Characterization of Regulatory Elements in the 5′-Upstream Region of the Human Gαq Gene in a Human Megakaryocytic Cell Line.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3534-3534
Author(s):  
Jalagadugula S. Gauthami ◽  
Danny N. Dhanasekharan ◽  
A. Koneti Rao

Abstract GTP-binding protein Gαq plays a major role in platelet signal transduction. We studied the transcriptional regulation of the human Gαq gene in a megakaryocytic cell line, human erythroleukemia (HEL). 10 nM phorbal myristate acetate (PMA) was used to induce megakaryocytic lineage in HEL cells. Western blot analysis on untreated vs PMA-treated HEL lysates showed enhanced Gαq expression with PMA. Firefly luciferase reporter gene constructs carrying various lengths of the Gαq gene upstream promoter region −1/−2727 bp from ATG codon, were transiently transfected into PMA-treated HEL cells. Gαq promoter driven luciferase expression was measured by Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay system (Promega). These studies indicated that the Gαq gene is regulated by positive and negative elements. Two positive regulatory sites were identified in the proximal region (−138/−238 bp) and distal region (−731/−1116 bp); a negative regulatory site was observed further upstream (−1117/−2727 bp). The proximal region −138/−238 was resolved into a repressor (−207/−238) and a positive (−138/−207) site. Consensus sequences for two well recognized megakaryocytic transcription factors (TFs) PU.1 (−225/−230) and GATA-1 (−208/−211) in the repressor site were deleted; this had no effect on promoter activity. The positive region (−138/−207) was further resolved into repressor (−162/−186) and positive (−187/−207) regions by functional studies. In the repressor region a CCACC (−175/−179) consensus motif for Sp/XKLF family of TF was found and deleted; the repressor activity was lost indicating a functional effect of the CCACC-motif. The positive region contained a Sp1/AP2 consensus sites between −152 and −203. Gel shift and super shift experiments on double stranded DNA oligo 1 (−175/−203) and oligo 2 (−152/−174) using HEL extracts demonstrated nuclear protein binding to these regions. However, antibodies against Sp1 and AP2 or the consensus oligos did not alter the binding. Gel shift mutant analysis was performed on both oligos to define the functional sequences mediating the nuclear protein binding. Mutations made at −190/−194, which has a consensus sequence for EGR1/EGR2 and, at −180/−184 and at −156/−160, abolished the protein binding suggesting that they are preferred sequences for DNA-protein interaction. The distal upstream positive region −731/−1116 also revealed positive and negative elements. Mutation in the EGR-2 consensus sequence (−909/−919) decreased the promoter activity to 50% and mutation in the AP2/EGR-1/Sp1 consensus sequence (−885/−893) abolished the promoter activity. Our results suggest that the sequences −156/−160, −180/−184, and −190/−194 in the proximal region, and −885/−893 and −909/−919 in the distal region have a critical role in the transcriptional regulation of Gαq in megakaryocytic cells.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 4246-4246
Author(s):  
Gauthami S. Jalagadugula ◽  
Danny Dhanasekharan ◽  
A.Koneti Rao

