scholarly journals Interaction of nuclear proteins with a positive cis-acting element of rat embryonic myosin heavy-chain promoter: identification of a new transcriptional factor.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1839-1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y T Yu ◽  
B Nadal-Ginard

A DNA fragment of the rat embryonic myosin heavy-chain promoter (MHCemb) has been found to specifically bind a nuclear factor (NFe) present in extracts prepared from mouse C2 myoblasts, myotubes, and HeLa cells. The nucleotide sequence of the binding site (BSe) has been identified as 5'-GTGTCAGTCA-3' and was located between -93 and -84. Transient expression studies on MHCemb promoter deletion constructs in C2 myoblasts and C2 myotubes suggested that NFe is a transcriptional factor. Deletion of the NFe-binding site resulted in four- to sixfold and twofold reduction of promoter activity in C2 myotubes and C2 myoblasts, respectively. Furthermore, point mutations at the BSe not only abolished the NFe-binding activity of the MHCemb promoter but also resulted in reduction of the promoter activity to levels similar to those of the deletion constructs in C2 myotubes, myoblasts, and Hela cells (four- to sixfold). Although BSe and the binding site of the recently identified transcriptional factors AP-1 and ATF share significant homology, the results from competition binding assays indicated that NFe is different from both AP-1 and ATF.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1839-1849
Author(s):  
Y T Yu ◽  
B Nadal-Ginard

A DNA fragment of the rat embryonic myosin heavy-chain promoter (MHCemb) has been found to specifically bind a nuclear factor (NFe) present in extracts prepared from mouse C2 myoblasts, myotubes, and HeLa cells. The nucleotide sequence of the binding site (BSe) has been identified as 5'-GTGTCAGTCA-3' and was located between -93 and -84. Transient expression studies on MHCemb promoter deletion constructs in C2 myoblasts and C2 myotubes suggested that NFe is a transcriptional factor. Deletion of the NFe-binding site resulted in four- to sixfold and twofold reduction of promoter activity in C2 myotubes and C2 myoblasts, respectively. Furthermore, point mutations at the BSe not only abolished the NFe-binding activity of the MHCemb promoter but also resulted in reduction of the promoter activity to levels similar to those of the deletion constructs in C2 myotubes, myoblasts, and Hela cells (four- to sixfold). Although BSe and the binding site of the recently identified transcriptional factors AP-1 and ATF share significant homology, the results from competition binding assays indicated that NFe is different from both AP-1 and ATF.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. C1019-C1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Andrew Shanely ◽  
Kevin A. Zwetsloot ◽  
Thomas E. Childs ◽  
Simon J. Lees ◽  
Richard W. Tsika ◽  
...  

IGF-I increases skeletal muscle mass, but whether IGF-I increases type IIb myosin heavy chain (MyHC) transcriptional activity is not known. C2C12 myotubes were cultured with or without IGF-I to determine whether IGF-I increases type IIb MyHC promoter activity, and if so, what region of the promoter might IGF-I signaling regulate. At differentiation days 3 and 4, IGF-I increased type IIb MyHC mRNA and mouse 3.0-kb type IIb MyHC promoter activity. Deletion construct studies identified a potential IGF-I-responsive region between 1.25 and 1.2 kb of the type IIb MyHC promoter, which contained an exact 6-bp T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) binding site at position −1206 to −1201. Site-specific mutation of the putative Tcf/Lef binding site reduced IGF-I-induced 1.3-kb type IIb MyHC promoter activity. To identify potential IGF-I signaling molecules, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors wortmannin and LY-294002 were both found to markedly attenuate IGF-I activation of the 1.3-kb type IIb MyHC promoter. Downstream signaling of IGF-I can phosphorylate and inactivate GSK-3β, thereby enhancing β-catenin protein. The GSK-3β inhibitor, LiCl, dramatically enhanced IGF-I induction of the 1.3-kb type IIb MyHC promoter, and constitutively active GSK-3β attenuated IGF-I-induced 1.3-kb type IIb MyHC promoter activity. Finally, IGF-I increased nuclear β-catenin protein, and small interfering RNA knockdown of β-catenin attenuated IGF-I-induced 1.3-kb type IIb MyHC promoter activity and type IIb MyHC mRNA. In summary, IGF-I stimulation of C2C12 myotubes increases mouse type IIb MyHC promoter activity, likely through signaling of PI3K, GSK-3β, β-catenin, and a Tcf/Lef binding site at −1,206 to −1,201 bp in the promoter.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6866-6875 ◽  
Author(s):  
D C Hagen ◽  
L Bruhn ◽  
C A Westby ◽  
G F Sprague

