scholarly journals Site-specific methylation of the rat prolactin and growth hormone promoters correlates with gene expression.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 3245-3254 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Ngô ◽  
D Gourdji ◽  
J N Laverrière

The methylation patterns of the rat prolactin (rPRL) (positions -440 to -20) and growth hormone (rGH) (positions -360 to -110) promoters were analyzed by bisulfite genomic sequencing. Two normal tissues, the anterior pituitary and the liver, and three rat pituitary GH3 cell lines that differ considerably in their abilities to express both genes were tested. High levels of rPRL gene expression were correlated with hypomethylation of the CpG dinucleotides located at positions -277 and -97, near or within positive cis-acting regulatory elements. For the nine CpG sites analyzed in the rGH promoter, an overall hypomethylation-expression coupling was also observed for the anterior pituitary, the liver, and two of the cell lines. The effect of DNA methylation was tested by measuring the transient expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene driven by a regionally methylated rPRL promoter. CpG methylation resulted in a decrease in the activity of the rPRL promoter which was proportional to the number of modified CpG sites. The extent of the inhibition was also found to be dependent on the position of methylated sites. Taken together, these data suggest that site-specific methylation may modulate the action of transcription factors that dictate the tissue-specific expression of the rPRL and rGH genes in vivo.

Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Dziennis ◽  
RA Van Etten ◽  
HL Pahl ◽  
DL Morris ◽  
TL Rothstein ◽  
...  

Abstract CD11b is the alpha chain of the Mac-1 integrin and is preferentially expressed in myeloid cells (neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages). We have previously shown that the CD11b promoter directs cell-type- specific expression in myeloid lines using transient transfection assays. To confirm that these promoter sequences contain the proper regulatory elements for correct myeloid expression of CD11b in vivo, we have used the -1.7-kb human CD11b promoter to direct reporter gene expression in transgenic mice. Stable founder lines were generated with two different reporter genes, a Thy 1.1 surface marker and the Escherichia coli lacZ (beta-galactosidase) gene. Analysis of founders generated with each reporter demonstrated that the CD11b promoter was capable of driving high levels of transgene expression in murine macrophages for the lifetime of the animals. Similar to the endogenous gene, transgene expression was preferentially found in mature monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils and not in myeloid precursors. These experiments indicate that the -1.7 CD11b promoter contains the regulatory elements sufficient for high-level macrophage expression. This promoter should be useful for targeting heterologous gene expression to mature myeloid cells.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 3583-3583
Author(s):  
Muluken S Belew ◽  
Stefan Rentas ◽  
Laura de Rooij ◽  
Kristin J Hope

Abstract The Musashi-2 (MSI2) RNA binding protein is now recognized as a key regulator of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Its expression is most elevated in the primitive HSC compartment and progressively decreases with differentiation. In mouse models of CML, ectopic expression of MSI2 drives progression from the chronic to the blast crisis state while in the human context its aberrantly high expression correlates with more aggressive CML disease states and is associated with poor prognosis in AML. These studies suggest that the precise molecular regulation of MSI2 gene expression may be among the critical mechanisms underlying balanced HSC self-renewal and differentiation and as a result, the prevention of leukemic transformation/progression. Despite the clear importance of understanding how Msi2 maintains an appropriate stem cell-specific expression level, very little is understood of the transcription factors (TFs) that mediate this. To define those factors that govern MSI2 expression and function specifically in the HSC compartment we undertook a systematic approach to map and define relevant regulatory elements of the MSI2 minimal promoter. We dissected a 3.5 kb region 5' upstream of MSI2's translational start site (TSS) shared between mouse and human and thus having the greatest potential of containing regulatory elements key to a conserved MSI2 stem-cell-specific gene expression program. Progressive 5'-terminal deletions of this region cloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene and transfected into K562 and 293T model cell lines allowed us to define a minimal conserved promoter region from -588 to -203 bp upstream of the TSS that reports accurately on endogenous MSI2 expression. Coupled with in silico prediction of TF that bind this region, systematic TF binding site mutagenesis and luciferase reporter assays in model cell lines identified USF2 and PLAG1 as TFs whose direct binding to the MSI2 minimal promoter direct reporter activity. Loss and gain of function studies in K562 cells confirm that these factors co-regulate the transactivation of endogenous MSI2. Moreover we show in the most relevant primary human CD34+ hematopoietic cell context that these factors bind the MSI2 minimal promoter. While USF2 is a ubiquitously expressed TF across the hematopoietic hierarchy, the uniquely restricted expression of PLAG1 within only the most primitive of hematopoietic cells suggests that it specifically contributes to the heightened stem cell-specific expression of MSI2. Consistent with its role as a key driver of MSI2 and thus an enforcer of its pro-self-renewal functions, we found that overexpression of PLAG1 in human Lin-CD34+ cord blood cells enhanced MSI2 transcription and increased total Colony Forming Unit (CFU) output and re-plating efficiency of primitive CFU progenitors. PLAG1 overexpression also offered a pro-survival advantage to these cells as evidenced by a more than two-fold reduction in Annexin V positive cells compared to negative controls. We have thus described important transcriptional circuitry that governs stem-cell specific expression of MSI2 while at the same time functionally validated PLAG1 as a novel factor capable of modulating primitive hematopoietic cell self-renewal and survival. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel García-Pérez ◽  
Paula Esteller-Cucala ◽  
Glòria Mas ◽  
Irene Lobón ◽  
Valerio Di Carlo ◽  
...  

