scholarly journals Tissue-specific gene expression in the pituitary: the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is regulated by a gonadotrope-specific protein.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2143-2153 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Horn ◽  
J J Windle ◽  
K M Barnhart ◽  
P L Mellon

The molecular mechanisms for the development of multiple distinct endocrine cell types in the anterior pituitary have been an area of intensive investigation. Though the homeodomain protein Pit-1/GHF-1 is known to be involved in differentiation of the somatotrope and lactotrope lineages, which produce growth hormone and prolactin, respectively, little is known of the transcriptional regulators important for the gonadotrope cell lineage, which produces the glycoprotein hormones luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Using transgenic mice and transfection into a novel gonadotrope lineage cell line, we have identified a regulatory element that confers gonadotrope-specific expression to the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene. A tissue-specific factor that binds to this element is purified and characterized as a 54-kDa protein which is present uniquely in cells of the gonadotrope lineage and is not Pit-1/GHF-1. The human and equine alpha-subunit genes are also expressed in placental cells. However, the previously characterized placental transcription factors designated TSEB and alpha-ACT are not found in the pituitary gonadotrope cells, indicating that independent mechanisms confer expression of these genes in the two different tissues.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2143-2153
Author(s):  
F Horn ◽  
J J Windle ◽  
K M Barnhart ◽  
P L Mellon

The molecular mechanisms for the development of multiple distinct endocrine cell types in the anterior pituitary have been an area of intensive investigation. Though the homeodomain protein Pit-1/GHF-1 is known to be involved in differentiation of the somatotrope and lactotrope lineages, which produce growth hormone and prolactin, respectively, little is known of the transcriptional regulators important for the gonadotrope cell lineage, which produces the glycoprotein hormones luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Using transgenic mice and transfection into a novel gonadotrope lineage cell line, we have identified a regulatory element that confers gonadotrope-specific expression to the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene. A tissue-specific factor that binds to this element is purified and characterized as a 54-kDa protein which is present uniquely in cells of the gonadotrope lineage and is not Pit-1/GHF-1. The human and equine alpha-subunit genes are also expressed in placental cells. However, the previously characterized placental transcription factors designated TSEB and alpha-ACT are not found in the pituitary gonadotrope cells, indicating that independent mechanisms confer expression of these genes in the two different tissues.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 5592-5602 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Steger ◽  
J H Hecht ◽  
P L Mellon

The human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is expressed in two quite dissimilar tissues, the placenta and anterior pituitary. Tissue-specific expression is determined by combinations of elements, some of which are common and others of which are specific to each tissue. In the placenta, a composite enhancer confers specific expression. It contains four protein-binding sites: two cyclic AMP (cAMP) response elements that bind CREB, a trophoblast-specific element that binds TSEB, and a sequence motif, AGATAA, that matches the consensus binding site for a family of transcription factors termed the GATA-binding proteins. In pituitary gonadotropes, the cAMP response elements remain important for expression, TSEB is absent, and elements further upstream participate in tissue-specific expression. Here we establish a regulatory role for the GATA element in both the placenta and pituitary by demonstrating that a mutation of this element decreases alpha-subunit gene expression 15-fold in JEG-3 human placental cells and 2.5-fold in alpha T3-1 mouse pituitary gonadotropes. In JEG-3 cells, human GATA-2 (hGATA-2) and hGATA-3 are highly expressed and both proteins bind to the alpha-subunit gene GATA element. In alpha T3-1 cells, the GATA motif is bound by mouse GATA-2 (mGATA-2) and an mGATA-4-related protein. Cotransfection of hGATA-2 or hGATA-3 into alpha T3-1 cells activates the alpha-subunit gene threefold. These studies establish a role for the GATA-binding proteins in placental and pituitary alpha-subunit gene expression, significantly expanding the known target genes of GATA-2, GATA-3, and perhaps GATA-4.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 5592-5602
Author(s):  
D J Steger ◽  
J H Hecht ◽  
P L Mellon

