scholarly journals Foxl2 Up-Regulates Aromatase Gene Transcription in a Female-Specific Manner by Binding to the Promoter as Well as Interacting with Ad4 Binding Protein/Steroidogenic Factor 1

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 712-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Shou Wang ◽  
Tohru Kobayashi ◽  
Lin-Yan Zhou ◽  
Bindhu Paul-Prasanth ◽  
Shigeho Ijiri ◽  
...  

Abstract Increasing evidence suggests the crucial role of estrogen in ovarian differentiation of nonmammalian vertebrates including fish. The present study has investigated the plausible role of Foxl2 in ovarian differentiation through transcriptional regulation of aromatase gene, using monosex fry of tilapia. Foxl2 expression is sexually dimorphic, like Cyp19a1, colocalizing with Cyp19a1 and Ad4BP/SF-1 in the stromal cells and interstitial cells in gonads of normal XX and sex-reversed XY fish, before the occurrence of morphological sex differentiation. Under in vitro conditions, Foxl2 binds to the sequence ACAAATA in the promoter region of the Cyp19a1 gene directly through its forkhead domain and activates the transcription of Cyp19a1 with its C terminus. Foxl2 can also interact through the forkhead domain with the ligand-binding domain of Ad4BP/SF-1 to form a heterodimer and enhance the Ad4BP/SF-1 mediated Cyp19a1 transcription. Disruption of endogenous Foxl2 in XX tilapia by overexpression of its dominant negative mutant (M3) induces varying degrees of testicular development with occasional sex reversal from ovary to testis. Such fish display reduced expression of Cyp19a1 as well as a drop in the serum levels of 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone. Although the XY fish with wild-type tilapia Foxl2 (tFoxl2) overexpression never exhibited a complete sex reversal, there were significant structural changes, such as tissue degeneration, somatic cell proliferation, and induction of aromatase, with increased serum levels of 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone. Altogether, these results suggest that Foxl2 plays a decisive role in the ovarian differentiation of the Nile tilapia by regulating aromatase expression and possibly the entire steroidogenic pathway.

2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (20) ◽  
pp. 3749-3757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Meraldi ◽  
Erich A. Nigg

Centrosome cohesion and separation are regulated throughout the cell cycle, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Since overexpression of a protein kinase, Nek2, is able to trigger centrosome splitting (the separation of parental centrioles), we have surveyed a panel of centrosome-associated kinases for their ability to induce a similar phenotype. Cdk2, in association with either cyclin A or E, was as effective as Nek2, but several other kinases tested did not significantly interfere with centrosome cohesion. Centrosome splitting could also be triggered by inhibition of phosphatases, and protein phosphatase 1α (PP1α) was identified as a likely physiological antagonist of Nek2. Furthermore, we have revisited the role of the microtubule network in the control of centrosome cohesion. We could confirm that microtubule depolymerization by nocodazole causes centrosome splitting. Surprisingly, however, this drug-induced splitting also required kinase activity and could specifically be suppressed by a dominant-negative mutant of Nek2. These studies highlight the importance of protein phosphorylation in the control of centrosome cohesion, and they point to Nek2 and PP1α as critical regulators of centrosome structure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S395-S395
Author(s):  
Keshav K Singh

Abstract To evaluate the consequences of the decline in mtDNA content associated with aging we have created an inducible mouse model expressing, in the polymerase domain of POLG1, a dominant-negative mutation that induces depletion of mtDNA. We utilized this inducible mouse model to modulate mitochondrial function by depleting and repleting the mtDNA content. We demonstrate that, in mice, ubiquitous expression of dominant-negative mutant POLG1 leads to 1) reduction of mtDNA content in skin, 2) skin wrinkles, and 3) hair loss. By turning off the mutant POLG1 transgene expression in the whole animal, the skin and hair phenotypes revert to normal after repletion of mtDNA. Thus, we have developed whole-animal mtDNA depleter-repleter mice. These mice present evidence that mtDNA homeostasis is involved in skin aging phenotype and loss of hair and provide an unprecedented opportunity to create tissue-specific mitochondrial modulation to determine the role of the mitochondria in a particular tissue.


It has long been assumed that the mammalian Y chromosome either encodes, or controls the production of, a diffusible testis-determining molecule, exposure of the embryonic gonad to this molecule being all that is required to divert it along the testicular pathway. My recent finding that Sertoli cells in XX ↔ XY chimeric mouse testes are exclusively XY has led me to propose a new model in which the Y acts cell-autonomously to bring about Sertoli-cell differentiation. I have suggested that all other aspects of foetal testicular development are triggered by the Sertoli cells without further Y-chromosome involvement. This model thus equates mammalian sex determination with Sertoli-cell determination. Examples of natural and experimentally induced sex reversal are discussed in the context of this model.


2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2171-2183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ángel Fresno Vara ◽  
Ma Aurora Domı́nguez Cáceres ◽  
Augusto Silva ◽  
Jorge Martı́n-Pérez

Prolactin (PRL) is a pleiotropic cytokine promoting cellular proliferation and differentiation. Because PRL activates the Src family of tyrosine kinases (SFK), we have studied the role of these kinases in PRL cell proliferation signaling. PRL induced [3H]thymidine incorporation upon transient transfection of BaF-3 cells with the PRL receptor. This effect was inhibited by cotransfection with the dominant negative mutant of c-Src (K>A295/Y>F527, SrcDM). The role of SFK in PRL-induced proliferation was confirmed in the BaF-3 PRL receptor-stable transfectant, W53 cells, where PRL induced Fyn and Lyn activation. The SFK-selective inhibitors PP1/PP2 and herbimycin A blocked PRL-dependent cell proliferation by arresting the W53 cells in G1, with no evident apoptosis. In parallel, PP1/PP2 inhibited PRL induction of cell growth-related genes c-fos, c-jun, c-myc, andodc. These inhibitors have no effect on PRL-mediated activation of Ras/Mapk and Jak/Start pathways. In contrast, they inhibited the PRL-dependent stimulation of the SFKs substrate Sam68, the phosphorylation of the tyrosine phosphatase Shp2, and the PI3K-dependent Akt and p70S6k serine kinases. Consistently, transient expression of SrcDM in W53 cells also blocked PRL activation of Akt. These results demonstrate that activation of SFKs is required for cell proliferation induced by PRL.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (6) ◽  
pp. H1823-H1831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Sasu ◽  
Debbie Beasley

