scholarly journals Association of BRCA1 with the inactive X chromosome and XIST RNA

2004 ◽  
Vol 359 (1441) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shridar Ganesan ◽  
Daniel P. Silver ◽  
Ronny Drapkin ◽  
Roger Greenberg ◽  
Jean Feunteun ◽  
...  

Breast cancer, early onset 1 (BRCA1) encodes a nuclear protein that participates in breast and ovarian cancer suppression. The molecular basis for the gender and tissue specificity of the BRCA1 cancer syndrome is unknown. Recently, we observed that a fraction of BRCA1 in female cells is localized on the inactive X chromosome (Xi). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments have demonstrated that BRCA1 physically associates with Xi–specific transcript (XIST) RNA, a non–coding RNA known to coat Xi and to participate in the initiation of its inactivation during early embryogenesis. Cells lacking wild–type BRCA1 show abnormalities in Xi, including lack of proper XIST RNA localization. Reintroduction of wild–type, but not mutant, BRCA1 can correct this defect in XIST localization in these cells. Depletion of BRCA1 in female diploid cells led to a defect in proper XIST localization on Xi and in the development of normal Xi heterchromatic superstructure. Moreover, depletion of BRCA1 led to an increased likelihood of re–expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene embedded on Xi. Taken together, these findings are consistent with a model in which BRCA1 function contributes to the maintenance of proper Xi heterochromatin superstructure. Although the data imply a novel gender–specific consequence of BRCA1 loss, the relevance of the BRCA1/Xi function to the tumour suppressor activity of BRCA1 remains unclear and needs to be tested.

2001 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian P. Chadwick ◽  
Huntington F. Willard

Chromatin on the mammalian inactive X chromosome differs in a number of ways from that on the active X. One protein, macroH2A, whose amino terminus is closely related to histone H2A, is enriched on the heterochromatic inactive X chromosome in female cells. Here, we report the identification and localization of a novel and more distant histone variant, designated H2A-Bbd, that is only 48% identical to histone H2A. In both interphase and metaphase female cells, using either a myc epitope–tagged or green fluorescent protein–tagged H2A-Bbd construct, the inactive X chromosome is markedly deficient in H2A-Bbd staining, while the active X and the autosomes stain throughout. In double-labeling experiments, antibodies to acetylated histone H4 show a pattern of staining indistinguishable from H2A-Bbd in interphase nuclei and on metaphase chromosomes. Chromatin fractionation demonstrates association of H2A-Bbd with the histone proteins. Separation of micrococcal nuclease–digested chromatin by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation shows cofractionation of H2A-Bbd with nucleosomes, supporting the idea that H2A-Bbd is incorporated into nucleosomes as a substitute for the core histone H2A. This finding, in combination with the overlap with acetylated forms of H4, raises the possibility that H2A-Bbd is enriched in nucleosomes associated with transcriptionally active regions of the genome. The distribution of H2A-Bbd thus distinguishes chromatin on the active and inactive X chromosomes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 4977-4992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao G. Nguyen ◽  
Dharmaraj Chinnappan ◽  
Takeshi Urano ◽  
Katya Ravid

ABSTRACT The kinase Aurora-B, a regulator of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, is highly expressed in a variety of tumors. During the cell cycle, the level of this protein is tightly controlled, and its deregulated abundance is suspected to contribute to aneuploidy. Here, we provide evidence that Aurora-B is a short-lived protein degraded by the proteasome via the anaphase-promoting cyclosome complex (APC/c) pathway. Aurora-B interacts with the APC/c through the Cdc27 subunit, Aurora-B is ubiquitinated, and its level is increased upon treatment with inhibitors of the proteasome. Aurora-B binds in vivo to the degradation-targeting proteins Cdh1 and Cdc20, the overexpression of which accelerates Aurora-B degradation. Using deletions or point mutations of the five putative degradation signals in Aurora-B, we show that degradation of this protein does not depend on its D-boxes (RXXL), but it does require intact KEN boxes and A-boxes (QRVL) located within the first 65 amino acids. Cells transfected with wild-type or A-box-mutated or KEN box-mutated Aurora-B fused to green fluorescent protein display the protein localized to the chromosomes and then to the midzone during mitosis, but the mutated forms are detected at greater intensities. Hence, we identified the degradation pathway for Aurora-B as well as critical regions for its clearance. Intriguingly, overexpression of a stable form of Aurora-B alone induces aneuploidy and anchorage-independent growth.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 799-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keylon L. Cheeseman ◽  
Takehiko Ueyama ◽  
Tanya M. Michaud ◽  
Kaori Kashiwagi ◽  
Demin Wang ◽  
...  

