scholarly journals Nuclear Translocated Ehrlichia chaffeensis Ankyrin Protein Interacts with a Specific Adenine-Rich Motif of Host Promoter and Intronic Alu Elements

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 4243-4255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Zhu ◽  
Kimberly A. Nethery ◽  
Jeeba A. Kuriakose ◽  
Abdul Wakeel ◽  
Xiaofeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Ehrlichia Chaffeensis ◽  
Whole Genome Analysis ◽  
Alu Elements ◽  
Cell Gene

ABSTRACT Ehrlichiae are obligately intracellular bacteria that reside and replicate in phagocytes by circumventing host cell defenses and modulating cellular processes, including host cell gene transcription. However, the mechanisms by which ehrlichiae influence host gene transcription have largely remained undetermined. Numerous ankyrin and tandem repeat-containing proteins associated with host-pathogen interactions have been identified in Ehrlichia species, but their roles in pathobiology are unknown. In this study, we determined by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and by immunodetection in purified nuclear extracts that the ankyrin repeat-containing protein p200 is translocated to the nuclei of Ehrlichia-infected monocytes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with DNA sequencing revealed an Ehrlichia chaffeensis p200 interaction located within host promoter and intronic Alu-Sx elements, the most abundant repetitive elements in the human genome. A specific adenine-rich (mid-A-stretch) motif within Alu-Sx elements was identified using electrophoretic mobility shift and NoShift assays. Whole-genome analysis with ChIP and DNA microarray analysis (ChIP-chip) determined that genes (n = 456) with promoter Alu elements primarily related to transcription, apoptosis, ATPase activity, and structural proteins associated with the nucleus and membrane-bound organelles were the primary targets of p200. Several p200 target genes (encoding tumor necrosis factor alpha, Stat1, and CD48) associated with ehrlichial pathobiology were strongly upregulated during infection, as determined by quantitative PCR. This is the first study to identify a nuclear translocation of bacterially encoded protein by E. chaffeensis and to identify a specific binding motif and genes that are primary targets of a novel molecular strategy to reprogram host cell gene expression to promote survival of the pathogen.

scholarly journals Ehrlichia chaffeensis TRP32 Is a Nucleomodulin That Directly Regulates Expression of Host Genes Governing Differentiation and Proliferation

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 3182-3194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tierra R. Farris ◽  
Paige S. Dunphy ◽  
Bing Zhu ◽  
Clayton E. Kibler ◽  
Jere W. McBride
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Ehrlichia Chaffeensis ◽  
Content Type

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligately intracellular bacterium that reprograms the mononuclear phagocyte through diverse effector-host interactions to modulate numerous host cell processes, including transcription. In a previous study, we reported that E. chaffeensis TRP32, a type 1 secreted effector, interacts with multiple host nucleus-associated proteins and also autoactivates reporter gene expression in yeast. In this study, we demonstrate that TRP32 is a nucleomodulin that binds host DNA and alters host gene transcription. TRP32 enters the host cell nucleus via a noncanonical translocation mechanism that involves phosphorylation of Y179 located in a C-terminal trityrosine motif. Both genistein and mutation of Y179 inhibited TRP32 nuclear entry. An electromobility shift assay (EMSA) demonstrated TRP32 host DNA binding via its tandem repeat domain. TRP32 DNA-binding and motif preference were further confirmed by supershift assays, as well as competition and mutant probe analyses. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq), we determined that TRP32 binds a G-rich motif primarily within ±500 bp of the gene transcription start site. An ontology analysis identified genes involved in processes such as immune cell differentiation, chromatin remodeling, and RNA transcription and processing as primary TRP32 targets. TRP32-bound genes ( n = 1,223) were distributed on all chromosomes and included several global regulators of proliferation and inflammation such as those encoding FOS, JUN, AKT3, and NRAS and noncoding RNA genes microRNA 21 (miRNA 21) and miRNA 142. TRP32 target genes were differentially regulated during infection, the majority of which were repressed, and direct repression/activation of these genes by TRP32 was confirmed in vitro with a cellular luciferase reporter assay.

scholarly journals Ehrlichia chaffeensis Exploits Canonical and Noncanonical Host Wnt Signaling Pathways To Stimulate Phagocytosis and Promote Intracellular Survival

