scholarly journals A Retroviral Promoter and a Cellular Enhancer Define a Bipartite Element Which Controls env ERVWE1 Placental Expression

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (22) ◽  
pp. 12157-12168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Prudhomme ◽  
Guy Oriol ◽  
François Mallet
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Basic Activity ◽  
Flanking Sequences ◽  
High Level ◽  
Functional Analyses

ABSTRACT The HERV-W family contains hundreds of loci diversely expressed in several physiological and pathological contexts. A unique locus termed ERVWE1 encodes an envelope glycoprotein (syncytin) involved in hominoid placental physiology. Here we show that syncytin expression is regulated by a bipartite element consisting of a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-inducible long terminal repeat (LTR) retroviral promoter adjacent to a cellular enhancer conferring a high level of expression and placental tropism. Deletion mutant analysis showed that the ERVWE1 5′ LTR contains binding sites essential for basal placental activity in the region from positions +1 to +125. The region from positions +125 to +310 represents a cAMP-responsive core HERV-W promoter active in all cell types. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis highlighted the complexity of U3 regulation. ERVWE1 placenta-specific positive (e.g., T240) and negative (e.g., G71) regulatory sites were identified, as were essential sites required for basic activity (e.g., A247). The flanking sequences of the ERVWE1 provirus contain several putative regulatory elements. The upstream HERV-H and HERV-P LTRs were found to be inactive. Conversely, the 436-bp region located between the HERV-P LTR and ERVWE1 was shown to be an upstream regulatory element (URE) which is significantly active in placenta cells. This URE acts as a tissue-specific enhancer. Genetic and functional analyses of hominoid UREs revealed large differences between UREs of members of the Hominidae and the Hylobatidae. These data allowed the identification of a positive regulatory region from positions −436 to −128, a mammalian apparent LTR retrotransposon negative regulatory region from positions −128 to −67, and a trophoblast-specific enhancer (TSE) from positions −67 to −35. Putative AP-2, Sp-1, and GCMa binding sites are essential constituents of the 33-bp TSE.

scholarly journals Identification of a distal RXFP1 gene enhancer with differential activity in fibrotic lung fibroblasts involving AP-1

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0254466
Author(s):  
Ting-Yun Chen ◽  
Xiaoyun Li ◽  
Gillian C. Goobie ◽  
Ching-Hsia Hung ◽  
Tin-Kan Hung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Formation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Distal Enhancer ◽  
Reporter System ◽  
Reduced Activity

Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) mediates relaxin’s antifibrotic effects and has reduced expression in the lung and skin of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). This may explain the failure of relaxin-based anti-fibrotic treatments in SSc, but the regulatory mechanisms controlling RXFP1 expression remain largely unknown. This study aimed to identify regulatory elements of RXFP1 that may function differentially in fibrotic fibroblasts. We identified and evaluated a distal regulatory region of RXFP1 in lung fibroblasts using a luciferase reporter system. Using serial deletions, an enhancer upregulating pGL3-promoter activity was localized to the distal region between -584 to -242bp from the distal transcription start site (TSS). This enhancer exhibited reduced activity in IPF and SSc lung fibroblasts. Bioinformatic analysis identified two clusters of activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor binding sites within the enhancer. Site-directed mutagenesis of the binding sites confirmed that only one cluster reduced activity (-358 to -353 relative to distal TSS). Co-expression of FOS in lung fibroblasts further increased enhancer activity. In vitro complex formation with a labeled probe spanning the functional AP-1 site using nuclear proteins isolated from lung fibroblasts confirmed a specific DNA/protein complex formation. Application of antibodies against JUN and FOS resulted in the complex alteration, while antibodies to JUNB and FOSL1 did not. Analysis of AP-1 binding in 5 pairs of control and IPF lung fibroblasts detected positive binding more frequently in control fibroblasts. Expression of JUN and FOS was reduced and correlated positively with RXFP1 expression in IPF lungs. In conclusion, we identified a distal enhancer of RXFP1 with differential activity in fibrotic lung fibroblasts involving AP-1 transcription factors. Our study provides insight into RXFP1 downregulation in fILD and may support efforts to reevaluate relaxin-based therapeutics alongside upregulation of RXFP1 transcription.