Protein kinase C-ϵ (PKC-ϵ) translocates to phagosomes and promotes uptake of IgG-opsonized targets. To identify the regions responsible for this concentration, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-protein kinase C-ϵ mutants were tracked during phagocytosis and in response to exogenous lipids. Deletion of the diacylglycerol (DAG)-binding ϵC1 and ϵC1B domains, or the ϵC1B point mutant ϵC259G, decreased accumulation at phagosomes and membrane translocation in response to exogenous DAG. Quantitation of GFP revealed that ϵC259G, ϵC1, and ϵC1B accumulation at phagosomes was significantly less than that of intact PKC-ϵ. Also, the DAG antagonist 1-hexadecyl-2-acetyl glycerol (EI-150) blocked PKC-ϵ translocation. Thus, DAG binding to ϵC1B is necessary for PKC-ϵ translocation. The role of phospholipase D (PLD), phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC)-γ1, and PI-PLC-γ2 in PKC-ϵ accumulation was assessed. Although GFP-PLD2 localized to phagosomes and enhanced phagocytosis, PLD inhibition did not alter target ingestion or PKC-ϵ localization. In contrast, the PI-PLC inhibitor U73122 decreased both phagocytosis and PKC-ϵ accumulation. Although expression of PI-PLC-γ2 is higher than that of PI-PLC-γ1, PI-PLC-γ1 but not PI-PLC-γ2 consistently concentrated at phagosomes. Macrophages from PI-PLC-γ2-/-mice were similar to wild-type macrophages in their rate and extent of phagocytosis, their accumulation of PKC-ϵ at the phagosome, and their sensitivity to U73122. This implicates PI-PLC-γ1 as the enzyme that supports PKC-ϵ localization and phagocytosis. That PI-PLC-γ1 was transiently tyrosine phosphorylated in nascent phagosomes is consistent with this conclusion. Together, these results support a model in which PI-PLC-γ1 provides DAG that binds to ϵC1B, facilitating PKC-ϵ localization to phagosomes for efficient IgG-mediated phagocytosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
E. A. Shestakova ◽  
T. A. Bogush

Introduction . Inactive X chromosome (Xi) is associated with noncoding XIST RNA, series of proteins and contains multiple epigenetic modifications that altogether determine a silence of the most of X-linked genes. Recently the data were obtained that tumor suppressor BRCA1 is also associated with Xi. The purpose of this study was to reveal the colocalization of BRCA1 and XIST RNA and precise spatial organization on Xi with the high resolution of confocal microscopy.Materials and methods . The object of the study is IMR90hTERT diploid immortalized fibroblast cell line. For BRCA1 and XIST RNA colocalization analysis on Xi the method of fluorescent hybridization in situ associated with immunofluorescent cell staining (immunoFISH) and confocal microscopy were used. For BRCA1 and heterochromatin protein-1 colocalization study the method of double immunofluorescent staining and common fluorescent microscopy were applied. Results . The study using confocal fluorescent microscopy with higher resolution has demonstrated at first the colocalization of BRCA1 with XIST RNA region of Xi revealed with XIST RNA probes and with replicating Xi and autosomes revealed with BrdU in late S-phase of cell cycle. Altogether, the data obtained suggest the involvement of BRCA1 in the inhibition of gene expression on Xi due to the regulation of XIST RNA association with Xi. Moreover, according to the results of confocal microscopy, BRCA1 also colocalizes with replicating Xi and autosomes revealed with BrdU in late S-phase of cell cycle. This indicates a possible involvement of this protein in the replication of pericentromeric repeats in cellular chromosomes. Colocalization of BRCA1 with heterochromatin protein-1α presented in pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes supports this suggestion.Conclusions . Altogether, the data obtained in this study suggest the involvement of BRCA1 in the inhibition of gene expression on Xi due to the association with noncoding inhibiting XIST RNA and in replication of heterochromatin regions. 