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 686-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Luo ◽  
Paige S. Dunphy ◽  
Taslima T. Lina ◽  
Jere W. McBride
Keyword(s):  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Wnt Pathway ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Intracellular Survival ◽  
Ehrlichia Chaffeensis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wnt Pathways

Ehrlichia chaffeensisinvades and survives in phagocytes by modulating host cell processes and evading innate defenses, but the mechanisms are not fully defined. Recently we have determined thatE. chaffeensistandem repeat proteins (TRPs) are type 1 secreted effectors involved in functionally diverse interactions with host targets, including components of the evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling pathways. In this study, we demonstrated that induction of host canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways byE. chaffeensisTRP effectors stimulates phagocytosis and promotes intracellular survival. AfterE. chaffeensisinfection, canonical and noncanonical Wnt signalings were significantly stimulated during early stages of infection (1 to 3 h) which coincided with dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of β-catenin, a major canonical Wnt signal transducer, and NFATC1, a noncanonical Wnt transcription factor. In total, the expression of ∼44% of Wnt signaling target genes was altered during infection. Knockdown of TRP120-interacting Wnt pathway components/regulators and other critical components, such as Wnt5a ligand, Frizzled 5 receptor, β-catenin, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), and major signaling molecules, resulted in significant reductions in the ehrlichial load. Moreover, small-molecule inhibitors specific for components of canonical and noncanonical (Ca2+and planar cell polarity [PCP]) Wnt pathways, including IWP-2, which blocks Wnt secretion, significantly decreased ehrlichial infection. TRPs directly activated Wnt signaling, as TRP-coated microspheres triggered phagocytosis which was blocked by Wnt pathway inhibitors, demonstrating a key role of TRP activation of Wnt pathways to induce ehrlichial phagocytosis. These novel findings reveal thatE. chaffeensisexploits canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways through TRP effectors to facilitate host cell entry and promote intracellular survival.

scholarly journals Essential Role of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 in Direct Activation of RANTES Chemokine Transcription

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 959-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongtuan Lin ◽  
Christophe Heylbroeck ◽  
Pierre Genin ◽  
Paula M. Pitha ◽  
John Hiscott
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Transactivation Potential ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Systemic Cytokine Production ◽  
Rantes Promoter

ABSTRACT Localized and systemic cytokine production in virus-infected cells play an important role in the outcome of viral infection and pathogenicity. Activation of the interferon regulatory factors (IRF) in turn is a critical mediator of cytokine gene transcription. Recent studies have focused on the 55-kDa IRF-3 gene product as a direct transcriptional regulator of type 1 interferon (IFN-α and IFN-β) activation in response to virus infection. Virus infection induces phosphorylation of IRF-3 on specific C-terminal serine residues and permits cytoplasmic-to-nuclear translocation of IRF-3, activation of DNA binding and transactivation potential, and association with the CBP/p300 coactivator. We previously generated constitutively active [IRF-3(5D)] and dominant-negative forms of IRF-3 that control IFN-β and IFN-α gene expression. In an effort to characterize the range of immunoregulatory genes controlled by IRF-3, we now demonstrate that endogenous human RANTES gene transcription is directly induced in tetracycline-inducible IRF-3(5D)-expressing cells or paramyxovirus-infected cells. We also show that a dominant-negative IRF-3 mutant inhibits virus-induced expression of the RANTES promoter. Specific mutagenesis of overlapping ISRE-like sites located between nucleotides −123 and −96 in the RANTES promoter reduces virus-induced and IRF-3-dependent activation. These studies broaden the range of IRF-3 immunoregulatory target genes to include at least one member of the chemokine superfamily.

scholarly journals PXR Suppresses PPARα-Dependent HMGCS2 Gene Transcription by Inhibiting the Interaction between PPARα and PGC1α

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3550
Author(s):  
Ryota Shizu ◽  
Kanako Ezaki ◽  
Takumi Sato ◽  
Ayaka Sugawara ◽  
Takuomi Hosaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Interaction Mechanism ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Heparg Cells ◽  
Reporter Assays ◽  
Two Hybrid

