NRF-1 is the major transcription factor regulating the expression of the human TOMM34 gene

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
José R. Blesa ◽  
Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz ◽  
Beth A. Abraham ◽  
Bridget L. Harrison ◽  
Anita A. Hegde ◽  
...  

The human TOMM34 gene encodes a cytosolic protein with chaperone-like activity that helps import some preproteins to the mitochondria by keeping them in an unfolded, import-compatible state. TOMM34 was found to be upregulated frequently in colorectal tumors, suggesting that it also has a role in the growth of cancer cells. In this context, TOMM34 is a potential target for novel anticancer drugs, and it might also be used in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Nuclear respiratory factors (NRFs) play an important role in governing the nuclear–mitochondrial interactions implicated in mitochondrial biogenesis. Our previous studies revealed that NRFs promote the expression of the major members of the mitochondrial transport machinery, TOMM70 and TOMM20. Here we report the existence of binding sites for NRF-1, Sp1, and NRF-2 in the 5′ region of the human TOMM34 gene. We determined the effects of mutations at these sites on promoter activity in HeLa S3 and A204 cells, in conjunction with chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and in vivo methylation analysis of the promoter region. We conclude that NRF-1 is the main transcription factor regulating the expression of TOMM34. Sp1 interacts with NRF-1 to stimulate the promoter's full activity.

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 813-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
José R. Blesa ◽  
José Hernández-Yago

TOMM70 is a subunit of the outer mitochondrial membrane translocase that plays a major role as a receptor of hydrophobic preproteins targeted to mitochondria. We have previously reported 2 binding sites for the transcription factor GABP–NRF-2 in the promoter region of the human TOMM70 gene that are important in activating transcription. To assess the functionality and actual role of these sites, chromatin immunoprecipitation, site-directed mutagenesis, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were carried out. We conclude that GABP–NRF-2 binds in vivo to the TOMM70 promoter, and that the 2 GABP–NRF-2 binding sites of the promoter have different functional contributions in promoting TOMM70 expression. Evidence is provided that they work in an additive manner as single sites.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 4214-4214
Author(s):  
Richard Dahl ◽  
Kristin S. Owens

Abstract Gfi-1 −/− mice generate abnormal immature myeloid cells exhibiting characteristics of both monocytes and granulocytes. One of Gfi-1’s critical functions is to downregulate monocyte specific genes in order for granulocytes to develop properly. Since the transcription factors C/EBP alpha and C/EBP epsilon are needed for granulocyte development we hypothesized that these factors may regulate Gfi-1 expression. The Gfi-1 promoter contains several putative C/EBP binding sites and we show by electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation that C/EBP family members can bind to some of these sites. However we were unable to see activation of the Gfi-1 promoter by C/EBP proteins in transient transfection reporter assays. Other groups have shown that C/EBP proteins can synergize with the transcription factor c-myb. We observed that the Gfi-1 promoter contains sites for the hematopoietic transcription factor c-myb. Sevral of these c-myb binding sites are adjacent to C/EBP binding sites. In reporter assays in non-hematopoietic cells c-myb activated the Gfi-1 promoter by itself and this activity was enhanced when we included either C/EBP alpha or epsilon in the transfection. Our data suggests that C/EBP proteins and c-myb regulate the transcription of Gfi-1 in myeloid cells.


1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 5735-5744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Gillette ◽  
James A. Borowiec

ABSTRACT The modulation of DNA replication by transcription factors was examined by using bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV). BPV replication in vivo requires two viral proteins: E1, an origin-binding protein, and E2, a transcriptional transactivator. In the origin, E1 interacts with a central region flanked by two binding sites for E2 (BS11 and BS12), of which only BS12 has been reported to be essential for replication in vivo. Using chemical interference and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we found that the binding of E2 to each site stimulates the formation of distinct E1-origin complexes. A high-mobility C1 complex is formed by using critical E2 contacts to BS12 and E1 contacts to the dyad symmetry element. In contrast, interaction of E2 with the BS11 element on the other origin flank promotes the formation of the lower-mobility C3 complex. C3 is a novel species that resembles C2, a previously identified complex that is replication active and formed by E1 alone. The binding of E1 greatly differs in the C1 and C3 complexes, with E1 in the C1 complex limited to the origin dyad symmetry region and E1 in the C3 complex encompassing the region from the proximal edge of BS11 through the distal edge of BS12. We found that the presence of both E2-binding sites is necessary for wild-type replication activity in vivo, as well as for maximal production of the C3 complex. These results show that in the normal viral context, BS11 and BS12 play separate but synergetic roles in the initiation of viral DNA replication that are dependent on their location within the origin. Our data suggest a model in which the binding of E2 to each site sequentially stimulates the formation of distinct E1-origin complexes, leading to the replication-competent complex.


