNA methylation in the repression of COL1A1 gene transcription, we treated Mov13 fibroblasts with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine. This treatment resulted in a demethylation of the COL1A1 regulatory sequences but failed to activate transcription of the COL1A1 gene. Moreover, the 5-azacytidine treatment induced a transcription-competent chromatin structure in the retroviral sequences but not in the COL1A1 promoter. In DNA transfection and microinjection experiments, we found that the provirus interfered with transcriptional activity of the COL1A1 promoter in Mov13 fibroblasts but not in Xenopus laevis oocytes. In contrast, the wild-type COL1A1 promoter was transcriptionally active in Mov13 fibroblasts. These experiments showed that the COL1A1 promoter is potentially transcriptionally active in the presence of proviral sequences and that Mov13 fibroblasts contain the trans-acting factors required for efficient COL1A1 gene expression. Our results indicate that the provirus insertion in Mov13 can inactivate COL1A1 gene expression at several levels. It prevents the developmentally regulated establishment of a transcription-competent methylation pattern and chromatin structure of the COL1A1 domain and, in the absence of DNA methylation, appears to suppress the COL1A1 promoter in a cell-specific manner, presumably by assuming a dominant chromatin structure that may be incompatible with transcriptional activity of flanking cellular sequences.

In vivo regulation of β-MHC gene in rodent heart: role of T3 and evidence for an upstream enhancer

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (4) ◽  
pp. C883-C891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola E. Wright ◽  
F. Haddad ◽  
A. X. Qin ◽  
P. W. Bodell ◽  
K. M. Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Normal Control ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Luciferase Reporter Gene ◽  
Promoter Construct ◽  
Hormone Responsiveness

Cardiac β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) gene expression is mainly regulated through transcriptional processes. Although these results are based primarily on in vitro cell culture models, relatively little information is available concerning the interaction of key regulatory factors thought to modulate MHC expression in the intact rodent heart. Using a direct gene transfer approach, we studied the in vivo transcriptional activity of different-length β-MHC promoter fragments in normal control and in altered thyroid states. The test β-MHC promoter was fused to a firefly luciferase reporter gene, whereas the control α-MHC promoter was fused to the Renilla luciferase reporter gene and was used to account for variations in transfection efficiency. Absolute reporter gene activities showed that β- and α-MHC genes were individually and reciprocally regulated by thyroid hormone. The β-to-α ratios of reporter gene expression demonstrated an almost threefold larger β-MHC gene expression in the longest than in the shorter promoter fragments in normal control animals, implying the existence of an upstream enhancer. A mutation in the putative thyroid response element of the −408-bp β-MHC promoter construct caused transcriptional activity to drop to null. When studied in the −3,500-bp β-MHC promoter, construct activity was reduced (∼100-fold) while thyroid hormone responsiveness was retained. These findings suggest that, even though the bulk of the thyroid hormone responsiveness of the gene is contained within the first 215 bp of the β-MHC promoter sequence, the exact mechanism of triiodothyronine (T3) action remains to be elucidated.

scholarly journals Role of Osteoglycin in the Linkage between Muscle and Bone

2012 ◽  
Vol 287 (15) ◽  
pp. 11616-11628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichiro Tanaka ◽  
Erika Matsumoto ◽  
Yoshiko Higashimaki ◽  
Takenobu Katagiri ◽  
Toshitsugu Sugimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
C2c12 Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Humoral Factors ◽  
Anabolic Activity ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
Muscle Tissues

The interaction between muscle tissues and bone metabolism is incompletely understood. We hypothesized that there might be some humoral factors that are produced in muscle tissues and exhibit bone anabolic activity. We, therefore, performed comparative DNA microarray analysis between mouse myoblastic C2C12 cells transfected with either stable empty vector or ALK2 (R206H), the mutation that constitutively activates the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor, to search for muscle-derived bone anabolic factors. Twenty-five genes whose expression was decreased to <1/4, were identified; these included osteoglycin (OGN). Stable overexpression of OGN significantly decreased the levels of Runx2 and Osterix mRNA compared with those in cells transfected with vector alone in MC3T3-E1 cells. On the other hand, it significantly enhanced the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen (Col1), and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA as well as β-catenin and mineralization. A reduction in endogenous OGN level showed the opposite effects to those of OGN overexpression in MC3T3-E1 and mouse calvarial osteoblastic cells. Transient OGN overexpression significantly suppressed the levels of Runx2, Osterix, ALP, Col1, and OCN mRNA induced by BMP-2 in C2C12 cells. The conditioned medium from OGN-overexpressed and OGN-suppressed myoblastic cells enhanced and decreased, respectively, the levels of ALP, Col1, and β-catenin in MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, OGN increased Smad3/4-responsive transcriptional activity as well as Col1 mRNA levels independently of endogenous TGF-β in these cells. In conclusion, this study suggests that OGN may be a crucial humoral bone anabolic factor that is produced by muscle tissues.