Background: PXR is a xenobiotic-responsive nuclear receptor that controls the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Drug-induced activation of PXR sometimes causes drug–drug interactions due to the induced metabolism of co-administered drugs. Our group recently reported a possible drug–drug interaction mechanism via an interaction between the nuclear receptors CAR and PPARα. As CAR and PXR are structurally and functionally related receptors, we investigated possible crosstalk between PXR and PPARα. Methods: Human hepatocyte-like HepaRG cells were treated with various PXR ligands, and mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Reporter assays using the HMGCS2 promoter containing a PPARα-binding motif and mammalian two-hybrid assays were performed in HepG2 or COS-1 cells. Results: Treatment with PXR activators reduced the mRNA levels of PPARα target genes in HepaRG cells. In reporter assays, PXR suppressed PPARα-dependent gene expression in HepG2 cells. In COS-1 cells, co-expression of PGC1α, a common coactivator of PPARα and PXR, enhanced PPARα-dependent gene transcription, which was clearly suppressed by PXR. Consistently, in mammalian two-hybrid assays, the interaction between PGC1α and PPARα was attenuated by ligand-activated PXR. Conclusion: The present results suggest that ligand-activated PXR suppresses PPARα-dependent gene expression by inhibiting PGC1α recruitment.

scholarly journals Mutation of the N-Terminal Region of Chikungunya Virus Capsid Protein: Implications for Vaccine Design

mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Taylor ◽  
Xiang Liu ◽  
Ali Zaid ◽  
Lucas Y. H. Goh ◽  
Jody Hobson-Peters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Capsid Protein ◽  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Nucleolar Localization ◽  
Localization Sequence

ABSTRACTMosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthritogenic alphavirus of theTogaviridaefamily responsible for frequent outbreaks of arthritic disease in humans. Capsid protein, a structural protein encoded by the CHIKV RNA genome, is able to translocate to the host cell nucleolus. In encephalitic alphaviruses, nuclear translocation induces host cell transcriptional shutoff; however, the role of capsid protein nucleolar localization in arthritogenic alphaviruses remains unclear. Using recombinant enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged expression constructs and CHIKV infectious clones, we describe a nucleolar localization sequence (NoLS) in the N-terminal region of capsid protein, previously uncharacterized in CHIKV. Mutation of the NoLS by site-directed mutagenesis reduced efficiency of nuclear import of CHIKV capsid protein. In the virus, mutation of the capsid protein NoLS (CHIKV-NoLS) attenuated replication in mammalian and mosquito cells, producing a small-plaque phenotype. Attenuation of CHIKV-NoLS is likely due to disruption of the viral replication cycle downstream of viral RNA synthesis. In mice, CHIKV-NoLS infection caused no disease signs compared to wild-type CHIKV (CHIKV-WT)-infected mice; lack of disease signs correlated with significantly reduced viremia and decreased expression of proinflammatory factors. Mice immunized with CHIKV-NoLS, challenged with CHIKV-WT at 30 days postimmunization, develop no disease signs and no detectable viremia. Serum from CHIKV-NoLS-immunized mice is able to efficiently neutralize CHIKV infectionin vitro. Additionally, CHIKV-NoLS-immunized mice challenged with the related alphavirus Ross River virus showed reduced early and peak viremia postchallenge, indicating a cross-protective effect. The high degree of CHIKV-NoLS attenuation may improve CHIKV antiviral and rational vaccine design.IMPORTANCECHIKV is a mosquito-borne pathogen capable of causing explosive epidemics of incapacitating joint pain affecting millions of people. After a series of major outbreaks over the last 10 years, CHIKV and its mosquito vectors have been able to expand their range extensively, now making CHIKV a human pathogen of global importance. With no licensed vaccine or antiviral therapy for the treatment of CHIKV disease, there is a growing need to understand the molecular determinants of viral pathogenesis. These studies identify a previously uncharacterized nucleolar localization sequence (NoLS) in CHIKV capsid protein, begin a functional analysis of site-directed mutants of the capsid protein NoLS, and examine the effect of the NoLS mutation on CHIKV pathogenesisin vivoand its potential to influence CHIKV vaccine design. A better understanding of the pathobiology of CHIKV disease will aid the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

scholarly journals Shiga Toxin 2a Binds to Complement Components C3b and C5 and Upregulates Their Gene Expression in Human Cell Lines