2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (17) ◽  
pp. 5458-5470 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Spencer ◽  
Rania Siam ◽  
Marie-Claude Ouimet ◽  
D. Patrick Bastedo ◽  
Gregory T. Marczynski

ABSTRACT CtrA controls cell cycle programs of chromosome replication and genetic transcription. Phosphorylated CtrA∼P exhibits high affinity (dissociation constant [Kd ], <10 nM) for consensus TTAA-N7-TTAA binding sites with “typical” (N = 7) spacing. We show here that ctrA promoters P1 and P2 use low-affinity (Kd , >500 nM) CtrA binding sites with “atypical” (N ≠ 7) spacing. Footprints demonstrated that phosphorylated CtrA∼P does not exhibit increased affinity for “atypical” sites, as it does for sites in the replication origin. Instead, high levels of CtrA (>10 μM) accumulate, which can drive CtrA binding to “atypical” sites. In vivo cross-linking showed that when the stable CtrAΔ3 protein persists during the cell cycle, the “atypical” sites at ctrA and motB are persistently bound. Interestingly, the cell cycle timing of ctrA P1 and P2 transcription is not altered by persistent CtrAΔ3 binding. Therefore, operator DNA occupancy is not sufficient for regulation, and it is the cell cycle variation of CtrA∼P phosphorylation that provides the dominant “activation” signal. Protein dimerization is one potential means of “activation.” The glutathione S-transferase (GST) protein dimerizes, and fusion with CtrA (GST-CtrA) creates a stable dimer with enhanced affinity for TTAA motifs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with GST-CtrA revealed cooperative modes of binding that further distinguish the “atypical” sites. GST-CtrA also binds a single TTAA motif in ctrA P1 aided by DNA in the extended TTAACCAT motif. We discuss how “atypical” sites are a common yet distinct category of CtrA regulatory sites and new implications for the working and evolution of cell cycle control networks.


2009 ◽  
Vol 192 (3) ◽  
pp. 624-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michèle Coddeville ◽  
Paul Ritzenthaler

ABSTRACT The integrase of the temperate bacteriophage mv4 catalyzes site-specific recombination between the phage attP site and the host attB site during Lactobacillus delbrueckii lysogenization. The mv4 prophage is excised during the induction of lytic growth. Excisive site-specific recombination between the attR and attL sites is also catalyzed by the phage-encoded recombinase, but the directionality of the recombination is determined by a second phage-encoded protein, the recombination directionality factor (RDF). We have identified and functionally characterized the RDF involved in site-specific excision of the prophage genome. The mv4 RDF, mv4Xis, is encoded by the second gene of the early lytic operon. It is a basic protein of 56 amino acids. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that mv4Xis binds specifically to the attP and attR sites via two DNA-binding sites, introducing a bend into the DNA. In vitro experiments and in vivo recombination assays with plasmids in Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus plantarum demonstrated that mv4Xis is absolutely required for inter- or intramolecular recombination between the attR and attL sites. In contrast to the well-known phage site-specific recombination systems, the integrative recombination between the attP and attB sites seems not to be inhibited by the presence of mv4Xis.


Open Biology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 120176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa S. Dhar ◽  
Kaid Johar ◽  
Margaret T. T. Wong-Riley

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is one of only four known bigenomic proteins, with three mitochondria-encoded subunits and 10 nucleus-encoded ones derived from nine different chromosomes. The mechanism of regulating this multi-subunit, bigenomic enzyme is not fully understood. We hypothesize that specificity protein 1 (Sp1) functionally regulates the 10 nucleus-encoded COX subunit genes directly and the three mitochondrial COX subunit genes indirectly by regulating mitochondrial transcription factors A and B ( TFAM , TFB1M and TFB2M ) in neurons. By means of in silico analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA interference and over-expression experiments, the present study documents that Sp1 is a critical regulator of all 13 COX subunit genes in neurons. This regulation is intimately associated with neuronal activity. Silencing of Sp1 prevented the upregulation of all COX subunits by KCl, and over-expressing Sp1 rescued all COX subunits from being downregulated by tetrodotoxin. Thus, Sp1 and our previously described nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 are the three key regulators of all 13 COX subunit genes in neurons. The binding sites for Sp1 on all 10 nucleus-encoded COX subunits, TFAM , TFB1M and TFB2M are highly conserved among mice, rats and humans.


2000 ◽  
Vol 351 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-764
Author(s):  
Andrew G. WINTER ◽  
Adrian R. PIEROTTI

NRD convertase (N-arginine dibasic convertase, NRD-C) is a dibasic selective metalloprotease which cleaves on the N-terminal side of an arginine residue in a dibasic pair. Abundant in endocrine tissues, the highest levels are found in testis. The mechanism whereby NRD-C expression is regulated at the transcriptional level has been examined by reporter-gene assay and electrophoretic-mobility-shift assays. Analysis of the rat and human promoters show that they are highly conserved, containing a number of motifs which may correspond to transcription-factor binding sites. The rat promoter has been cloned into a luciferase reporter vector and analysed in a number of cell lines. Full functionality of the promoter is observed with 5′ deletions to 411bp upstream of the transcriptional start site in spermatid, prostate and pituitary cell lines. Further deletion to 101bp causes a complete loss of activity in spermatid and prostate lines. By contrast, GH3 pituitary cells display no reduction in promoter activity with deletion to 101bp of upstream sequence. A number of transcription-factor binding sites have been identified by electrophoretic-mobility-shift assays in the region 411–101; however, no differences in binding between the cell lines were observed.


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