scholarly journals Regulation of tyrosinase gene expression by cAMP in B16 melanoma cells involves two CATGTG motifs surrounding the TATA box: implication of the microphthalmia gene product.

1996 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 747-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Bertolotto ◽  
K Bille ◽  
J P Ortonne ◽  
R Ballotti
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Transcriptional Start Site ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Tata Box ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Tyrosinase Gene ◽  
Luciferase Reporter Plasmid ◽  
E Box

In melanocytes and in melanoma cells, upregulation of melanogenesis, by cAMP elevating agents, results from a stimulation of tyrosinase activity that has been ascribed to an increase in tyrosinase protein and messenger amount. However, the mechanism by which cAMP elevating agents increase tyrosinase mRNA remains to be elucidated. In this study, using a luciferase reporter plasmid containing the 2.2-kb fragment 5' of the transcriptional start site of the mouse tyrosinase gene, we showed that cAMP elevating agents lead to a strong stimulation (20-fold) of transcriptional activity of the tyrosinase promoter. Deletions and mutations in the mouse tyrosinase promoter showed that the M-box 70-bp upstream from the TATA-box and the E-box located downstream the TATA-box, near to the initiator site, are involved in the regulation of the tyrosinase promoter activity by cAMP. Additionally, we showed that microphthalmia, a b-HLH transcription factor associated with pigmentation disorders in mouse, binds to these regulatory elements and modulates the transcriptional activity of the tyrosinase promoter. Since cAMP stimulates the binding of microphthalmia to the M-box and to the E-box; it is tempting to propose that microphthalmia, through its interaction with cis-acting elements surrounding the TATA-box, plays a key role in the regulation of the mouse tyrosinase gene expression by cAMP.

scholarly journals Chromatin loop anchors contain core structural components of the gene expression machinery in maize

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Deschamps ◽  
John A. Crow ◽  
Nadia Chaidir ◽  
Brooke Peterson-Burch ◽  
Sunil Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Open Chromatin ◽  
Maize Genome ◽  
Chromatin Loop ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Chromatin Loops

Abstract Background Three-dimensional chromatin loop structures connect regulatory elements to their target genes in regions known as anchors. In complex plant genomes, such as maize, it has been proposed that loops span heterochromatic regions marked by higher repeat content, but little is known on their spatial organization and genome-wide occurrence in relation to transcriptional activity. Results Here, ultra-deep Hi-C sequencing of maize B73 leaf tissue was combined with gene expression and open chromatin sequencing for chromatin loop discovery and correlation with hierarchical topologically-associating domains (TADs) and transcriptional activity. A majority of all anchors are shared between multiple loops from previous public maize high-resolution interactome datasets, suggesting a highly dynamic environment, with a conserved set of anchors involved in multiple interaction networks. Chromatin loop interiors are marked by higher repeat contents than the anchors flanking them. A small fraction of high-resolution interaction anchors, fully embedded in larger chromatin loops, co-locate with active genes and putative protein-binding sites. Combinatorial analyses indicate that all anchors studied here co-locate with at least 81.5% of expressed genes and 74% of open chromatin regions. Approximately 38% of all Hi-C chromatin loops are fully embedded within hierarchical TAD-like domains, while the remaining ones share anchors with domain boundaries or with distinct domains. Those various loop types exhibit specific patterns of overlap for open chromatin regions and expressed genes, but no apparent pattern of gene expression. In addition, up to 63% of all unique variants derived from a prior public maize eQTL dataset overlap with Hi-C loop anchors. Anchor annotation suggests that < 7% of all loops detected here are potentially devoid of any genes or regulatory elements. The overall organization of chromatin loop anchors in the maize genome suggest a loop modeling system hypothesized to resemble phase separation of repeat-rich regions. Conclusions Sets of conserved chromatin loop anchors mapping to hierarchical domains contains core structural components of the gene expression machinery in maize. The data presented here will be a useful reference to further investigate their function in regard to the formation of transcriptional complexes and the regulation of transcriptional activity in the maize genome.

scholarly journals Regulation of protamine gene expression in an in vitro homologous system.

