scholarly journals Negative autoregulation of the neu gene is mediated by a novel enhancer.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2739-2748 ◽  
Author(s):  
X Y Zhao ◽  
M C Hung

In an attempt to study potential feedback regulation of the neu oncogene, we have found that the neu oncogene product specifically represses its own promoter activity. Deletion analysis indicated a 140-bp region (nucleotides -312 to -173 relative to the ATG initiation codon) in the rat neu promoter responsible for neu autorepression. Gel shift assays and methylation interference analysis further demonstrated that a GGTGGGGGGG sequence (nucleotides -243 to -234 relative to the ATG initiation codon) in this 140-bp region interacts with specific protein complexes. The GGTGGGGGGG sequence (GTG element), which functions as an enhancer, is sufficient to cause neu-mediated repression in a heterologous promoter. Furthermore, it produces different gel shift patterns with nuclear extracts from neu-transformed cell lines and their parental lines, suggesting that a transcriptional factor(s) interacting with this enhancer element has been perturbed by the introduction of neu. Taken together, the data presented in this report show that (i) the neu oncogene product autorepresses its own promoter, (ii) the neu promoter contains a novel enhancer, and (iii) neu autorepression is mediated through this enhancer, likely by inhibition of the enhancer activity.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2739-2748
Author(s):  
X Y Zhao ◽  
M C Hung

In an attempt to study potential feedback regulation of the neu oncogene, we have found that the neu oncogene product specifically represses its own promoter activity. Deletion analysis indicated a 140-bp region (nucleotides -312 to -173 relative to the ATG initiation codon) in the rat neu promoter responsible for neu autorepression. Gel shift assays and methylation interference analysis further demonstrated that a GGTGGGGGGG sequence (nucleotides -243 to -234 relative to the ATG initiation codon) in this 140-bp region interacts with specific protein complexes. The GGTGGGGGGG sequence (GTG element), which functions as an enhancer, is sufficient to cause neu-mediated repression in a heterologous promoter. Furthermore, it produces different gel shift patterns with nuclear extracts from neu-transformed cell lines and their parental lines, suggesting that a transcriptional factor(s) interacting with this enhancer element has been perturbed by the introduction of neu. Taken together, the data presented in this report show that (i) the neu oncogene product autorepresses its own promoter, (ii) the neu promoter contains a novel enhancer, and (iii) neu autorepression is mediated through this enhancer, likely by inhibition of the enhancer activity.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 2174-2184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Mertz ◽  
Farah Mustafa ◽  
Shari Meyers ◽  
Jaquelin P. Dudley

ABSTRACT Type B leukemogenic virus (TBLV) induces rapidly appearing T-cell tumors in mice. TBLV is highly related to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) except that TBLV long terminal repeats (LTRs) have a deletion of negative regulatory elements and a triplication of sequences flanking the deletion. To determine if the LTR triplication represents a viral enhancer element, we inserted the triplication upstream and downstream in either orientation relative to the thymidine kinase promoter linked to the luciferase gene. These experiments showed that upregulation of reporter gene activity by the TBLV triplication was relatively orientation independent, consistent with the activity of eukaryotic enhancer elements. TBLV enhancer activity was observed in T-cell lines but not in fibroblasts, B cells, or mammary cells, suggesting that enhancer function is cell type dependent. To analyze the transcription factor binding sites that are important for TBLV enhancer function, we prepared substitution mutations in a reconstituted C3H MMTV LTR that recapitulates the deletion observed in the TBLV LTR. Transient transfections showed that a single mutation (556M) decreased TBLV enhancer activity at least 20-fold in two different T-cell lines. This mutation greatly diminished AML-1 (recently renamed RUNX1) binding in gel shift assays with a mutant oligonucleotide, whereas AML-1 binding to a wild-type TBLV oligomer was specific, as judged by competition and supershift experiments. The 556 mutation also reduced TBLV enhancer binding of two other protein complexes, called NF-A and NF-B, that did not appear to be related to c-Myb or Ets. AML-1overexpression in a mammary cell line enhanced expression from the TBLV LTR approximately 30-fold. These data suggest that binding of AML-1 to the TBLV enhancer, likely in combination with other factors, is necessary for optimal enhancer function.


2003 ◽  
Vol 369 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina R. BERGMAN ◽  
Sunfa CHENG ◽  
Norman HONBO ◽  
Lucia PIACENTINI ◽  
Joel S. KARLINER ◽  
...  