The mouse albumin enhancer contains a negative regulatory element that interacts with a novel DNA-binding protein

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 3896-3905
Author(s):  
R S Herbst ◽  
E M Boczko ◽  
J E Darnell ◽  
L E Babiss
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Negative Region ◽  
Albumin Gene ◽  
Dna Binding Sites ◽  
Factor C

The far-upstream mouse albumin enhancer (-10.5 to -8.43 kilobases) has both positive and negative regulatory domains which contribute to the rate and tissue specificity of albumin gene transcription. (R. S. Herbst, N. Friedman, J. E. Darnell, Jr., and L. E. Babiss, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1553-1557). In this work, the negative regulatory region has been functionally localized to sequences -8.7 to -8.43 kilobases upstream of the albumin gene cap site. In the absence of the albumin-modulating region (in which there are binding sites for the transcription factor C/EBP), the negative region can suppress a neighboring positive-acting element, thereby interfering with albumin enhancer function. The negative region is also capable of negating the positive action of the heterologous transthyretin enhancer in an orientation-independent fashion. Within this negative-acting region we can detect two DNA-binding sites, both of which are recognized by a protein present in all cell types tested. This DNA-binding activity is not competed for by any of a series of known DNA-binding sites, and hence this new protein is a candidate for a role in suppressing the albumin gene in nonhepatic cells.

scholarly journals The mouse albumin enhancer contains a negative regulatory element that interacts with a novel DNA-binding protein.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 3896-3905 ◽  
Author(s):  
R S Herbst ◽  
E M Boczko ◽  
J E Darnell ◽  
L E Babiss
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Negative Region ◽  
Albumin Gene ◽  
Dna Binding Sites ◽  
Factor C

The far-upstream mouse albumin enhancer (-10.5 to -8.43 kilobases) has both positive and negative regulatory domains which contribute to the rate and tissue specificity of albumin gene transcription. (R. S. Herbst, N. Friedman, J. E. Darnell, Jr., and L. E. Babiss, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1553-1557). In this work, the negative regulatory region has been functionally localized to sequences -8.7 to -8.43 kilobases upstream of the albumin gene cap site. In the absence of the albumin-modulating region (in which there are binding sites for the transcription factor C/EBP), the negative region can suppress a neighboring positive-acting element, thereby interfering with albumin enhancer function. The negative region is also capable of negating the positive action of the heterologous transthyretin enhancer in an orientation-independent fashion. Within this negative-acting region we can detect two DNA-binding sites, both of which are recognized by a protein present in all cell types tested. This DNA-binding activity is not competed for by any of a series of known DNA-binding sites, and hence this new protein is a candidate for a role in suppressing the albumin gene in nonhepatic cells.

scholarly journals Identification of a distal RXFP1 gene enhancer with differential activity in fibrotic lung fibroblasts involving AP-1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Yun Chen ◽  
Xiaoyun Li ◽  
Gillian C Goobie ◽  
Ching-Hsia Hung ◽  
Hyle hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Formation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Lung Fibroblasts ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Distal Enhancer ◽  
Reporter System ◽  
Reduced Activity

Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) mediates relaxin’s antifibrotic effects and has reduced expression in the lung and skin of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). This may explain the failure of relaxin-based anti-fibrotic treatments in SSc, but the regulatory mechanisms controlling RXFP1 expression remain largely unknown. This study aimed to identify regulatory elements of RXFP1 that may function differentially in fibrotic fibroblasts. We identified and evaluated a distal regulatory region of RXFP1 in lung fibroblasts using a luciferase reporter system. Using serial deletions, an enhancer upregulating pGL3-promoter activity was localized to the distal region between -584 to -242bp from the distal transcription start site (TSS). This enhancer exhibited reduced activity in IPF and SSc lung fibroblasts. Bioinformatic analysis identified two clusters of activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor binding sites within the enhancer. Site-directed mutagenesis of the binding sites confirmed that only one cluster reduced activity (-358 to -353 relative to distal TSS). Co-expression of FOS in lung fibroblasts further increased enhancer activity. In vitro complex formation with a labeled probe spanning the functional AP-1 site using nuclear proteins isolated from lung fibroblasts confirmed a specific DNA/protein complex formation. Application of antibodies against JUN and FOS resulted in the complex alteration, while antibodies to JUNB and FOSL1 did not. Analysis of AP-1 binding in 5 pairs of control and IPF lung fibroblasts detected positive binding more frequently in control fibroblasts. Expression of JUN and FOS was reduced and correlated positively with RXFP1 expression in IPF lungs. In conclusion, we identified a distal enhancer of RXFP1 with differential activity in fibrotic lung fibroblasts involving AP-1 transcription factors. Our study provides insight into RXFP1 downregulation in fILD and may support efforts to reevaluate relaxin-based therapeutics alongside upregulation of RXFP1 transcription.

scholarly journals The transcriptional tissue specificity of the human proα1(I) collagen gene is determined by a negative cis-regulatory element in the promoter

1992 ◽  
Vol 286 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
C P Simkevich ◽  
J P Thompson ◽  
H Poppleton ◽  
R Raghow
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Specificity ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Mesenchymal Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Collagen Gene ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
First Intron

The transcriptional activity of plasmid pCOL-KT, in which human pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene upstream sequences up to -804 and most of the first intron (+474 to +1440) drive expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene [Thompson, Simkevich, Holness, Kang & Raghow (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 2549-2556], was tested in a number of mesenchymal and non-mesenchymal cells. We observed that pCOL-KT was readily expressed in fibroblasts of human (IMR-90 and HFL-1), murine (NIH 3T3) and avian (SL-29) origin and in a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (A204), but failed to be expressed in human erythroleukaemia (K562) and rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, indicating that the regulatory elements required for appropriate tissue-specific expression of the human pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene were present in pCOL-KT. To delineate the nature of cis-acting sequences which determine the tissue specificity of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene expression, functional consequences of deletions in the promoter and first intron of pCOL-KT were tested in various cell types by transient expression assays. Cis elements in the promoter-proximal and intronic sequences displayed either a positive or a negative influence depending on the cell type. Thus deletion of fragments using EcoRV (nt -625 to -442 deleted), XbaI (-804 to -331) or SstII (+670 to +1440) resulted in 2-10-fold decreased expression in A204 and HFL-1 cells. The negative influences of deletions in the promoter-proximal sequences was apparently considerably relieved by deleting sequences in the first intron, and the constructs containing the EcoRV/SstII or XbaI/SstII double deletions were expressed to a much greater extent than either of the single deletion constructs. In contrast, the XbaI* deletion (nt -804 to -609), either alone or in combination with the intronic deletion, resulted in very high expression in all cells regardless of their collagen phenotype; the XbaI*/(-SstII) construct, which contained the intronic SstII fragment (+670 to +1440) in the reverse orientation, was not expressed in either mesenchymal or nonmesenchymal cells. Based on these results, we conclude that orientation-dependent interactions between negatively acting 5′-upstream sequences and the first intron determine the mesenchymal cell specificity of human pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene transcription.

scholarly journals Two different negative regulatory elements control the transcription of T-cell activation gene 3 in activated mast cells

1997 ◽  
Vol 323 (2) ◽  
pp. 511-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad K. OH ◽  
Markus NEURATH ◽  
Jeong-Je CHO ◽  
Tekli SEMERE ◽  
Dean D. METCALFE
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mast Cells ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Integrin Gene