Connected through the force: mechanical signals in plant development

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (14) ◽  
pp. 3507-3519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoit Landrein ◽  
Gwyneth Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Plant Development ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Plant Morphogenesis ◽  
Mechanical Signals ◽  
Physical Forces ◽  
Multicellular Organisms ◽  
Biochemical Signals

Abstract As multicellular organisms, plants acquire characteristic shapes through a complex set of biological processes known as morphogenesis. Biochemical signalling underlies much of development, as it allows cells to acquire specific identities based on their position within tissues and organs. However, as growing physical structures, plants, and their constituent cells, also experience internal and external physical forces that can be perceived and can influence key processes such as growth, polarity, and gene expression. This process, which adds another layer of control to growth and development, has important implications for plant morphogenesis. This review provides an overview of recent research into the role of mechanical signals in plant development and aims to show how mechanical signalling can be used, in concert with biochemical signals, as a cue allowing cells and tissues to coordinate their behaviour and to add robustness to developmental processes.

scholarly journals Contrasting Effects of σE on Compartmentalization of σF Activity during Sporulation of Bacillus subtilis

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (7) ◽  
pp. 1983-1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Hilbert ◽  
Vasant K. Chary ◽  
Patrick J. Piggot
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Mother Cell ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Primitive Form ◽  
Small Proteins ◽  
Dna Translocase

ABSTRACT Spore formation by Bacillus subtilis is a primitive form of development. In response to nutrient starvation and high cell density, B. subtilis divides asymmetrically, resulting in two cells with different sizes and cell fates. Immediately after division, the transcription factor σF becomes active in the smaller prespore, which is followed by the activation of σE in the larger mother cell. In this report, we examine the role of the mother cell-specific transcription factor σE in maintaining the compartmentalization of gene expression during development. We have studied a strain with a deletion of the spoIIIE gene, encoding a DNA translocase, that exhibits uncompartmentalized σF activity. We have determined that the deletion of spoIIIE alone does not substantially impact compartmentalization, but in the spoIIIE mutant, the expression of putative peptidoglycan hydrolases under the control of σE in the mother cell destroys the integrity of the septum. As a consequence, small proteins can cross the septum, thereby abolishing compartmentalization. In addition, we have found that in a mutant with partially impaired control of σF, the activation of σE in the mother cell is important to prevent the activation of σF in this compartment. Therefore, the activity of σE can either maintain or abolish the compartmentalization of σF, depending upon the genetic makeup of the strain. We conclude that σE activity must be carefully regulated in order to maintain compartmentalization of gene expression during development.

scholarly journals Histone exchange is associated with activator function at transcribed promoters and with repression at histone loci

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (36) ◽  
pp. eabb0333
Author(s):  
Sari Kassem ◽  
Paolo Ferrari ◽  
Amanda L. Hughes ◽  
Julien Soudet ◽  
Oliver J. Rando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Regulate Gene Expression ◽  
Histone Exchange ◽  
Regulate Gene

Transcription in eukaryotes correlates with major chromatin changes, including the replacement of old nucleosomal histones by new histones at the promoters of genes. The role of these histone exchange events in transcription remains unclear. In particular, the causal relationship between histone exchange and activator binding, preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly, and/or subsequent transcription remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence that histone exchange at gene promoters is not simply a consequence of PIC assembly or transcription but instead is mediated by activators. We further show that not all activators up-regulate gene expression by inducing histone turnover. Thus, histone exchange does not simply correlate with transcriptional activity, but instead reflects the mode of action of the activator. Last, we show that histone turnover is not only associated with activator function but also plays a role in transcriptional repression at the histone loci.

