Identification of two glucocorticoid response elements in the promoter region of the ubiquitous isoform of glutamine synthetase in gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. R1075-R1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Esbaugh ◽  
Patrick J. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Glutamine Synthetase ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Nitrogen Excretion ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Response Elements ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response Elements ◽  
Gulf Toadfish

Unlike most teleosts, gulf toadfish have the capacity to switch from ammoniotely to ureotely as the predominate means of nitrogen excretion during periods of stress. The switch to ureotely is a result of increased glutamine synthetase (GS) mRNA expression/enzyme activity in the liver and muscle, which is initiated by cortisol. Cortisol typically affects gene expression through the action of cortisol-activated transcription factors, such as glucocorticoid receptors, which bind to glucocorticoid response elements (GRE) in the upstream regulatory region of genes. The purpose of the present study was to identify the GRE responsible for increased GS gene expression during crowding/confinement in gulf toadfish using an in vivo luciferase reporter assay. Upstream promoter regions for both the ubiquitous and gill GS isoforms were amplified by PCR. Additionally, an intron was amplified from the ubiquitous GS isoform that suggested the possibility of two discreet transcripts for the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic proteins. When tested via in vivo reporter assays, both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ubiquitous GS promoters showed increased luciferase activity during crowding vs. noncrowded controls; the gill GS promoter showed no effects in response to crowding. In silico analysis of the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic ubiquitous GS promoter constructs showed an overlapping section of 565 bp containing two potential GREs. Mutation of either site alone had no effect on luciferase activity vs. wild-type controls. However, when both sites were mutated a significant decrease in luciferase activity was observed. We conclude that two functional GREs combine to confer cortisol-inducible GS expression in the liver of gulf toadfish.

scholarly journals The permissive role of glucocorticoids on interleukin-1 stimulation of angiotensinogen gene transcription is mediated by an interaction between inducible enhancers.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 4389-4395 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Ron ◽  
A R Brasier ◽  
K A Wright ◽  
J F Habener
Keyword(s):  
Acute Phase ◽  
Acute Phase Response ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Nf Kappa B ◽  
Response Elements ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response Elements ◽  
Permissive Role

The acute-phase activation of the rat angiotensinogen (rAT) gene in liver cells is a transcriptional event mediated through an interleukin-1-inducible, NF kappa B-binding, cis-acting element (the acute-phase response element [APRE]). Using a cell culture model for the acute-phase response, we showed that the increase in angiotensionogen mRNA in H35 rat hepatoma cells requires costimulation with glucocorticoids and cytokines. Stably transfected rAT promoter-luciferase reporter genes were also activated by cytokines only in the presence of glucocorticoids. This permissive role of glucocorticoids is dependent on the expression of functional glucocorticoid receptors, because in HepG2 cells naturally deficient in such receptors, rAT gene-luciferase reporter constructs responded to interleukin-1 only when cotransfected with an expression vector for the glucocorticoid receptor. Point mutations in the two rAT gene glucocorticoid response elements located adjacent to the APRE led to loss of interleukin-1 inducibility. Induction of luciferase activity in transfected cells occurred even in the presence of cycloheximide, demonstrating that this synergistic response did not depend on new protein synthesis. Thus, a direct interaction between the interleukin-1-inducible NF kappa B-binding APRE and glucocorticoid response elements, located in cis, underlies the acute-phase activation of the rAT gene.

scholarly journals Regulation of Plasminogen Gene Expression by Interleukin-6

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 2394-2403 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ronald Jenkins ◽  
Dietmar Seiffert ◽  
Robert J. Parmer ◽  
Lindsey A. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Interleukin 6 ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Hepatoma Cells ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Plasmin Activity ◽  
Luciferase Reporter Gene ◽  
Human Hepatoma Cells

Abstract Plasmin, the primary fibrinolytic enzyme, has a broad substrate spectrum and participates in other biological processes dependent upon proteolytic activity. Consequently, plasmin activity is tightly regulated by plasminogen activators and protease inhibitors. In this study, we examined whether regulation of plasminogen gene expression also might provide a new mechanism for controlling this system. We examined the effects of recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine, on plasminogen mRNA expression in primary murine hepatocytes and Hep3B human hepatoma cells. In primary hepatocytes, rhIL-6 and hydrocortisone separately increased plasminogen mRNA expression, but hydrocortisone did not markedly enhance the response to rhIL-6. Hep3B hepatoma cells exhibited more modest responses to rhIL-6. We used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify a 1,067-bp fragment of the human plasminogen promoter/5′ flanking region. This fragment was cloned upstream of a luciferase reporter gene. Hep3B cells transiently transfected with this construct provided ∼100-fold higher luciferase activity compared to cells transfected with control plasmids, and luciferase activity was increased ∼4.5-fold when these cells were treated with rhIL-6. Furthermore, mice injected with rhIL-6 exhibited increases in hepatic plasminogen mRNA. Circulating plasminogen levels were significantly higher in the mice injected with rhIL-6 compared to mice injected with saline. Mice injected with lipopolysaccharide (an inducer of IL-6 in vivo) also showed increased hepatic plasminogen mRNA. Thus, plasminogen gene expression can be modulated by rhIL-6, suggesting a new mechanism for regulating biological systems that use plasmin.