Transcription activation of alpha-specific genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is regulated by two proteins, MCM1 and alpha 1, which bind to DNA sequences, called P'Q elements, found upstream of alpha-specific genes. Neither MCM1 nor alpha 1 alone binds efficiently to P'Q elements. Together, however, they bind cooperatively in a manner that requires both the P' sequence, which is a weak binding site for MCM1, and the Q sequence, which has been postulated to be the binding site for alpha 1. We analyzed a collection of point mutations in the P'Q element of the STE3 gene to determine the importance of individual base pairs for alpha-specific gene transcription. Within the 10-bp conserved Q sequence, mutations at only three positions strongly affected transcription activation in vivo. These same mutations did not affect the weak binding to P'Q displayed by MCM1 alone. In vitro DNA binding assays showed a direct correlation between the ability of the mutant sequences to form ternary P'Q-MCM1-alpha 1 complexes and the degree to which transcription was activated in vivo. Thus, the ability of alpha 1 and MCM1 to bind cooperatively to P'Q elements is critical for activation of alpha-specific genes. In all natural alpha-specific genes the Q sequence is adjacent to the degenerate side of P'. To test the significance of this geometry, we created several novel juxtapositions of P, P', and Q sequences. When the Q sequence was opposite the degenerate side, the composite QP' element was inactive as a promoter element in vivo and unable to form stable ternary QP'-MCM1-alpha 1 complexes in vitro. We also found that addition of a Q sequence to a strong MCM1 binding site allows the addition of alpha 1 to the complex. This finding, together with the observation that Q-element point mutations affected ternary complex formation but not the weak binding of MCM1 alone, supports the idea that the Q sequence serves as a binding site for alpha 1.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 668-676
Author(s):  
V Lemarchandel ◽  
J Ghysdael ◽  
V Mignotte ◽  
C Rahuel ◽  
P H Roméo

The human glycoprotein IIB (GPIIB) gene is expressed only in megakaryocytes, and its promoter displays cell type specificity. We show that this specificity involved two cis-acting sequences. The first one, located at -55, contains a GATA binding site. Point mutations that abolish protein binding on this site decrease the activity of the GPIIB promoter but do not affect its tissue specificity. The second one, located at -40, contains an Ets consensus sequence, and we show that Ets-1 or Ets-2 protein can interact with this -40 GPIIB sequence. Point mutations that impair Ets binding decrease the activity of the GPIIB promoter to the same extent as do mutations that abolish GATA binding. A GPIIB 40-bp DNA fragment containing the GATA and Ets binding sites can confer activity to a heterologous promoter in megakaryocytic cells. This activity is independent of the GPIIB DNA fragment orientation, and mutations on each binding site result in decreased activity. Using cotransfection assays, we show that c-Ets-1 and human GATA1 can transactive the GPIIB promoter in HeLa cells and can act additively. Northern (RNA) blot analysis indicates that the ets-1 mRNA level is increased during megakaryocyte-induced differentiation of erythrocytic/megakaryocytic cell lines. Gel retardation assays show that the same GATA-Ets association is found in the human GPIIB enhancer and the rat platelet factor 4 promoter, the other two characterized regulatory regions of megakaryocyte-specific genes. These results indicate that GATA and Ets cis-acting sequences are an important determinant of megakaryocytic specific gene expression.


1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1398-1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Guertin ◽  
H LaRue ◽  
D Bernier ◽  
O Wrange ◽  
M Chevrette ◽  
...  