T-cell activation gene 3 (TCA3) encodes a β-chemokine that is transcriptionally regulated in mast cells; the gene has a functional NF-κB element at positions -194 to -185. The 5´-flanking region of this gene is also known to have a negative regulatory region between -2057 and -1342. To characterize the negative regulatory elements (NREs), this region was sequenced and then digested by HindIII enzyme into two fragments, NRE-1 (-2057 to -1493) and NRE-2 (-1492 to -1342). Both NRE-1 and NRE-2 in the 5´–3´ orientation inhibited chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT)-protein synthesis by a TCA3–CAT construct transfected into mast cells that were then activated. Only NRE-1 inhibited CAT-protein synthesis in the 3´–5´ orientation. Further deletion of the 5´ region of NRE-1 partially abolished the inhibitory activity. Both NRE-1 and NRE-2 inhibited the activity of a CD20–CAT construct independent of cell activation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed DNA–protein complex formation with subsequences (CCCCCATTCT) of NRE-1 (NRE-1a) and (CCATGA) of NRE-2 (NRE-2b). NRE-1a appears to be novel. NRE-2b is identical with a putative silencer motif in the αIIb integrin gene. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that both NRE-1a and NRE-2b are important in the negative regulation of TCA3 promoter activity. In vivo ligation-mediated PCR footprinting of the NRE-2 region revealed protection between -1372 and -1354, which contains NRE-2b. The data thus demonstrate identity of a silencer motif, here termed NRE-2b, in both the αIIb integrin gene and the TCA3, and that this silencer region in mast cells is functional both in vivoand in vitro. Further, evidence is presented that the promoter for TCA3 contains a novel silencer motif, termed NRE-1a, characterized by a CT-rich sequence.

Distal regulatory elements from the mouse metallothionein locus stimulate gene expression in transgenic mice

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5266-5275
Author(s):  
R D Palmiter ◽  
E P Sandgren ◽  
D M Koeller ◽  
R L Brinster
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
High Level Expression ◽  
Hypersensitive Sites ◽  
Enhanced Expression ◽  
Rat Growth ◽  
Flanking Sequences ◽  
High Level ◽  
Distal Regulatory Elements ◽  
Flanking Regions

DNA regions of 10 and 7 kb that flank the mouse metallothionein II (MT-II) and MT-I genes, respectively, were combined with a minimally marked MT-I (MT-I*) gene and tested in transgenic mice. This construct resulted in (i) position-independent expression of MT-I* mRNA and copy number-dependent expression, (ii) levels of hepatic MT-I mRNA per cell per transgene that were about half that derived from endogenous MT-I genes, (iii) appropriate regulation by metals and hormones, and (iv) tissue distribution of transgene mRNA that resembled that of endogenous MT-I mRNA. These features were not observed when MT-I* was tested without the flanking regions. These MT-I flanking sequences also improved the expression of rat growth hormone reporter genes, with or without introns, that were under the control of the MT-I promoter. Moreover, they enhanced expression from two of four heterologous promoters/enhancers that were tested. Deletion analysis indicated that regions known to have DNase I-hypersensitive sites were necessary but not sufficient for high-level expression. These data suggest that the DNA regions flanking the mouse MT-I and MT-II genes have functions like the locus control regions described for other genes.

A variant octamer motif in a Xenopus H2B histone gene promoter is not required for transcription in frog oocytes

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 641-654
Author(s):  
C Hinkley ◽  
M Perry
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Histone Gene ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Octamer Motif