The permissive role of glucocorticoids on interleukin-1 stimulation of angiotensinogen gene transcription is mediated by an interaction between inducible enhancers

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 4389-4395
Author(s):  
D Ron ◽  
A R Brasier ◽  
K A Wright ◽  
J F Habener
Keyword(s):  
Acute Phase ◽  
Acute Phase Response ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Nf Kappa B ◽  
Response Elements ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response ◽  
Glucocorticoid Response Elements ◽  
Permissive Role

The acute-phase activation of the rat angiotensinogen (rAT) gene in liver cells is a transcriptional event mediated through an interleukin-1-inducible, NF kappa B-binding, cis-acting element (the acute-phase response element [APRE]). Using a cell culture model for the acute-phase response, we showed that the increase in angiotensionogen mRNA in H35 rat hepatoma cells requires costimulation with glucocorticoids and cytokines. Stably transfected rAT promoter-luciferase reporter genes were also activated by cytokines only in the presence of glucocorticoids. This permissive role of glucocorticoids is dependent on the expression of functional glucocorticoid receptors, because in HepG2 cells naturally deficient in such receptors, rAT gene-luciferase reporter constructs responded to interleukin-1 only when cotransfected with an expression vector for the glucocorticoid receptor. Point mutations in the two rAT gene glucocorticoid response elements located adjacent to the APRE led to loss of interleukin-1 inducibility. Induction of luciferase activity in transfected cells occurred even in the presence of cycloheximide, demonstrating that this synergistic response did not depend on new protein synthesis. Thus, a direct interaction between the interleukin-1-inducible NF kappa B-binding APRE and glucocorticoid response elements, located in cis, underlies the acute-phase activation of the rAT gene.

scholarly journals In vivo analysis of the myosin heavy chain IIB promoter region

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (3) ◽  
pp. C681-C687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Swoap
Keyword(s):  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Fiber Type ◽  
Firefly Luciferase ◽  
Renilla Luciferase ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Mhc Iib

The myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIB gene is preferentially expressed in fast-twitch muscles of the hindlimb, such as the tibialis anterior (TA). The molecular mechanism(s) for this preferential expression are unknown. The goals of the current study were 1) to determine whether the cloned region of the MHC IIB promoter contains the necessary cis-acting element(s) to drive fiber-type-specific expression of this gene in vivo, 2) to determine which region within the promoter is responsible for fiber-type-specific expression, and 3) to determine whether transcription off of the cloned region of the MHC IIB promoter accurately mimics endogenous gene expression in a muscle undergoing a fiber-type transition. To accomplish these goals, a 2.6-kilobase fragment of the promoter-enhancer region of the MHC IIB gene was cloned upstream of the firefly luciferase reporter gene and coinjected with pRL-cytomegalovirus (CMV) (CMV promoter driving the renilla luciferase reporter) into the TA and the slow soleus muscle. Firefly luciferase activity relative to renilla luciferase activity within the TA was 35-fold greater than within the soleus. Deletional analysis demonstrated that only the proximal 295 base pairs (pGL3IIB0.3) were required to maintain this muscle-fiber-type specificity. Reporter gene expression of pGL3IIB0.3 construct was significantly upregulated twofold in unweighted soleus muscles compared with normal soleus muscles. Thus the region within the proximal 295 base pairs of the MHC IIB gene contains at least one element that can drive fiber-type-specific expression of a reporter gene.

Phospholipase A 2 Metabolites Mediate Endothelin Stimulation of the Human Brain Natriuretic Peptide Promoter

Hypertension ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 721-721
Author(s):  
Quan He
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Brain Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Luciferase Activity ◽  
Phospholipase A ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Luciferase Reporter Gene ◽  
P450 Monooxygenase ◽  
Stimulation Of

P155 Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) gene expression accompanies cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET)may be involved in the development of these diseases. ET has also been shown to activate phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ). Thus we studied whether ET and PLA 2 metabolites regulate BNP gene expression. The hBNP promoter (-1818 to + 100) coupled to a luciferase reporter gene was transferred into neonatal ventricular myocytes (NVM),and luciferase activity was measured as an index of promoter activity. ET (10 -7 M)induced BNP mRNA in NVM as assessed by Northern blot. It also stimulated the hBNP promoter 4-fold vs control, an effect completely inhibited by actinomycin D. To test the involvement of different PLA 2 isoforms, transfected cells were treated with the Ca ++ -independent PLA 2 (iPLA 2 )inhibitor bromoenol lactone (BEL), the cytosolic PLA 2 inhibitor methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate, or the secretory PLA 2 inhibitor ONO-RS-082 prior to stimulation with ET. Only the iPLA 2 inhibitor BEL prevented ET-stimulated hBNP promoter activity. The PLA 2 metabolite lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) also activated the hBNP promoter (2.2-fold; n = 3), but lysophosphatidylcholine did not. To test whether arachidonic acid metabolites are involved in ET’s effect, cells were pretreated with either a lipoxygenase (LO), cyclooxygenase, or p450 monooxygenase inhibitor. Only the LO inhibitor baicalein prevented ET stimulation of the hBNP promoter. Finally, we studied the involvement of cis elements in ET-stimulated hBNP promoter activity. Deletion of BNP promoter sequences from -1818 to -408 and from -408 to -40 reduced ET’s effect by 54% and 78%, respectively. Moreover, ET-stimulated luciferase activity was reduced by 53% when the GATA element (at position -85 relative to the start site of transcription) was mutated. These data suggest that: 1) ET activates the hBNP promoter through a transcriptional mechanism; 2) LPA, perhaps generated by a BEL-sensitive iPLA 2 , is involved in ET’s effect; 3) a LO pathway may also mediate ET signaling; and 4) ET regulation of the hBNP promoter targets both distal and proximal cis elements, including GATA.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document