The human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene is expressed in two quite dissimilar tissues, the placenta and anterior pituitary. Tissue-specific expression is determined by combinations of elements, some of which are common and others of which are specific to each tissue. In the placenta, a composite enhancer confers specific expression. It contains four protein-binding sites: two cyclic AMP (cAMP) response elements that bind CREB, a trophoblast-specific element that binds TSEB, and a sequence motif, AGATAA, that matches the consensus binding site for a family of transcription factors termed the GATA-binding proteins. In pituitary gonadotropes, the cAMP response elements remain important for expression, TSEB is absent, and elements further upstream participate in tissue-specific expression. Here we establish a regulatory role for the GATA element in both the placenta and pituitary by demonstrating that a mutation of this element decreases alpha-subunit gene expression 15-fold in JEG-3 human placental cells and 2.5-fold in alpha T3-1 mouse pituitary gonadotropes. In JEG-3 cells, human GATA-2 (hGATA-2) and hGATA-3 are highly expressed and both proteins bind to the alpha-subunit gene GATA element. In alpha T3-1 cells, the GATA motif is bound by mouse GATA-2 (mGATA-2) and an mGATA-4-related protein. Cotransfection of hGATA-2 or hGATA-3 into alpha T3-1 cells activates the alpha-subunit gene threefold. These studies establish a role for the GATA-binding proteins in placental and pituitary alpha-subunit gene expression, significantly expanding the known target genes of GATA-2, GATA-3, and perhaps GATA-4.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 5113-5122
Author(s):  
J A Bokar ◽  
R A Keri ◽  
T A Farmerie ◽  
R A Fenstermaker ◽  
B Andersen ◽  
...  

The single-copy gene encoding the alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormones is expressed in the pituitaries of all mammals and in the placentas of only primates and horses. We have systematically analyzed the promoter-regulatory elements of the human and bovine alpha-subunit genes to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their divergent patterns of tissue-specific expression. This analysis entailed the use of transient expression assays in a chorionic gonadotropin-secreting human choriocarcinoma cell line, protein-DNA binding assays, and expression of chimeric forms of human or bovine alpha subunit genes in transgenic mice. From the results, we conclude that placental expression of the human alpha-subunit gene requires a functional cyclic AMP response element (CRE) that is present as a tandem repeat in the promoter-regulatory region. In contrast, the promoter-regulatory region of the bovine alpha-subunit gene, as well as of the rat and mouse genes, was found to contain a single CRE homolog that differed from its human counterpart by a single nucleotide. This difference substantially reduced the binding affinity of the bovine CRE homolog for the nuclear protein that bound to the human alpha CRE and thereby rendered the bovine alpha-subunit promoter inactive in human choriocarcinoma cells. However, conversion of the bovine alpha CRE homolog to an authentic alpha CRE restored activity to the bovine alpha-subunit promoter in choriocarcinoma cells. Similarly, a human but not a bovine alpha transgene was expressed in placenta in transgenic mice. Thus, placenta-specific expression of the human alpha-subunit gene may be the consequence of the recent evolution of a functional CRE. Expression of the human alpha transgene in mouse placenta further suggests that evolution of placenta-specific trans-acting factors preceded the appearance of this element. Finally, in contrast to their divergent patterns of placental expression, both the human and bovine alpha-subunit transgenes were expressed in mouse pituitary, indicating differences in the composition of the enhancers required for pituitary- and placenta-specific expression.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarada Ketharnathan ◽  
Megan Leask ◽  
James Boocock ◽  
Amanda J. Phipps-Green ◽  
Jisha Antony ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSeveral dozen genetic variants associate with serum urate levels, but the precise molecular mechanisms by which they affect serum urate are unknown. Here we tested for functional linkage of the maximally-associated genetic variant rs1967017 at the PDZK1 locus to elevated PDZK1 expression.We performed expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) and likelihood analyses followed by gene expression assays. Zebrafish were used to determine the ability of rs1967017 to direct tissue-specific gene expression. Luciferase assays in HEK293 and HepG2 cells measured the effect of rs1967017 on transcription amplitude.PAINTOR analysis revealed rs1967017 as most likely to be causal and rs1967017 was an eQTL for PDZK1 in the intestine. The region harboring rs1967017 was capable of directly driving green fluorescent protein expression in the kidney, liver and intestine of zebrafish embryos, consistent with a conserved ability to confer tissue-specific expression. The urate-increasing T-allele of rs1967017 strengthens a binding site for the transcription factor HNF4A. siRNA depletion of HNF4A reduced endogenous PDZK1 expression in HepG2 cells. Luciferase assays showed that the T-allele of rs1967017 gains enhancer activity relative to the urate-decreasing C-allele, with T-allele enhancer activity abrogated by HNF4A depletion. HNF4A physically binds the rs1967017 region, suggesting direct transcriptional regulation of PDZK1 by HNF4A.With other reports our data predict that the urate-raising T-allele of rs1967017 enhances HNF4A binding to the PDZK1 promoter, thereby increasing PDZK1 expression. As PDZK1 is a scaffold protein for many ion channel transporters, increased expression can be predicted to increase activity of urate transporters and alter excretion of urate.