1996 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Jankowski ◽  
P D Cannon ◽  
F Van der Hoorn ◽  
L D Wasilewska ◽  
N C Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Tata Box ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Binding Factor ◽  
Gc Box ◽  
Responsive Element

An in vitro transcription system from the trout testis nuclei was developed to study trout protamine gene expression. The protamine promoter contains, among others, two regulatory elements: 1) a cAMP-responsive element or CRE element (TGACGTCA) which is present in position 5' to TATA box, and 2) GC box (CCGCCC) which is present in position 3' to TATA box. The removal of the CRE-binding protein by titration (by the addition of appropriate oligonucleotides to the incubation mixture) resulted in a decrease in transcription of the protamine gene. These results were confirmed by experiments in which the pure CRE-binding factor (TPBP1) was used, as well as by those where a stimulatory effect of cAMP on protamine promoter transcription was observed. On the other hand, addition of oligonucleotides containing the GC-box sequence enhanced the protamine gene transcription indicating that the protein (Sp1 like) which binds to this sequence acts as a repressor of protamine gene expression. These results confirm the previously proposed model which suggested that the GC box played a role in negative regulation of the protamine gene expression. Involvement of some other factors in this process was also discussed.

scholarly journals DEC1 Modulates the Circadian Phase of Clock Gene Expression

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 4080-4092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayumu Nakashima ◽  
Takeshi Kawamoto ◽  
Kiyomasa K. Honda ◽  
Taichi Ueshima ◽  
Mitsuhide Noshiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Clock Genes ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Constant Darkness ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Behavioral Rhythms ◽  
Circadian Phase ◽  
Clock Gene Expression ◽  
E Box ◽  
E Boxes

ABSTRACT DEC1 suppresses CLOCK/BMAL1-enhanced promoter activity, but its role in the circadian system of mammals remains unclear. Here we examined the effect of Dec1 overexpression or deficiency on circadian gene expression triggered with 50% serum. Overexpression of Dec1 delayed the phase of clock genes such as Dec1, Dec2, Per1, and Dbp that contain E boxes in their regulatory regions, whereas it had little effect on the circadian phase of Per2 and Cry1 carrying CACGTT E′ boxes. In contrast, Dec1 deficiency advanced the phase of the E-box-containing clock genes but not that of the E′-box-containing clock genes. Accordingly, DEC1 showed strong binding and transrepression on the E box, but not on the E′ box, in chromatin immunoprecipitation, electrophoretic mobility shift, and luciferase reporter assays. Dec1 −/− mice showed behavioral rhythms with slightly but significantly longer circadian periods under conditions of constant darkness and faster reentrainment to a 6-h phase-advanced shift of a light-dark cycle. Knockdown of Dec2 with small interfering RNA advanced the phase of Dec1 and Dbp expression, and double knockdown of Dec1 and Dec2 had much stronger effects on the expression of the E-box-containing clock genes. These findings suggest that DEC1, along with DEC2, plays a role in the finer regulation and robustness of the molecular clock.

scholarly journals Epigenomic landscape of enhancer elements during Hydra head organizer formation

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Puli Chandramouli Reddy ◽  
Akhila Gungi ◽  
Suyog Ubhe ◽  
Sanjeev Galande
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
The Body ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Chromatin Architecture ◽  
Ectopic Activation

Abstract Background Axis patterning during development is accompanied by large-scale gene expression changes. These are brought about by changes in the histone modifications leading to dynamic alterations in chromatin architecture. The cis regulatory DNA elements also play an important role towards modulating gene expression in a context-dependent manner. Hydra belongs to the phylum Cnidaria where the first asymmetry in the body plan was observed and the oral-aboral axis originated. Wnt signaling has been shown to determine the head organizer function in the basal metazoan Hydra. Results To gain insights into the evolution of cis regulatory elements and associated chromatin signatures, we ectopically activated the Wnt signaling pathway in Hydra and monitored the genome-wide alterations in key histone modifications. Motif analysis of putative intergenic enhancer elements from Hydra revealed the conservation of bilaterian cis regulatory elements that play critical roles in development. Differentially regulated enhancer elements were identified upon ectopic activation of Wnt signaling and found to regulate many head organizer specific genes. Enhancer activity of many of the identified cis regulatory elements was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis upon activation of Wnt signaling further confirmed the enrichment of H3K27ac on the enhancer elements of Hv_Wnt5a, Hv_Wnt11 and head organizer genes Hv_Bra1, CnGsc and Hv_Pitx1. Additionally, perturbation of the putative H3K27me3 eraser activity using a specific inhibitor affected the ectopic activation of Wnt signaling indicating the importance of the dynamic changes in the H3K27 modifications towards regulation of the genes involved in the head organizer activity. Conclusions The activation-associated histone marks H3K4me3, H3K27ac and H3K9ac mark chromatin in a similar manner as seen in bilaterians. We identified intergenic cis regulatory elements which harbor sites for key transcription factors involved in developmental processes. Differentially regulated enhancers exhibited motifs for many zinc-finger, T-box and ETS related TFs whose homologs have a head specific expression in Hydra and could be a part of the pioneer TF network in the patterning of the head. The ability to differentially modify the H3K27 residue is critical for the patterning of Hydra axis revealing a dynamic acetylation/methylation switch to regulate gene expression and chromatin architecture.