Abstract Human erthroleukemia cells (HEL) differentiate towards megakaryocytic (MK) phenotype when stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). We observed that the expression of Gq, a protein that plays a major role in platelet signal transduction, is increased in PMA-treated HEL cells. Western blotting revealed that Gq is upregulated in PMA-treated cells relative to untreated cells. Gq gene induction by PMA treatment was investigated with respect to transcriptional control. Serial 5′-truncations of the upstream region (upto 2727 bp from the ATG) of Gq gene were fused to a luciferase (Luc) reporter gene vector, PGL-3 Basic, and were transiently transfected into HEL cells in the absence and presence of PMA (10 nM). After 24 h, reporter gene activities were measured using Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay System (Promega). A reporter plasmid −1042 bp-Luc with a genomic region −1042/−1 showed a 12 fold activity in PMA treated cells and 4 fold activity in untreated cells. Its truncated plasmid with the genomic region −1036/−1 showed a decrease in luciferase activity by 50% in treated cells; and the activity became identical to that in untreated cells. Further truncation between −1036 and −1011 caused a complete loss of activity in both the cells. Thus, a PMA responsive element was localized to a region between −1042 and −1037 bp. Transcription factor data base search (TFSEARCH) predicted two consensus sites for early growth response factor EGR-1 at -1042/−1031 and −1026/−1015. Gel shift studies were performed with two oligos, −1042/−1012 and −1036/−1012, and nuclear extracts from PMA- treated and untreated cells. The studies with −1042/−1012 probe and extracts from treated cells showed that there was nuclear protein binding, which was abolished by competition with the consensus EGR-1 sequence. In extracts from untreated cells, the protein binding was observed but was not competed with consensus EGR-1 sequence. This suggests EGR-1 binding to the region −1042/−1012 in PMA-treated cells and role for this transcription factor in inducing Gq promoter activity. Moreover, studies on the region −1036/−1012 showed nuclear protein binding that was identical between extracts of untreated and treated cells, and it was not competed with consensus EGR-1 sequence. These findings suggest that, EGR-1 binding is localized to −1042/−1037, but not to −1036/−1012. Conclusion: A PMA responsive sequence (−1042/−1037) was identified in the Gq promoter. Our studies suggest that EGR-1 binding to this sequence confers the PMA responsive activity. These studies provide further evidence that EGR-1 plays an important role in the upregulation of Gq expression during PMA induced megakaryocytic differentiation.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 699-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangfen Mao ◽  
Satya P. Kunapuli ◽  
A. Koneti Rao

Abstract We have previously described a patient with platelet phospholipase C (PLC)-β2 deficiency characterized by impaired platelet responses to activation with multiple G-protein coupled receptor agonists. The PLC-β2 coding sequence was normal and platelet PLC-β2 mRNA levels were decreased in the patient (Blood, 2002, 99:905). Very little is currently known regarding the transcriptional regulation of PLC-β2. PCR-amplification of patient leukocyte DNA and sequencing of the PLC-β2 5′-upstream region revealed a heterozygous 13-bp deletion (−1645 to −1633 bp from ATG) that encompasses a consensus binding site (GGGAATTCCC) for nuclear factor-κB, NF-κB. This deletion was present in the propositus and her affected son, but not in control subjects. PCR amplification of region −1791 to −1606 bp of genomic DNA revealed one band in 5 control subjects (size ~186 bp) on agarose gel electrophoresis but 2 bands in the patient and her son, consistent with a heterozygous defect. Luciferase reporter gene studies were performed in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 30 nM) to induce megakaryocytic transformation. Genomic fragment (−1648/−23 nt) of PLC-β2 5′-upstream sequence and its truncated form without the 13 nt region (−1633/−23 nt) were inserted upstream of luciferase gene in a promoterless expression vector PGL3-basic (Promega) and transiently transfected into HEL cells. Truncation of the wild-type −1648/−23 fragment at 1631 bp resulted in a consistent decrease in promoter activity by ~ 25% (6 experiments, p<0.05). Protein binding assay (EMSA) was performed using PMA-treated HEL cell nuclear extracts and oligonucleotide probes (−1652/−1628 bp) with wild-type and mutated NF-κB consensus sites. Specific protein binding to the wild-type oligonucleotide was abolished when the NF-κB consensus sequence was deleted or mutated. Protein binding to wild-type probe was not competed by the unlabeled mutant oligonucleotide lacking NF-κB consensus sequence. In supershift assay, antibody targeted against the p65 subunit of NF-κB abolished protein binding, indicating a role for NF-κB. In summary, our studies demonstrate in the 5′-upstream region of PLC-β2 gene of the patient a 13-bp deletion that has a consensus site for NF-κB. Luciferase gene promoter assays demonstrate loss of activity when the 13-bp site is truncated. These studies provide evidence that impaired regulation of PLC-β2 gene by NF-κB may be the basis for the PLC-β2 deficiency in our patient. They show for the first time that PLC-β2, the most abundant β-PLC in platelets, is regulated by NF-κB. These findings are highly relevant because of the important role of PLC-β2 in platelet function, and of NF-κB in megakaryocytic differentiation and atherosclerosis.