AbstractChanges in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression have a central role in evolution. Here, we extensively profiled a panel of human, chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, and macaque lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), using ChIP-seq for five histone marks, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, further complemented with whole genome sequencing (WGS) and whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). We annotated regulatory elements (RE) and integrated chromatin contact maps to define gene regulatory architectures, creating the largest catalog of RE in primates to date. We report that epigenetic conservation and its correlation with sequence conservation in primates depends on the activity state of the regulatory element. Our gene regulatory architectures reveal the coordination of different types of components and highlight the role of promoters and intragenic enhancers (gE) in the regulation of gene expression. We observe that most regulatory changes occur in weakly active gE. Remarkably, novel human-specific gE with weak activities are enriched in human-specific nucleotide changes. These elements appear in genes with signals of positive selection and human acceleration, tissue-specific expression, and particular functional enrichments, suggesting that the regulatory evolution of these genes may have contributed to human adaptation.


Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Dziennis ◽  
RA Van Etten ◽  
HL Pahl ◽  
DL Morris ◽  
TL Rothstein ◽  
...  

CD11b is the alpha chain of the Mac-1 integrin and is preferentially expressed in myeloid cells (neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages). We have previously shown that the CD11b promoter directs cell-type- specific expression in myeloid lines using transient transfection assays. To confirm that these promoter sequences contain the proper regulatory elements for correct myeloid expression of CD11b in vivo, we have used the -1.7-kb human CD11b promoter to direct reporter gene expression in transgenic mice. Stable founder lines were generated with two different reporter genes, a Thy 1.1 surface marker and the Escherichia coli lacZ (beta-galactosidase) gene. Analysis of founders generated with each reporter demonstrated that the CD11b promoter was capable of driving high levels of transgene expression in murine macrophages for the lifetime of the animals. Similar to the endogenous gene, transgene expression was preferentially found in mature monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils and not in myeloid precursors. These experiments indicate that the -1.7 CD11b promoter contains the regulatory elements sufficient for high-level macrophage expression. This promoter should be useful for targeting heterologous gene expression to mature myeloid cells.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 4293-4308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Kaufman ◽  
Satrajit Sinha ◽  
Diana Bolotin ◽  
Jie Fan ◽  
Elaine Fuchs