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 Evaluation of Melanogenesis in A-375 Cells in the Presence of DMSO and Analysis of Pyrolytic Profile of Isolated Melanin

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Chodurek ◽  
Arkadiusz Orchel ◽  
Joanna Orchel ◽  
Sławomir Kurkiewicz ◽  
Natalia Gawlik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Melanoma ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Human Melanoma ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Pyrolysis Gas ◽  
Tyrosinase Gene ◽  
Melanoma Malignum ◽  
Morbidity Risk

The increase of a skin malignant melanoma (melanoma malignum) incidence in the world has been observed in recent years. The tumour, especially in advanced stadium with metastases, is highly resistant to conventional treatment. One of the strategies is to modulate melanogenesis using chemical compounds. In this study, the processes of differentiation and melanogenesis induced by dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in human melanoma cells (A-375) were investigated. Natural melanin isolated from A-375 melanoma cell line treated with 0.3% DMSO was analyzed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method. The products derived from pheomelanin have not been stated in the pyrolytic profile of analyzed melanin. Within all products derived from eumelanins, 1,2-benzenediol has been predominated. It has been shown that in the melanoma cells stimulated with 0.3% and 1% DMSO, the increase of transcriptional activity of the tyrosinase gene took place. It was accompanied by the rise of tyrosinase activity and an accumulation of melanin in the cells. The better knowledge about the structure of melanins can contribute to establish the uniform criteria of malignant melanoma morbidity risk.

PLAG1 and USF2 Regulate Primitive Hematopoietic Expression of Musashi-2

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 3583-3583
Author(s):  
Muluken S Belew ◽  
Stefan Rentas ◽  
Laura de Rooij ◽  
Kristin J Hope
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Hematopoietic Cell ◽  
Minimal Promoter ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Model Cell

Abstract The Musashi-2 (MSI2) RNA binding protein is now recognized as a key regulator of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Its expression is most elevated in the primitive HSC compartment and progressively decreases with differentiation. In mouse models of CML, ectopic expression of MSI2 drives progression from the chronic to the blast crisis state while in the human context its aberrantly high expression correlates with more aggressive CML disease states and is associated with poor prognosis in AML. These studies suggest that the precise molecular regulation of MSI2 gene expression may be among the critical mechanisms underlying balanced HSC self-renewal and differentiation and as a result, the prevention of leukemic transformation/progression. Despite the clear importance of understanding how Msi2 maintains an appropriate stem cell-specific expression level, very little is understood of the transcription factors (TFs) that mediate this. To define those factors that govern MSI2 expression and function specifically in the HSC compartment we undertook a systematic approach to map and define relevant regulatory elements of the MSI2 minimal promoter. We dissected a 3.5 kb region 5' upstream of MSI2's translational start site (TSS) shared between mouse and human and thus having the greatest potential of containing regulatory elements key to a conserved MSI2 stem-cell-specific gene expression program. Progressive 5'-terminal deletions of this region cloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene and transfected into K562 and 293T model cell lines allowed us to define a minimal conserved promoter region from -588 to -203 bp upstream of the TSS that reports accurately on endogenous MSI2 expression. Coupled with in silico prediction of TF that bind this region, systematic TF binding site mutagenesis and luciferase reporter assays in model cell lines identified USF2 and PLAG1 as TFs whose direct binding to the MSI2 minimal promoter direct reporter activity. Loss and gain of function studies in K562 cells confirm that these factors co-regulate the transactivation of endogenous MSI2. Moreover we show in the most relevant primary human CD34+ hematopoietic cell context that these factors bind the MSI2 minimal promoter. While USF2 is a ubiquitously expressed TF across the hematopoietic hierarchy, the uniquely restricted expression of PLAG1 within only the most primitive of hematopoietic cells suggests that it specifically contributes to the heightened stem cell-specific expression of MSI2. Consistent with its role as a key driver of MSI2 and thus an enforcer of its pro-self-renewal functions, we found that overexpression of PLAG1 in human Lin-CD34+ cord blood cells enhanced MSI2 transcription and increased total Colony Forming Unit (CFU) output and re-plating efficiency of primitive CFU progenitors. PLAG1 overexpression also offered a pro-survival advantage to these cells as evidenced by a more than two-fold reduction in Annexin V positive cells compared to negative controls. We have thus described important transcriptional circuitry that governs stem-cell specific expression of MSI2 while at the same time functionally validated PLAG1 as a novel factor capable of modulating primitive hematopoietic cell self-renewal and survival. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The role of NeuroD1 in the upregulation of SMYD3 by HBx.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 183-183
Author(s):  
Junyao Xu ◽  
Qingqi Hong ◽  
Chuanchao He ◽  
Jie Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Gene Transfection ◽  
Histone Methyltransferase ◽  
Proximal Promoter ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Cis Element ◽  
E Box