1995 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
D S Kim ◽  
J H Yoon ◽  
S K Ahn ◽  
K E Kim ◽  
R H Seong ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Our previous studies demonstrated that at least two DNA regions with upstream limits between positions −223 to −190 and positions −151 to −135 of the human TSH gene are important for transcriptional regulation by TRH in GH3 rat pituitary cells. The proximal region (−151 to −135 bp) including the cAMP-responsive element (CRE) was required for the induction of the TSH gene by TRH, while the distal region (−223 to −190 bp) containing an element similar to the binding site for the pituitary-specific transcription factor, Pit-1, was necessary to amplify the effects of TRH. To determine whether a pituitary-specific nuclear protein, in addition to the CRE-binding protein, is involved in the molecular mechanism of TRH regulation, a gel retardation assay and Southwestern blot analysis were performed on the distal region with GH3 cell nuclear extracts. GH3 extracts generated a distinct DNA—protein complex that was effectively eliminated in the presence of excess unlabelled DNA fragment, and TRH treatment increased the affinity of protein binding remarkably. Excess Pit-1 DNA-binding sequence from the rat prolactin gene inhibited formation of the complex, but mutation of the Pit-1 consensus sequence in the distal region did not eliminate the complex. In addition, Southwestern experiments showed that a 33 kDa nuclear protein present in GH3 cells bound to this region and its binding affinity was increased slightly 2 h after TRH treatment, with the maximal increase (fivefold) at 3 h, which was similar to the results when using gel retardation. Phosphatase treatment of nuclear protein also resulted in a loss of binding affinity. Taken together, these data indicate that the interaction of a pituitary-specific nuclear protein, identical or closely related to Pit-1, with the distal region may be involved in the TRH stimulation of human TSH gene expression.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 4690-4700
Author(s):  
B Peers ◽  
M L Voz ◽  
P Monget ◽  
M Mathy-Hartert ◽  
M Berwaer ◽  
...  

We have performed transfection and DNase I footprinting experiments to investigate pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin (hPRL) gene. When fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene, 5,000 base pairs of the 5'-flanking sequences of the hPRL gene were able to drive high cat gene expression in prolactin-expressing GH3B6 cells specifically. Deletion analysis indicated that this pituitary-specific expression was controlled by three main positive regulatory regions. The first was located just upstream from the TATA box between coordinates -40 and -250 (proximal region). We have previously shown that three motifs of this region bind the pituitary-specific Pit-1 factor. The second positive region was located in the vicinity of coordinates -1300 to -1750 (distal region). DNase I footprinting assays revealed that eight DNA motifs of this distal region bound protein Pit-1 and that two other motifs were recognized by ubiquitous factors, one of which seems to belong to the AP-1 (jun) family. The third positive region was located further upstream, between -3500 and -5000 (superdistal region). This region appears to enhance transcription only in the presence of the distal region.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1831-1831
Author(s):  
Gauthami S Jalagadugula ◽  
Gurpreet Kaur ◽  
Guangfen Mao ◽  
Danny Dhanasekaran ◽  
A. Koneti Rao