Enhanced synthesis of a specific matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-2, has been demonstrated in experimental models of ventricular failure and in cardiac extracts from patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes were used to analyse the determinants of MMP-2 synthesis, including the effects of hypoxia. Culture of rat cardiac fibroblasts for 24h in 1% oxygen enhanced MMP-2 synthesis by more than 5-fold and augmented the MMP-2 synthetic responses of these cells to endothelin-1, angiotensin II and interleukin 1β. A series of MMP-2 promoter—luciferase constructs were used to map the specific enhancer element(s) that drive MMP-2 transcription in cardiac cells. Deletion studies mapped a region of potent transactivating function within the 91bp region from −1433 to −1342bp, the activity of which was increased by hypoxia. Oligonucleotides from this region were cloned in front of a heterologous simian-virus-40 (SV40) promoter and mapped the enhancer activity to a region between −1410 and −1362bp that included a potential activating protein 1 (AP-1)-binding sequence, C-1394CTGACCTCC. Site-specific mutagenesis of the core TGAC sequence (indicated in bold) eliminated the transactivating activity within the −1410 to −1362bp sequence. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) using the −1410 to −1362bp oligonucleotide and rat cardiac fibroblast nuclear extracts demonstrated specific nuclear-protein binding that was eliminated by cold competitor oligonucleotide, but not by the AP-1-mutated oligonucleotide. Antibody-supershift EMSAs of nuclear extracts from normoxic rat cardiac fibroblasts demonstrated Fra1 and JunB binding to the −1410 to −1362bp oligonucleotide. Nuclear extracts isolated from hypoxic rat cardiac fibroblasts contained Fra1, JunB and also included FosB. Co-transfection of cardiac fibroblasts with Fra1—JunB and FosB—JunB expression plasmids led to significant increases in transcriptional activity. These studies demonstrate that a functional AP-1 site mediates MMP-2 transcription in cardiac cells through the binding of distinctive Fra1—JunB and FosB—JunB heterodimers. The synthesis of MMP-2 is widely considered, in contrast with many members of the MMP gene family, to be independent of the AP-1 transcriptional complex. This report is the first demonstration that defined members of the Fos and Jun transcription-factor families specifically regulate this gene under conditions relevant to critical pathophysiological processes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 389 (3) ◽  
pp. 831-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev K. Sharma ◽  
Ulrike Leinemann ◽  
Regine Ratke ◽  
Elke Oetjen ◽  
Roland Blume ◽  
...  

The pancreatic islet hormone glucagon stimulates hepatic glucose production and thus maintains blood glucose levels in the fasting state. Transcription factors of the Foxa [Fox (forkhead box) subclass A; also known as HNF-3 (hepatocyte nuclear factor-3)] family are required for cell-specific activation of the glucagon gene in pancreatic islet α-cells. However, their action on the glucagon gene is poorly understood. In the present study, comparative sequence analysis and molecular characterization using protein–DNA binding and transient transfection assays revealed that the well-characterized Foxa-binding site in the G2 enhancer element of the rat glucagon gene is not conserved in humans and that the human G2 sequence lacks basal enhancer activity. A novel Foxa site was identified that is conserved in rats, mice and humans. It mediates activation of the glucagon gene by Foxa proteins and confers cell-specific promoter activity in glucagon-producing pancreatic islet α-cell lines. In contrast with previously identified Foxa-binding sites in the glucagon promoter, which bind nuclear Foxa2, the novel Foxa site was found to bind preferentially Foxa1 in nuclear extracts of a glucagon-producing pancreatic islet α-cell line, offering a mechanism that explains the decrease in glucagon gene expression in Foxa1-deficient mice. This site is located just upstream of the TATA box (between −30 and −50), suggesting a role for Foxa proteins in addition to direct transcriptional activation, such as a role in opening the chromatin at the start site of transcription of the glucagon gene.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. C525-C534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Hennebry ◽  
Carole Berry ◽  
Victoria Siriett ◽  
Paul O'Callaghan ◽  
Linda Chau ◽  
...  

Myostatin (Mstn) is a secreted growth factor belonging to the tranforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily. Inactivation of murine Mstn by gene targeting, or natural mutation of bovine or human Mstn, induces the double muscling (DM) phenotype. In DM cattle, Mstn deficiency increases fast glycolytic (type IIB) fiber formation in the biceps femoris (BF) muscle. Using Mstn null (−/−) mice, we suggest a possible mechanism behind Mstn-mediated fiber-type diversity. Histological analysis revealed increased type IIB fibers with a concomitant decrease in type IIA and type I fibers in the Mstn−/−tibialis anterior and BF muscle. Functional electrical stimulation of Mstn−/−BF revealed increased fatigue susceptibility, supporting increased type IIB fiber content. Given the role of myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) in oxidative type I fiber formation, MEF2 levels in Mstn−/−tissue were quantified. Results revealed reduced MEF2C protein in Mstn−/−muscle and myoblast nuclear extracts. Reduced MEF2-DNA complex was also observed in electrophoretic mobility-shift assay using Mstn−/−nuclear extracts. Furthermore, reduced expression of MEF2 downstream target genes MLC1F and calcineurin were found in Mstn−/−muscle. Conversely, Mstn addition was sufficient to directly upregulate MLC promoter-enhancer activity in cultured myoblasts. Since high MyoD levels are seen in fast fibers, we analyzed MyoD levels in the muscle. In contrast to MEF2C, MyoD levels were increased in Mstn−/−muscle. Together, these results suggest that while Mstn positively regulates MEF2C levels, it negatively regulates MyoD expression in muscle. We propose that Mstn could regulate fiber-type composition by regulating the expression of MEF2C and MyoD during myogenesis.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1990
Author(s):  
Inmaculada Navarro-Lérida ◽  
Miguel Sánchez-Álvarez ◽  
Miguel Ángel del Pozo