Regulation of the uncoupling protein gene expression

1997 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Enrique Silva ◽  
Rogerio Rabelo
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Response Elements ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
A Cell

Abstract Uncoupling protein (UCP) is essential to the thermogenic function of brown adipose tissue (BAT). The thermogenic role of this protein is due to its capacity to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in a regulated manner. The thermogenic potential of BAT is determined by its content of UCP. The gene encoding this protein is under complex regulation. Catecholamines, via cAMP, thyroid hormone and retinoic acid, directly stimulate the gene acting upon an upstream (−2·28/−2·49 kb) enhancer sequence, but cAMP may act upon other sequences of the gene as well. CCAAT enhancer binding proteins and peroxisome proliferation activator receptor (PPAR)γ2 have also been implicated in the regulation of the gene acting on discrete sequences. While the thyroid hormone response and retinoic acid response elements (TRE and RARE) have been well defined, the cAMP response elements (CRE) remain elusive. The two TREs are 27 bp apart between −2·33 kb and −2·39 kb. The synergism between cAMP and thyroid hormone seems to reside in a 39 bp sequence downstream (−2·28/−2·32 kb). The most important CRE, the RARE, a cell-specific enhancer and a putative PPAR element are all concentrated in a 90 bp regulatory element of great complexity (−2·40/−22·49 kb). Other hormones, such as insulin and glucocorticoids, and IGF-I also modulate the expression of the gene but their effects seem to be largely indirect. Understanding the regulation of the UCP gene expression may facilitate the development of interventions in obesity and related disorders. European Journal of Endocrinology 136 251–264

Thyroid hormone-induced stimulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase gene is inhibited by LIF and IL-6

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (4) ◽  
pp. E738-E743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Gloss ◽  
Sonia Villegas ◽  
Francisco J. Villarreal ◽  
Anselmo Moriscot ◽  
Wolfgang H. Dillmann
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Cardiac Myocytes ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cytokine Inhibition ◽  
Atpase Gene ◽  
Promoter Construct

We investigated the effects of the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on 3,3′, 5-triiodo-l-thyronine, or thyroid hormone (T3)-stimulated sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ATPase (SERCA2) gene expression on cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. A reduction of T3 induced increases in SERCA2 mRNA levels after co-treatment with LIF or IL-6. To investigate for the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for the blunted gene expression, a 3.2-kb SERCA2 promoter construct containing a reporter gene was transfected into cardiac myocytes. T3 treatment stimulated transcriptional activity twofold, whereas co-treatment with T3 and either of the cytokines caused an inhibition of T3-induced SERCA2 transcriptional activity. A T3-responsive 0.6-kb SERCA2 construct also showed a similar inhibition by cytokines. Cytokine inhibition of SERCA2 transcriptional activity was also evident when a 0.6-kb SERCA2 mutant, T3-unresponsive promoter construct was used. Treatment with T3 and cytokines showed a significant decrease in transcription when a reporter construct was used that was comprised of direct repeats of SERCA2 thyroid response element I. These data provide evidence for cytokine-mediated inhibitory effects on the SERCA2 promoter that may be mediated by interfering with T3action.

scholarly journals The Role of Sequence Duplication in Transcriptional Regulation and Genome Evolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 405-408
Author(s):  
Luis M. Vaschetto ◽  
Natalia Ortiz
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Genome Evolution ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Evolutionary Strategies ◽  
Coding Sequences ◽  
Adaptive Diversity ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
Genome Level

Sequence duplication is nowadays recognized as an important mechanism that underlies the evolution of eukaryote genomes, being indeed one of the most powerful strategies for the generation of adaptive diversity by modulating transcriptional activity. The evolutionary novelties simultaneously associated with sequence duplication and differential gene expression can be collectively referred to as duplication-mediated transcriptional regulation. In the last years, evidence has emerged supporting the idea that sequence duplication and functionalization represent important evolutionary strategies acting at the genome level, and both coding and non-coding sequences have been found to be targets of such events. Moreover, it has been proposed that deleterious effects of sequence duplication might be potentially silenced by endogenous cell machinery (i.e., RNA interference, epigenetic repressive marks, etc). Along these lines, our aim is to highlight the role of sequence duplication on transcriptional activity and the importance of both in genome evolution.

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