Abstract RUNX1 (also known as CBFA2 or AML1) is a transcription factor that plays a major role in hematopoiesis. Haplodeficiency of RUNX1 has been associated with familial thrombocytopenia, impaired megakaryopoiesis, impaired platelet function and predisposition to acute myeloid leukemia. We have reported a patient with inherited thrombocytopenia and abnormal platelet function (Gabbeta et al, Blood87:1368–76, 1996). The patient platelets showed impaired phosphorylation of pleckstrin and myosin light chain, diminished GPIIb-IIIa activation and decreased platelet protein kinase C-𝛉. This was associated with a heterozygous nonsense mutation in transcription factor RUNX1 (Sun et al, Blood103: 948–54, 2004). Platelet transcript profiling showed a striking downregulation of myosin light chain 9 (MYL9) by ~77-fold relative to normal platelets (Sun et al, J. Thromb Haemost.5: 146–54, 2007). Myosin light chains (MLCs) play an important role in platelet responses to activation, in platelet biogenesis, and are involved in cellular processes such as cytokinesis, cell adhesion, cell contraction, cell migration. We have addressed the hypothesis that MYL9 is a direct transcriptional target of RUNX1. Studies were performed in human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h to induce megakaryocytic transformation. To determine endogenous interaction of RUNX1 with MYL9 promoter, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay using anti-RUNX1 antibody. These studies revealed RUNX1 binding to MYL9 chromatin at −742/−529 bp upstream of the ATG codon. TFSEARCH revealed four RUNX1 sites within this region. We performed electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) using probes containing each of the RUNX1 motifs and PMA-treated nuclear extracts from HEL cells. With each probe, protein binding was observed that was competed by excess unlabelled probe and inhibited by anti-RUNX1 antibody indicating RUNX1 as the protein involved. This protein binding was not competed by oligos containing mutations in the specific RUNX1 sites. No binding was noted directly to the mutant probes. To further corroborate our findings, we performed transient-ChIP analysis where wild type luciferase reporter construct −691/+4 and constructs with each of the RUNX1 sites individually mutated were transiently transfected into HEL cells. ChIP was performed using these cells and anti-RUNX1 antibody, and the expression analyzed by PCR amplification with a forward primer from MYL9 promoter sequence and reverse primer from luciferase vector sequence. Amplification was observed with immunoprecipitated wild type construct but not with any of the mutant constructs. Thus, RUNX1 interacts in vivo with MYL9 promoter, and the multiple RUNX1 sites interact with each other, as also shown for other genes. To test the functional relevance, the wild type construct −691/+4 containing all 4 RUNX1 sites or mutant constructs with each site individually deleted were cloned into firefly luciferase reporter gene vector and transfected into HEL cells. Deletion of RUNX1 site 1, 2, 3 or 4 caused ~60–90% reduction in the activity indicating that each site was functional. Lastly, siRNA mediated knock down of RUNX1 in HEL cells was associated with a decrease in both RUNX1 and MYL9 protein. Conclusions: Our results provide the first evidence that MYL9 gene is transcriptionally regulated by RUNX1. They provide evidence for the presence of multiple RUNX1 sites in MYL9 promoter, as also observed in other genes. Moreover, these studies provide a cogent mechanism for the MYL9 transcript downregulation and the impaired MLC-phosphorylation we have previously described in association with RUNX1 haplodeficiency.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Sherman ◽  
P V Basta ◽  
T L Moore ◽  
A M Brown ◽  
J P Ting

The promoter regions of class II major histocompatibility complex genes contain two highly conserved sequences, the X and Y boxes, which may be involved in the control of class II gene expression. In this study, we correlate in vivo functional assays for cis-acting regulatory elements in the HLA-DR alpha gene with in vitro binding assays for trans-acting regulatory proteins. Mutagenesis and transient transfection analyses indicated that both the X and Y boxes were important for HLA-DR alpha promoter function in a B lymphoblastoid cell line. Although specific nuclear protein interactions with the X consensus sequence were not apparent, the Y box, which contained an inverted CCAAT sequence, did bind specifically to at least one nuclear protein. This Y box-binding protein was present in nuclear extracts of all cell types examined, including human B and T cells and HeLa cells. The molecular mass of the protein, as determined by photoactivated protein-DNA cross-linking, was approximately 40 to 50 kilodaltons. Mutagenesis of the Y box that decreased protein binding also decreased promoter activity, implying that protein binding to this DNA sequence is important for DR alpha promoter function.


1998 ◽  
Vol 334 (3) ◽  
pp. 713-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Shuian HUANG ◽  
David T. CHUANG