ABSTRACT In this report, we explored the mechanisms underlying keratinocyte-specific and differentiation-specific gene expression in the skin. We have identified five keratinocyte-specific, open chromatin regions that exist within the 6 kb of 5′ upstream regulatory sequence known to faithfully recapitulate the strong endogenous keratin 5 (K5) promoter and/or enhancer activity. One of these, DNase I-hypersensitive site (HSs) 4, was unique in that it acted independently to drive abundant and keratinocyte-specific reporter gene activity in culture and in transgenic mice, despite the fact that it was not essential for K5 enhancer activity. We have identified evolutionarily conserved regulatory elements and a number of their associated proteins that bind to this compact and complex enhancer element. The 125-bp 3′ half of this element (referred to as 4.2) is by far the smallest known strong enhancer element possessing keratinocyte-specific activity in vivo. Interestingly, its activity is restricted to a subset of progeny of K5-expressing cells located within the sebaceous gland. The other half of HSs 4 (termed 4.1) possesses activity to suppress sebocyte-specific expression and induce expression in the channel (inner root sheath) cells surrounding the hair shaft. Our findings lead us to a view of keratinocyte gene expression which is determined by multiple regulatory modules, many of which contain AP-2 and/or Sp1/Sp3 binding sites for enhancing expression in skin epithelium, but which also harbor one or more unique sites for the binding of factors which determine specificity. Through mixing and matching of these modules, additional levels of specificity are obtained, indicating that both transcriptional repressors and activators govern the specificity.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 3316-3329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Müller ◽  
Carol Readhead ◽  
Sven Diederichs ◽  
Gregory Idos ◽  
Rong Yang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Gene expression in mammalian organisms is regulated at multiple levels, including DNA accessibility for transcription factors and chromatin structure. Methylation of CpG dinucleotides is thought to be involved in imprinting and in the pathogenesis of cancer. However, the relevance of methylation for directing tissue-specific gene expression is highly controversial. The cyclin A1 gene is expressed in very few tissues, with high levels restricted to spermatogenesis and leukemic blasts. Here, we show that methylation of the CpG island of the human cyclin A1 promoter was correlated with nonexpression in cell lines, and the methyl-CpG binding protein MeCP2 suppressed transcription from the methylated cyclin A1 promoter. Repression could be relieved by trichostatin A. Silencing of a cyclin A1 promoter-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgene in stable transfected MG63 osteosarcoma cells was also closely associated with de novo promoter methylation. Cyclin A1 could be strongly induced in nonexpressing cell lines by trichostatin A but not by 5-aza-cytidine. The cyclin A1 promoter-EGFP construct directed tissue-specific expression in male germ cells of transgenic mice. Expression in the testes of these mice was independent of promoter methylation, and even strong promoter methylation did not suppress promoter activity. MeCP2 expression was notably absent in EGFP-expressing cells. Transcription from the transgenic cyclin A1 promoter was repressed in most organs outside the testis, even when the promoter was not methylated. These data show the association of methylation with silencing of the cyclin A1 gene in cancer cell lines. However, appropriate tissue-specific repression of the cyclin A1 promoter occurs independently of CpG methylation.


1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 4130-4132 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Hayashi ◽  
H Kondoh

Expression of the chicken delta-crystallin gene 1 injected into the nuclei of mouse cells is lens specific. Coinjection of GC box-containing DNA fragments from delta-crystallin, simian virus 40 early, and herpes simplex virus type 1 tk promoters effectively suppressed delta-crystallin expression in the lens, but coinjection with DNA fragments not containing the GC box did not. This suppression was likely due to the competition of an Sp1-like transcription factor(s) and indicates involvement of the apparently ubiquitous factor(s) in the tissue-specific expression of the delta-crystallin gene.


2009 ◽  
Vol 284 (24) ◽  
pp. 16541-16552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Üzen Savas ◽  
Daniel E. W. Machemer ◽  
Mei-Hui Hsu ◽  
Pryce Gaynor ◽  
Jerome M. Lasker ◽  
...  