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Sára Kellnerová ◽  
Sneha Chatterjee ◽  
Rafael Bayarri-Olmos ◽  
Louise Justesen ◽  
Heribert Talasz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Complement Components ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Complement Proteins ◽  
Uremic Syndrome ◽  
Complement Gene

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections can cause EHEC-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (eHUS) via its main virulent factor, Shiga toxins (Stxs). Complement has been reported to be involved in the progression of eHUS. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions of the most effective subtype of the toxin, Stx2a, with pivotal complement proteins C3b and C5. The study further examined the effect of Stx2a stimulation on the transcription and synthesis of these complement proteins in human target cell lines. Binding of Stx2a to C3b and C5 was evaluated by ELISA. Kidney and gut cell lines (HK-2 and HCT-8) were stimulated with varied concentrations of Stx2a. Subsequent evaluation of complement gene transcription was studied by real-time PCR (qPCR), and ELISAs and Western blots were performed to examine protein synthesis of C3 and C5 in supernatants and lysates of stimulated HK-2 cells. Stx2a showed a specific binding to C3b and C5. Gene transcription of C3 and C5 was upregulated with increasing concentrations of Stx2a in both cell lines, but protein synthesis was not. This study demonstrates the binding of Stx2a to complement proteins C3b and C5, which could potentially be involved in regulating complement during eHUS infection, supporting further investigations into elucidating the role of complement in eHUS pathogenesis.

scholarly journals The Combined Human Genotype of Truncating TTN and RBM20 Mutations Is Associated with Severe and Early Onset of Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 883
Author(s):  
Anna Gaertner ◽  
Julia Bloebaum ◽  
Andreas Brodehl ◽  
Baerbel Klauke ◽  
Katharina Sielemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Frameshift Mutation ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Splicing Factor ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Rich Domain ◽  
Generation Sequencing

A major cause of heart failure is cardiomyopathies, with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as the most common form. Over 40 genes are linked to DCM, among them TTN and RBM20. Next Generation Sequencing in clinical DCM cohorts revealed truncating variants in TTN (TTNtv), accounting for up to 25% of familial DCM cases. Mutations in the cardiac splicing factor RNA binding motif protein 20 (RBM20) are also known to be associated with severe cardiomyopathies. TTN is one of the major RBM20 splicing targets. Most of the pathogenic RBM20 mutations are localized in the highly conserved arginine serine rich domain (RS), leading to a cytoplasmic mislocalization of mutant RBM20. Here, we present a patient with an early onset DCM carrying a combination of (likely) pathogenic TTN and RBM20 mutations. We show that the splicing of RBM20 target genes is affected in the mutation carrier. Furthermore, we reveal RBM20 haploinsufficiency presumably caused by the frameshift mutation in RBM20.

scholarly journals EGFR-ERK induced activation of GRHL1 promotes cell cycle progression by up-regulating cell cycle related genes in lung cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiming He ◽  
Mingxi Gan ◽  
Yanan Wang ◽  
Tong Huang ◽  
Jianbin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Cycle Progression

AbstractGrainyhead-like 1 (GRHL1) is a transcription factor involved in embryonic development. However, little is known about the biological functions of GRHL1 in cancer. In this study, we found that GRHL1 was upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and correlated with poor survival of patients. GRHL1 overexpression promoted the proliferation of NSCLC cells and knocking down GRHL1 inhibited the proliferation. RNA sequencing showed that a series of cell cycle-related genes were altered when knocking down GRHL1. We further demonstrated that GRHL1 could regulate the expression of cell cycle-related genes by binding to the promoter regions and increasing the transcription of the target genes. Besides, we also found that EGF stimulation could activate GRHL1 and promoted its nuclear translocation. We identified the key phosphorylation site at Ser76 on GRHL1 that is regulated by the EGFR-ERK axis. Taken together, these findings elucidate a new function of GRHL1 on regulating the cell cycle progression and point out the potential role of GRHL1 as a drug target in NSCLC.

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