Cells and tissues are continuously exposed to both chemical and physical stimuli and dynamically adapt and respond to this variety of external cues to ensure cellular homeostasis, regulated development and tissue-specific differentiation. Alterations of these pathways promote disease progression—a prominent example being cancer. Rho GTPases are key regulators of the remodeling of cytoskeleton and cell membranes and their coordination and integration with different biological processes, including cell polarization and motility, as well as other signaling networks such as growth signaling and proliferation. Apart from the control of GTP–GDP cycling, Rho GTPase activity is spatially and temporally regulated by post-translation modifications (PTMs) and their assembly onto specific protein complexes, which determine their controlled activity at distinct cellular compartments. Although Rho GTPases were traditionally conceived as targeted from the cytosol to the plasma membrane to exert their activity, recent research demonstrates that active pools of different Rho GTPases also localize to endomembranes and the nucleus. In this review, we discuss how PTM-driven modulation of Rho GTPases provides a versatile mechanism for their compartmentalization and functional regulation. Understanding how the subcellular sorting of active small GTPase pools occurs and what its functional significance is could reveal novel therapeutic opportunities.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 5143-5153
Author(s):  
J T Bruder ◽  
P Hearing

We have identified a cellular enhancer-binding protein, present in nuclear extracts prepared from human and rodent cells, that binds to the adenovirus E1A enhancer element I sequence. The factor has been termed EF-1A, for enhancer-binding factor to the E1A core motif. EF-1A was found to bind to two adjacent, related sequence motifs in the E1A enhancer region (termed sites A and B). The binding of EF-1A to these adjacent sites, or to synthetic dimerized sites of either motif, was cooperative. The cooperative binding of EF-1A to these sites was not subject to strict spacing constraints. EF-1A also bound to related sequences upstream of the E1A enhancer region and in the polyomavirus and adenovirus E4 enhancer regions. The EF-1A-binding region in the E1A enhancer stimulated expression of a linked gene in human 293 cells when multimerized. Based on the contact sites for EF-1A binding determined by chemical interference assays, this protein appears to be distinct from any previously characterized nuclear binding protein.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1202-1208
Author(s):  
R A Graves ◽  
P Tontonoz ◽  
B M Spiegelman

The molecular basis of adipocyte-specific gene expression is not well understood. We have previously identified a 518-bp enhancer from the adipocyte P2 gene that stimulates adipose-specific gene expression in both cultured cells and transgenic mice. In this analysis of the enhancer, we have defined and characterized a 122-bp DNA fragment that directs differentiation-dependent gene expression in cultured preadipocytes and adipocytes. Several cis-acting elements have been identified and shown by mutational analysis to be important for full enhancer activity. One pair of sequences, ARE2 and ARE4, binds a nuclear factor (ARF2) present in extracts derived from many cell types. Multiple copies of these elements stimulate gene expression from a minimal promoter in preadipocytes, adipocytes, and several other cultured cell lines. A second pair of elements, ARE6 and ARE7, binds a separate factor (ARF6) that is detected only in nuclear extracts derived from adipocytes. The ability of multimers of ARE6 or ARE7 to stimulate promoter activity is strictly adipocyte specific. Mutations in the ARE6 sequence greatly reduce the activity of the 518-bp enhancer. These data demonstrate that several cis- and trans-acting components contribute to the activity of the adipocyte P2 enhancer and suggest that ARF6, a novel differentiation-dependent factor, may be a key regulator of adipogenic gene expression.


1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1531-1543
Author(s):  
J Hu ◽  
H C Isom

We demonstrated, using a transient transfection assay, that the albumin enhancer increased the expression of the albumin promoter in a highly differentiated, simian virus 40 (SV40)-immortalized hepatocyte cell line, CWSV1, but was not functional in two ras-transformed cell lines (NR3 and NR4) derived from CWSV1 by stable transfection with the T24ras oncogene. A transient cotransfection assay showed that T24ras and normal c-Ha-ras were each able to inhibit the activity of the albumin enhancer in an immortal hepatocyte cell line. DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that the DNA binding activities specific to the albumin enhancer were not decreased in the ras-transformed cells. ras also did not diminish the expression of HNF1 alpha, C/EBP alpha, HNF3 alpha, HNF3 beta, or HNF3 gamma but did significantly increase AP-1 binding activity. Three AP-1 binding sites were identified within the albumin enhancer, and DNA binding activities specific to these AP-1 sites were induced in the ras-transformed hepatocytes. Subsequent functional assays showed that overexpression of c-jun and c-fos inhibited the activity of the albumin enhancer. Site-directed mutagenesis of the AP-1 binding sites in the albumin enhancer partially abrogated the suppressing effect of ras and c-jun/c-fos on the enhancer. These functional studies therefore supported the results of the structural studies with AP-1. We conclude that the activity of the albumin enhancer is subject to regulation by ras signaling pathways and that the effect of ras on the albumin enhancer activity may be mediated by AP-1.


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