1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 893-903
Author(s):  
W E Schoderbek ◽  
K E Kim ◽  
E C Ridgway ◽  
P L Mellon ◽  
R A Maurer

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 7340-7351 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Suh ◽  
L Chen ◽  
J Taylor ◽  
P G Traber

The continually renewing epithelium of the intestinal tract arises from the visceral endoderm by a series of complex developmental transitions. The mechanisms that establish and maintain the processes of cellular renewal, cell lineage allocation, and tissue restriction and spatial assignment of gene expression in this epithelium are unknown. An understanding of the regulation of intestine-specific gene regulation may provide information on the molecular mechanisms that direct these processes. In this regard, we show that intestine-specific transcription of sucrase-isomaltase, a gene that is expressed exclusively in differentiated enterocytes, is dependent on binding of a tissue-specific homeodomain protein (mouse Cdx-2) to an evolutionarily conserved promoter element in the sucrase-isomaltase gene. This protein is a member of the caudal family of homeodomain genes which appear to function in early developmental events in Drosophila melanogaster, during gastrulation in many species, and in intestinal endoderm. Unique for this homeodomain gene family, we show that mouse Cdx-2 binds as a dimer to its regulatory element and that dimerization in vitro is dependent on redox potential. These characteristics of the interaction of Cdx-2 with its regulatory element provide for a number of potential mechanisms for transcriptional regulation. Taken together, these findings suggest that members of the Cdx gene family play a fundamental role both in the establishment of the intestinal phenotype during development and in maintenance of this phenotype via transcriptional activation of differentiated intestinal genes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingmiao Gao

Abstract Background: Alpinia oxyphylla is an important edible and medicinal herb, and its dried fruits are widely used in traditional herbal medicine. Flavonoids are one of the main chemical compounds in A. oxyphylla ; however, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of flavonoid biosynthesis are not well understood. Methods: We performed transcriptome analysis in the fruit, root, and leaf tissues of A. oxyphylla to delineate tissue-specific gene expression and metabolic pathways in this medicinal plant. Results: In all, 8.85, 10.10, 8.68, 6.89, and 8.51 Gb clean data were obtained for early-, middle-, and late-stage fruits, leaves, and roots, respectively. Furthermore, 50,401 unigenes were grouped into functional categories based on four databases, namely Nr (47,745 unigenes), Uniprot (49,685 unigenes), KOG (20,153 unigenes), and KEGG (27,285 unigenes). A total of 3,110 differentially expressed genes and five distinct clusters with similar expression patterns were obtained, in which 27 unigenes encoded 13 key enzymes (such as CHS, CHI, F3H, FLS, ANS ) associated with flavonoid biosynthesis. Conclusion: The tissue-specific expression of the genes corresponds to accumulation of flavonoids in these tissues.These results provide insights into the molecular mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in A. oxyphylla and application of genetically engineered varieties of A. oxyphylla .


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 7340-7351
Author(s):  
E Suh ◽  
L Chen ◽  
J Taylor ◽  
P G Traber

The continually renewing epithelium of the intestinal tract arises from the visceral endoderm by a series of complex developmental transitions. The mechanisms that establish and maintain the processes of cellular renewal, cell lineage allocation, and tissue restriction and spatial assignment of gene expression in this epithelium are unknown. An understanding of the regulation of intestine-specific gene regulation may provide information on the molecular mechanisms that direct these processes. In this regard, we show that intestine-specific transcription of sucrase-isomaltase, a gene that is expressed exclusively in differentiated enterocytes, is dependent on binding of a tissue-specific homeodomain protein (mouse Cdx-2) to an evolutionarily conserved promoter element in the sucrase-isomaltase gene. This protein is a member of the caudal family of homeodomain genes which appear to function in early developmental events in Drosophila melanogaster, during gastrulation in many species, and in intestinal endoderm. Unique for this homeodomain gene family, we show that mouse Cdx-2 binds as a dimer to its regulatory element and that dimerization in vitro is dependent on redox potential. These characteristics of the interaction of Cdx-2 with its regulatory element provide for a number of potential mechanisms for transcriptional regulation. Taken together, these findings suggest that members of the Cdx gene family play a fundamental role both in the establishment of the intestinal phenotype during development and in maintenance of this phenotype via transcriptional activation of differentiated intestinal genes.


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