Xenopus oocytes, arrested in G2 before the first meiotic division, accumulate histone mRNA and protein in the absence of chromosomal DNA replication and therefore represent an attractive biological system in which to examine histone gene expression uncoupled from the cell cycle. Previous studies have shown that sequences necessary for maximal levels of transcription in oocytes are present within 200 bp at the 5' end of the transcription initiation site for genes encoding each of the five major Xenopus histone classes. We have defined by site-directed mutagenesis individual regulatory sequences and characterized DNA-binding proteins required for histone H2B gene transcription in injected oocytes. The Xenopus H2B gene has a relatively simple promoter containing several transcriptional regulatory elements, including TFIID, CBP, and ATF/CREB binding sites, required for maximal transcription. A sequence (CTTTACAT) in the H2B promoter resembling the conserved octamer motif (ATTTGCAT), the target for cell-cycle regulation of a human H2B gene, is not required for transcription in oocytes. Nonetheless, substitution of a consensus octamer motif for the variant octamer element activates H2B transcription. Oocyte factors, presumably including the ubiquitous Oct-1 factor, specifically bind to the consensus octamer motif but not to the variant sequence. Our results demonstrate that a transcriptional regulatory element involved in lymphoid-specific expression of immunoglobulin genes and in S-phase-specific activation of mammalian H2B histone genes can activate transcription in nondividing amphibian oocytes.

Transducing positional information to the Hox genes: critical interaction of cdx gene products with position-sensitive regulatory elements

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (22) ◽  
pp. 4349-4358 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Charite ◽  
W. de Graaff ◽  
D. Consten ◽  
M.J. Reijnen ◽  
J. Korving ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Hox Genes ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Positional Information ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Gene Products ◽  
Anteroposterior Patterning

Studies of pattern formation in the vertebrate central nervous system indicate that anteroposterior positional information is generated in the embryo by signalling gradients of an as yet unknown nature. We searched for transcription factors that transduce this information to the Hox genes. Based on the assumption that the activity levels of such factors might vary with position along the anteroposterior axis, we devised an in vivo assay to detect responsiveness of cis-acting sequences to such differentially active factors. We used this assay to analyze a Hoxb8 regulatory element, and detected the most pronounced response in a short stretch of DNA containing a cluster of potential CDX binding sites. We show that differentially expressed DNA binding proteins are present in gastrulating embryos that bind to these sites in vitro, that cdx gene products are among these, and that binding site mutations that abolish binding of these proteins completely destroy the ability of the regulatory element to drive regionally restricted expression in the embryo. Finally, we show that ectopic expression of cdx gene products anteriorizes expression of reporter transgenes driven by this regulatory element, as well as that of the endogenous Hoxb8 gene, in a manner that is consistent with them being essential transducers of positional information. These data suggest that, in contrast to Drosophila Caudal, vertebrate cdx gene products transduce positional information directly to the Hox genes, acting through CDX binding sites in their enhancers. This may represent the ancestral mode of action of caudal homologues, which are involved in anteroposterior patterning in organisms with widely divergent body plans and modes of development.

Accurate Identification of Active Transcriptional Regulatory Elements from Global Run-On and Sequencing Data

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles G Danko ◽  
Stephanie L Hyland ◽  
Leighton J Core ◽  
Andre L Martins ◽  
Colin T Waters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Single Experiment ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Elements ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory

Identification of the genomic regions that regulate transcription remains an important open problem. We have recently shown that global run-on and sequencing (GRO-seq) with enrichment for 5′-capped RNAs reveals patterns of divergent transcription that accurately mark active transcriptional regulatory elements (TREs), including enhancers and promoters. Here, we demonstrate that active TREs can be identified with comparable accuracy by applying sensitive machine-learning methods to standard GRO-seq and PRO-seq data, allowing TREs to be assayed together with transcription levels, elongation rates, and other transcriptional features, in a single experiment. Our method, called discriminative Regulatory Element detection from GRO-seq (dREG), summarizes GRO-seq read counts at multiple scales and uses support vector regression to predict active TREs. The predicted TREs are strongly enriched for marks associated with functional elements, including H3K27ac, transcription factor binding sites, eQTLs, and GWAS-associated SNPs. Using dREG, we survey TREs in eight cell types and provide new insights into global patterns of TRE assembly and function.

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