scholarly journals Ku Antigen-DNA Conformation Determines the Activation of DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase and DNA Sequence-Directed Repression of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Transcription

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 4065-4078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ward Giffin ◽  
Wenrong Gong ◽  
Caroline Schild-Poulter ◽  
Robert J. G. Haché

ABSTRACT Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) transcription is repressed by DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) through a DNA sequence element, NRE1, in the viral long terminal repeat that is a sequence-specific DNA binding site for the Ku antigen subunit of the kinase. While Ku is an essential component of the active kinase, how the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK (DNA-PKcs) is regulated through its association with Ku is only beginning to be understood. We report that activation of DNA-PKcs and the repression of MMTV transcription from NRE1 are dependent upon Ku conformation, the manipulation of DNA structure by Ku, and the contact of Ku80 with DNA. Truncation of one copy of the overlapping direct repeat that comprises NRE1 abrogated the repression of MMTV transcription by Ku–DNA-PKcs. Remarkably, the truncated element was recognized by Ku–DNA-PKcs with affinity similar to that of the full-length element but was unable to promote the activation of DNA-PKcs. Analysis of Ku–DNA-PKcs interactions with DNA ends, double- and single-stranded forms of NRE1, and the truncated NRE1 element revealed striking differences in Ku conformation that differentially affected the recruitment of DNA-PKcs and the activation of kinase activity.

Author(s):  
N. H. Sarkar ◽  
Dan H. Moore

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV) is believed to contain about 0.8% single stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA). This value of RNA content was estimated on a dry weight basis. The subject of this report is an attempt to visualize the RNA molecules of MTV particles.MTV particles were isolated from RIII mouse (tumor incidence approximately 80%) milk according to the method described by Lyons and Moore. Purified virions from 5 ml of milk were finally suspended in 0.2 ml of PBS, pH 7.4 and was mixed with an equal volume of pronase (5 mg/ml). This mixture was incubated at 37°C for an hour. RNA was extracted three times using freshly prepared cold phenol. It was then treated three times with cold ethyl ether to remove any trace of phenol. The RNA thus extracted was divided into two parts. One part was diluted four fold with 8M urea to avoid aggregation of the molecules. The other part was left untreated. Both samples were then mixed with an equal volume of 1M ammonium acetate, adjusted to pH 8.0 with NH3 containing chymotrypsin at a concentration of 0.01%.


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