Mutations were introduced in 7 kilobases of 5'-flanking rat alpha 1-fetoprotein (AFP) genomic DNA, linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. AFP promoter activity and its repression by a glucocorticoid hormone were assessed by stable and transient expression assays. Stable transfection assays were more sensitive and accurate than transient expression assays in a Morris 7777 rat hepatoma recipient (Hepa7.6), selected for its strong AFP repression by dexamethasone. The segment of DNA encompassing a hepatocyte-constitutive chromatin DNase I-hypersensitive site at -3.7 kilobases and a liver developmental stage-specific site at -2.5 kilobases contains interacting enhancer elements sufficient for high AFP promoter activity in Hepa7.6 or HepG2 cells. Deletions and point mutations define an upstream promoter domain of AFP gene activation, operating with at least three distinct promoter-activating elements, PEI at -65 base pairs, PEII at -120 base pairs, and DE at -160 base pairs. PEI and PEII share homologies with albumin promoter sequences, PEII is a near-consensus nuclear factor I recognition sequence, and DE overlaps a glucocorticoid receptor recognition sequence. An element conferring glucocorticoid repression of AFP gene activity is located in the upstream AFP promoter domain. Receptor-binding assays indicate that this element is the glucocorticoid receptor recognition sequence which overlaps with promoter-activating element DE.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. C1262-C1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola E. Wright ◽  
P. W. Bodell ◽  
F. Haddad ◽  
A. X. Qin ◽  
K. M. Baldwin

The main goal of this study was to examine the transcriptional activity of different-length β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) promoters in the hypertensive rodent heart using the direct gene transfer approach. A hypertensive state was induced by abdominal aortic constriction (AbCon) sufficient to elevate mean arterial pressure by ∼45% relative to control. Results show that β-MHC promoter activity of all tested wild-type constructs, i.e., −3500, −408, −299, −215, −171, and −71 bp, was significantly increased in AbCon hearts. In the normal control hearts, expression of the −71-bp construct was comparable to that of the promoterless vector, but its induction by AbCon was comparable to that of the other constructs. Additional results, based on mutation analysis and DNA gel mobility shift assays targeting βe1, βe2, GATA, and βe3 elements, show that these previously defined cis-elements in the proximal promoter are indeed involved in maintaining basal promoter activity; however, none of these elements, either individually or collectively, appear to be major players in mediating the hypertension response of the β-MHC gene. Collectively, these results indicate that three separate regions on the β-MHC promoter are involved in the induction of the gene in response to hypertension: 1) a distal region between −408 and −3500 bp, 2) a proximal region between −299 and −215 bp, and 3) a basal region within −71 bp of the transcription start site. Future research needs to further characterize these responsive regions to more fully delineate β-MHC transcriptional regulation in response to pressure overload.


1999 ◽  
Vol 144 (5) ◽  
pp. 989-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Kronert ◽  
Angel Acebes ◽  
Alberto Ferrús ◽  
Sanford I. Bernstein

We show that specific mutations in the head of the thick filament molecule myosin heavy chain prevent a degenerative muscle syndrome resulting from the hdp2 mutation in the thin filament protein troponin I. One mutation deletes eight residues from the actin binding loop of myosin, while a second affects a residue at the base of this loop. Two other mutations affect amino acids near the site of nucleotide entry and exit in the motor domain. We document the degree of phenotypic rescue each suppressor permits and show that other point mutations in myosin, as well as null mutations, fail to suppress the hdp2 phenotype. We discuss mechanisms by which the hdp2 phenotypes are suppressed and conclude that the specific residues we identified in myosin are important in regulating thick and thin filament interactions. This in vivo approach to dissecting the contractile cycle defines novel molecular processes that may be difficult to uncover by biochemical and structural analysis. Our study illustrates how expression of genetic defects are dependent upon genetic background, and therefore could have implications for understanding gene interactions in human disease.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. H213-H219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianxun Xiao ◽  
Agnes Kenessey ◽  
Kaie Ojamaa