CYP4A11 transgenic mice (CYP4A11 Tg) were generated to examine in vivo regulation of the human CYP4A11 gene. Expression of CYP4A11 in mice yields liver and kidney P450 4A11 levels similar to those found in the corresponding human tissues and leads to an increased microsomal capacity for ω-hydroxylation of lauric acid. Fasted CYP4A11 Tg mice exhibit 2–3-fold increases in hepatic CYP4A11 mRNA and protein, and this response is absent in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) null mice. Dietary administration of either of the PPARα agonists, fenofibrate or clofibric acid, increases hepatic and renal CYP4A11 levels by 2–3-fold, and these responses were also abrogated in PPARα null mice. Basal liver CYP4A11 levels are reduced differentially in PPARα−/− females (>95%) and males (<50%) compared with PPARα−/+ mice. Quantitative and temporal differences in growth hormone secretion are known to alter hepatic lipid metabolism and to underlie sexually dimorphic gene expression, respectively. Continuous infusion of low levels of growth hormone reduced CYP4A11 expression by 50% in PPARα-proficient male and female transgenic mice. A larger decrease was observed for the expression of CYP4A11 in PPARα−/− CYP4A11 Tg male mice to levels similar to that of female PPARα-deficient mice. These results suggest that PPARα contributes to the maintenance of basal CYP4A11 expression and mediates CYP4A11 induction in response to fibrates or fasting. In contrast, increased exposure to growth hormone down-regulates CYP4A11 expression in liver.


1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-371
Author(s):  
Q.L. Lu ◽  
A.M. Hanby ◽  
M.A. Nasser Hajibagheri ◽  
S.E. Gschmeissner ◽  
P.J. Lu ◽  
...  

bcl-2 gene expression confers a survival advantage by preventing cells from entering apoptosis. In contrast to the previously described cytoplasmic localization of Bcl-2 in epithelial cells in vivo, in this study we have demonstrated, in a series of human epithelial cell lines, that Bcl-2 also localizes to mitotic nuclei. Both immunocytochemical and immunoelectron microscopical examinations localize this protein to nuclei and in particular to chromosomes. Nuclear Bcl-2 expression in these cell lines is correlated with the cell cycle. There is relatively strong expression during mitosis, most intense during prophase and metaphase, declining in telophase and then the protein becomes undetectable soon after separation of the two daughter cells. The expression and distribution of Bcl-2 is influenced by treatment with excessive thymidine. These results indicate that Bcl-2 may protect the cells from apoptosis occurring during mitosis and suggest a possible role for the protein in cell immortalization.


2001 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 734-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine C. Quirk ◽  
Kristen L. Lozada ◽  
Ruth A. Keri ◽  
John H. Nilson

Abstract Reproduction depends on regulated expression of the LHβ gene. Tandem copies of regulatory elements that bind early growth response protein 1 (Egr-1) and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) are located in the proximal region of the LHβ promoter and make essential contributions to its activity as well as mediate responsiveness to GnRH. Located between these tandem elements is a single site capable of binding the homeodomain protein Pitx1. From studies that employ overexpression paradigms performed in heterologous cell lines, it appears that Egr-1, SF-1, and Pitx1 interact cooperatively through a mechanism that does not require the binding of Pitx1 to its site. Since the physiological ramifications of these overexpression studies remain unclear, we reassessed the requirement for a Pitx1 element in the promoter of the LHβ gene using homologous cell lines and transgenic mice, both of which obviate the need for overexpression of transcription factors. Our analysis indicated a striking requirement for the Pitx1 regulatory element. When assayed by transient transfection using a gonadotrope-derived cell line (LβT2), an LHβ promoter construct harboring a mutant Pitx1 element displayed attenuated transcriptional activity but retained responsiveness to GnRH. In contrast, analysis of wild-type and mutant expression vectors in transgenic mice indicated that LHβ promoter activity is completely dependent on the presence of a functional Pitx1 binding site. Indeed, the dependence on an intact Pitx1 binding site in transgenic mice is so strict that responsiveness to GnRH is also lost, suggesting that the mutant promoter is inactive. Collectively, our data reinforce the concept that activity of the LHβ promoter is determined, in part, through highly cooperative interactions between SF-1, Egr-1, and Pitx1. While Egr-1 can be regarded as a key downstream effector of GnRH, and Pitx1 as a critical partner that activates SF-1, our data firmly establish that the Pitx1 element plays a vital role in permitting these functions to occur in vivo.


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