The rat branched-chain-2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase (BCOD) kinase mRNA is transcribed from a TATA-less promoter that has GC-rich sequences and two putative Sp1 binding sites near the transcription start site. We demonstrated previously that the 5´ region of the kinase gene, base pairs -128 to +264, contained promoter activity when assayed using luciferase as a reporter (Huang and Chuang (1996) Biochem. J. 313, 603–609). To define DNA elements required for efficient expression of the kinase gene, nested deletion constructs of the above promoter region fused with a luciferase reporter gene were transfected into cultured H4IIE (hepatoma) and NRK-52E (kidney) cells. The results showed that the region between nucleotides -58 and +21 was indispensable for the kinase basal promoter activity. Methylation-interference and mutagenesis-promoter assays identified nucleotides -50 to -40 (ACAACTCCCA) as cis-acting DNA sequences that are required for nuclear protein binding and efficient promoter activity. Gel-supershift analysis with anti-Sp1 antibody suggested that the nuclear protein capable of binding to the -58 oligonucleotide (bp -58 to -34) was immunologically related to the Sp1 protein. The -58 oligonucleotide formed a DNA–protein complex with recombinant Sp1 protein with an affinity approximately ten-fold lower than that of the consensus Sp1 oligonucleotide. Co-transfection of the Sp1 expression plasmid and the -58 promoter construct into Drosophila Schneider cells revealed that Sp1 contributed to the kinase basal promoter activity by binding to the non-consensus site in the -58 region. Deletion of two consensus Sp1 binding sites (bases -150 to -140 and bases +29 to +38) in the kinase gene did not affect the basal promoter activity. Therefore binding of Sp1 or Sp1-like proteins to the above single non-consensus Sp1 sequence in the -58 region plays a major role of transactivating basal expression of the BCOD kinase.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1846-1846
Author(s):  
Gauthami S Jalagadugula ◽  
Gurpreet Kaur ◽  
Guangfen Mao ◽  
Danny Dhanasekaran ◽  
A. Koneti Rao

Abstract Protein kinase C Θ (PKC-Θ) is an important signaling molecule and regulates platelet responses to activation including aggregation and secretion. In a patient with lifelong thrombocytopenia, impaired platelet aggregation and secretion, we have shown (Gabbeta et al 1996, Blood 87:1368–1376) that phosphorylation of pleckstrin (a PKC substrate) and myosin light chain (MLC) is impaired along with diminished GPIIb-IIIa activation. Platelet protein and mRNA levels of PKC-Θ were decreased with normal levels of other PKC isozymes. These findings were associated with a heterozygous nonsense mutation in transcription factor RUNX1 (also known as CBFA2 or AML1) (Sun et al 2004, Blood 103:948–54). RUNX1 is transcription factor that plays a major role in megakaryopoiesis, megakaryocytic maturation, and platelet production. Haplodeficiency of RUNX1 has been associated with familial thrombocytopenia, impaired megakaryopoiesis, impaired platelet function and predisposition to acute myeloid leukemia. Because of the important role of PKC-Θ in platelet activation and of RUNX1 in hematopoiesis, we addressed the hypothesis that PKC-Θ is a direct transcriptional target of RUNX1. Studies were performed using human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h to induce megakaryocytic transformation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay using anti-RUNX1 antibody revealed RUNX1 binding to chromatin in the PKC-Θ 5’ upstream region −1225/−1056 bp from ATG codon. This region includes a RUNX1 consensus binding site ACCGCA at −1081/−1076 bp identified by TFSEARCH. We performed electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) using 20-mer probe −1088/−1069 containing the RUNX1 site and nuclear extracts from PMA-treated HEL cells. Protein binding to the probe was observed, which was competed by excess unlabelled probe, and anti-RUNX1 antibody inhibited this binding, indicating that RUNX1 was involved in the DNA binding. Moreover, protein binding to the wild type probe was not competed by an oligo with 4 nucleotides deleted from the RUNX1 consensus site. To determine the functional relevance of RUNX1 binding to PKC-Θ, transient transfections were performed in HEL cells with luciferase reporter constructs. The full length construct −1085/−206 showed ~14-fold activity compared to empty vector. A mutant construct with deletion of the RUNX1 site resulted in a ~50% decrease in activity indicating that the site was functional. siRNA-mediated knockdown of RUNX1 in HEL cells was associated with a decrease in both RUNX1 and PKC-Θ protein. Conclusion: These results and our findings in the patient provide the first evidence that PKC-Θ gene transcription in the megakaryocyte/platelet is regulated by RUNX1. They provide a cogent mechanism for the platelet PKC-Θ downregulation associated with RUNX1 haplodeficiency in our patient. RUNX1 dysregulation of PKC-Θ in megakaryocytic cells is an important aspect of the abnormal platelet function and production associated with human RUNX1 mutations.


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