Contractile activity of the cardiac myocyte is required for maintaining cell mass and phenotype, including expression of the cardiac-specific α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) gene. An E-box hemodynamic response element (HME) located at position −47 within the α-MHC promoter is both necessary and sufficient to confer contractile responsiveness to the gene and has been shown to bind upstream stimulatory factor-1 (USF1). When studied in spontaneously contracting cardiac myocytes, there is enhanced binding of USF1 to the HME compared with quiescent cells, which correlates with a threefold increase in α-MHC promoter activity. A molecular mechanism by which contractile function modulates α-MHC transcriptional activity may involve signaling via phosphorylation of USF1. The present studies showed that purified rat USF1 was phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) but not casein kinase II. Phosphorylated USF1 by either PKC or PKA had increased DNA binding activity to the HME. PKC-mediated phosphorylation also leads to the formation of USF1 multimers as assessed by gel shift assay. Analysis of in vivo phosphorylated nuclear proteins from cultured ventricular myocytes showed that USF1 was phosphorylated, and resolution by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified at least two distinct phosphorylated USF1 molecules. These results suggest that endogenous kinases can covalently modify USF1 and provide a potential molecular mechanism by which the contractile stimulus mediates changes in myocyte gene transcription.


1997 ◽  
Vol 137 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. David Becker ◽  
Kim R. Gottshall ◽  
Reed Hickey ◽  
Jean-Claude Perriard ◽  
Kenneth R. Chien

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a human heart disease characterized by increased ventricular mass, focal areas of fibrosis, myocyte, and myofibrillar disorganization. This genetically dominant disease can be caused by mutations in any one of several contractile proteins, including β cardiac myosin heavy chain (βMHC). To determine whether point mutations in human βMHC have direct effects on interfering with filament assembly and sarcomeric structure, full-length wild-type and mutant human βMHC cDNAs were cloned and expressed in primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRC) under conditions that promote myofibrillogenesis. A lysine to arginine change at amino acid 184 in the consensus ATP binding sequence of human βMHC resulted in abnormal subcellular localization and disrupted both thick and thin filament structure in transfected NRC. Diffuse βMHC K184R protein appeared to colocalize with actin throughout the myocyte, suggesting a tight interaction of these two proteins. Human βMHC with S472V mutation assembled normally into thick filaments and did not affect sarcomeric structure. Two mutant myosins previously described as causing human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, R249Q and R403Q, were competent to assemble into thick filaments producing myofibrils with well defined I bands, A bands, and H zones. Coexpression and detection of wild-type βMHC and either R249Q or R403Q proteins in the same myocyte showed these proteins are equally able to assemble into the sarcomere and provided no discernible differences in subcellular localization. Thus, human βMHC R249Q and R403Q mutant proteins were readily incorporated into NRC sarcomeres and did not disrupt myofilament formation. This study indicates that the phenotype of myofibrillar disarray seen in HCM patients which harbor either of these two mutations may not be directly due to the failure of the mutant myosin heavy chain protein to assemble and form normal sarcomeres, but may rather be a secondary effect possibly resulting from the chronic stress of decreased βMHC function.


1984 ◽  
Vol 224 (3) ◽  
pp. 995-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J McCormick ◽  
M Z Atassi

The sequence of the alpha-chain of the acetylcholine receptor of T. californica has been determined by recent cloning studies. The integrity of the disulphide bond between Cys-128 and cys-142 has been shown to be important for the maintenance of the binding activity of the receptor, thus implicating the regions around the disulphide bridge in binding with acetylcholine. In the present work, a synthetic peptide containing this loop region (residues 125-147) was synthesized. Solid-phase radiometric binding assays demonstrated a high binding of 125I-labelled alpha-bungarotoxin to the synthetic peptide. It was further shown that the free peptide bound well to [3H]acetylcholine. Additional experiments demonstrated that pretreatment of peptide 125-147 with 2-mercaptoethanol destroyed its binding activity, clearly showing that the integrity of the disulphide structure was essential for binding. Unlabelled acetylcholine also inhibited the binding of labelled acetylcholine to the synthetic peptide. The region 125-147, therefore, contains essential elements of the acetylcholine binding site of the Torpedo receptor.


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