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (5) ◽  
pp. E825-E831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee W. Kao ◽  
Chunmei Yang ◽  
Jeffrey E. Pessin

Previously, we reported that expression of a dominant-interfering neuronal-specific dynamin 1 (K44A/dynamin 1) inhibited the plasma membrane internalization of GLUT-4 in 3T3L1 adipocytes (15). To investigate the role of the ubiquitously expressed isoform of dynamin, dynamin 2, on adipocyte GLUT-4 internalization, and to determine whether dynamin splice variants have functional specificity, we expressed each of the four dynamin 2 isoforms (aa, ab, ba, and bb) as either wild-type proteins or GTPase-defective mutants. When expressed as enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusions, these isoforms were found to have overlapping subcellular distributions being localized throughout the cell cytoplasm, on punctate vesicles and in a perinuclear compartment. This distribution was qualitatively similar to that of endogenous dynamin 2 and overlapped with GLUT-4 in the basal state. Expression of wild-type dynamin 2 isoforms had no effect on the basal or insulin-stimulated distribution of GLUT-4; however, expression of the dominant-interfering dynamin 2 mutants inhibited GLUT-4 endocytosis. These data demonstrate that dynamin 2 is required for GLUT-4 endocytosis in 3T3L1 adipocytes and suggest that, relative to GLUT-4 trafficking, the dynamin 2 splice variants have overlapping functions and are probably not responsible for mediating distinct GLUT-4 budding events.


Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yíngyún Caì ◽  
Masaharu Iwasaki ◽  
Brett Beitzel ◽  
Shuīqìng Yú ◽  
Elena Postnikova ◽  
...  

Lassa virus (LASV), a mammarenavirus, infects an estimated 100,000–300,000 individuals yearly in western Africa and frequently causes lethal disease. Currently, no LASV-specific antivirals or vaccines are commercially available for prevention or treatment of Lassa fever, the disease caused by LASV. The development of medical countermeasure screening platforms is a crucial step to yield licensable products. Using reverse genetics, we generated a recombinant wild-type LASV (rLASV-WT) and a modified version thereof encoding a cleavable green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter for rapid and quantitative detection of infection (rLASV-GFP). Both rLASV-WT and wild-type LASV exhibited similar growth kinetics in cultured cells, whereas growth of rLASV-GFP was slightly impaired. GFP reporter expression by rLASV-GFP remained stable over several serial passages in Vero cells. Using two well-characterized broad-spectrum antivirals known to inhibit LASV infection, favipiravir and ribavirin, we demonstrate that rLASV-GFP is a suitable screening tool for the identification of LASV infection inhibitors. Building on these findings, we established a rLASV-GFP-based high-throughput drug discovery screen and an rLASV-GFP-based antibody neutralization assay. Both platforms, now available as a standard tool at the IRF-Frederick (an international resource), will accelerate anti-LASV medical countermeasure discovery and reduce costs of antiviral screens in maximum containment laboratories.


2005 ◽  
Vol 387 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra MILASTA ◽  
Nicholas A. EVANS ◽  
Laura ORMISTON ◽  
Shelagh WILSON ◽  
Robert J. LEFKOWITZ ◽  
...  

The orexin-1 receptor interacts with β-arrestin-2 in an agonist-dependent manner. In HEK-293T cells, these two proteins became co-internalized into acidic endosomes. Truncations from the C-terminal tail did not prevent agonist-induced internalization of the orexin-1 receptor or alter the pathway of internalization, although such mutants failed to interact with β-arrestin-2 in a sustained manner or produce its co-internalization. Mutation of a cluster of three threonine and one serine residue at the extreme C-terminus of the receptor greatly reduced interaction and abolished co-internalization of β-arrestin-2–GFP (green fluorescent protein). Despite the weak interactions of this C-terminally mutated form of the receptor with β-arrestin-2, studies in wild-type and β-arrestin-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts confirmed that agonist-induced internalization of this mutant required expression of a β-arrestin. Although without effect on agonist-mediated elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels, the C-terminally mutated form of the orexin-1 receptor was unable to sustain phosphorylation of the MAPKs (mitogen-activated protein kinases) ERK1 and ERK2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2) to the same extent as the wild-type receptor. These studies indicate that a single cluster of hydroxy amino acids within the C-terminal seven amino acids of the orexin-1 receptor determine the sustainability of interaction with β-arrestin-2, and indicate an important role of β-arrestin scaffolding in defining the kinetics of orexin-1 receptor-mediated ERK MAPK activation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document