183 Background: SET and MYND Domain-Containing Protein 3 (SMYD3) is frequently overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibiting increased malignant phenotypes. It has also been known that the hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx) is strongly associated with HCC development and progression. Although overexpression of both proteins is related to HCC, the relationship between the two has not been well studied. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of HBx and SMYD3 in HCC tumor tissues. HBx gene transfection, RNAi, and histone methyltransferase(H3-K4) activity assay were performed to reveal the transcrpitionally activation of HBx on functional SMYD3 gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were applied to investigate the underlying mechanism. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to search for the HBx responsive cis-element of SMYD3 gene. Results: Immunohistochemistry identified the positive correlation between HBx and SMYD3 expression in 42 HCC tissues. Up-regulation of HBx on SMYD3 expression was validated through experiments involving overexpression or knock-down of HBx in different HCC cell lines. And up-regulated SMYD3 is functionally active as histone methyltransferase. Next we found that HBx transcriptionally regulated SMYD3 gene expression by interacting with RNA polymerase IIand altering its binding site to a proximal promoter region(SD2) from a distant promoter region(SD6) of SMYD3. Truncated and mutant reporter assays revealed that the cis-element mapped in -178~-203bp in SMYD3 promotor is responsive for HBx-transactivation. And this 25bp cis-element contains a E-box 3 unit, which is a binding site for the transcriptional factor Neurogenic differentiation 1(NeuroD1). EMSA and Chip showed that HBx increased NeuroD1 binding to SMYD3 proximal promotor, however transcient expression of antisense NeuroD1 abolished HBx-induced SMYD3 expression. Conclusions: HBx transcriptionally up-regulates SMYD3 and that this process is mediated by NeuroD1 through binding to the E-box 3 site of SMYD3 promotor.

scholarly journals Insight into GATA1 transcriptional activity through interrogation of cis elements disrupted in human erythroid disorders

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (16) ◽  
pp. 4434-4439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoi Wakabayashi ◽  
Jacob C. Ulirsch ◽  
Leif S. Ludwig ◽  
Claudia Fiorini ◽  
Makiko Yasuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Targeted Disruption ◽  
Altered Gene Expression ◽  
Whole Exome ◽  
Altered Gene ◽  
Insight Into

Whole-exome sequencing has been incredibly successful in identifying causal genetic variants and has revealed a number of novel genes associated with blood and other diseases. One limitation of this approach is that it overlooks mutations in noncoding regulatory elements. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which mutations in transcriptional cis-regulatory elements result in disease remain poorly understood. Here we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to interrogate three such elements harboring mutations in human erythroid disorders, which in all cases are predicted to disrupt a canonical binding motif for the hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1. Deletions of as few as two to four nucleotides resulted in a substantial decrease (>80%) in target gene expression. Isolated deletions of the canonical GATA1 binding motif completely abrogated binding of the cofactor TAL1, which binds to a separate motif. Having verified the functionality of these three GATA1 motifs, we demonstrate strong evolutionary conservation of GATA1 motifs in regulatory elements proximal to other genes implicated in erythroid disorders, and show that targeted disruption of such elements results in altered gene expression. By modeling transcription factor binding patterns, we show that multiple transcription factors are associated with erythroid gene expression, and have created predictive maps modeling putative disruptions of their binding sites at key regulatory elements. Our study provides insight into GATA1 transcriptional activity and may prove a useful resource for investigating the pathogenicity of noncoding variants in human erythroid disorders.

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