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) mitogen, which can stimulate cells via activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) following phosphorylation of its inhibitory subunit (IκB). Because the proliferative effect of IL-1 is additive with that of serum, the present studies assessed the role of IκB kinases (IKKs) and NF-κB in both IL-1- and serum-induced VSMC proliferation. IL-1β (1 ng/ml) induced marked and persistent NF-κB activation in VSMC that was maximal at 1 h and persisted for 3 days. There was a 3-fold increase in DNA synthesis after acute IL-1 exposure (24–96 h) and a 12-fold increase after chronic IL-1 exposure (>7 days). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and supershift analysis indicated that IL-1-induced NF-κB complexes consisted of p65/p50 heterodimers and p50 homodimers. Human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells (HSVSMC) were transiently cotransfected with expression plasmids encoding a dominant negative mutant form of either IKKα or IKKβ, in which K44 was mutated to A (K44A), and a green fluorescent protein expression plasmid that allows identification of transfected cells. IL-1 induced nuclear localization of p65 in 95% of cells transfected with vector alone but in only 69% and 26% of cells expressing IKKα (K44A) or IKKβ (K44A), respectively. Likewise, proliferation increased 3.2-fold in IL-1-treated HSVSMC which had been transfected with vector alone, but only 2.2- and 1.5-fold proliferation in HSVSMC expressing IKKα (K44A) or IKKβ (K44A), respectively. Although serum activated NF-κB transiently, serum-induced proliferation was markedly attenuated in HSVSMC expressing IKKα (K44A) and IKKβ (K44A) compared with HSVSMC transfected with vector alone. The results support an essential role of IKKs in the proliferative response of HSVSMC to IL-1 and to serum.


2004 ◽  
Vol 279 (44) ◽  
pp. 46122-46128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indira Neeli ◽  
Zhimin Liu ◽  
Nagadhara Dronadula ◽  
Z. Alex Ma ◽  
Gadiparthi N. Rao

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) is a potent motogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). To understand its motogenic signaling events, we have studied the role of the Janus-activated kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway and cytosolic phospholipase A2(cPLA2). PDGF-BB stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak-2 and STAT-3 in a time-dependent manner in VSMCs. In addition, AG490 and Jak-2KEpRK5, a selective pharmacological inhibitor and a dominant negative mutant, respectively, of Jak-2, attenuated PDGF-BB-induced STAT-3 tyrosine phosphorylation and its DNA binding and reporter gene activities. PDGF-BB induced VSMC motility in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum effect at 10 ng/ml. Dominant negative mutant-dependent suppression of Jak-2 and STAT-3 blocked PDGF-BB-induced VSMC motility. PDGF-BB induced the expression of cPLA2in a Jak-2/STAT-3-dependent manner, and pharmacological inhibitors of cPLA2prevented PDGFBB-induced VSMC motility. Furthermore, either exogenous addition of arachidonic acid or forced expression of cPLA2rescued PDGF-BB-induced VSMC motility from inhibition by blockade of Jak-2 and STAT-3 activation. Together, these results for the first time show that PDGF-BB-induced VSMC motility requires activation of the Jak-2/STAT-3/cPLA2signaling axis.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 6262-6272 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Muthukkumar ◽  
P Nair ◽  
S F Sells ◽  
N G Maddiwar ◽  
R J Jacob ◽  
...  

Induction of apoptosis by diverse exogenous signals is dependent on elevation of intracellular Ca2+. This process of cell death can be blocked by actinomycin D, indicating that it requires gene transcription events. To identify genes that are required for apoptosis, we used thapsigargin (TG), which inhibits endoplasmic reticulum-dependent Ca(2+)-ATPase and thereby increases cytosolic Ca2+. Exposure to TG led to induction of the zinc finger transcription factor, EGR-1, and apoptosis in human melanoma cells, A375-C6. To determine the functional relevance of EGR-1 expression in TG-inducible apoptosis, we employed a dominant negative mutant which functionally competes with EGR-1 in these cells. Interestingly, the dominant negative mutant inhibited TG-inducible apoptosis. Consistent with this observation, an antisense oligomer directed against Egr-1 also led to a diminution of the number of cells that undergo TG-inducible apoptosis. These results suggest a novel regulatory role for EGR-1 in mediating apoptosis that is induced by intracellular Ca2+ elevation. We have previously shown that in these melanoma cells, EGR-1 acts to inhibit the growth arresting action of interleukin-1. Together, these results imply that EGR-1 plays inducer-specific roles in growth control.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Zhou ◽  
Jennifer W Li ◽  
Zirong Chen ◽  
Wei Ni ◽  
Xuehui Li ◽  
...  

Lung cancer with loss-of-function of the LKB1 tumor suppressor is a common aggressive subgroup with no effective therapies. LKB1-deficiency induces constitutive activation of cAMP/CREB-mediated transcription by a family of three CREB-regulated transcription coactivators (CRTC1-3). However, the significance and mechanism of CRTC activation in promoting the aggressive phenotype of LKB1-null cancer remain poorly characterized. Here we observed overlapping CRTC expression patterns and mild growth phenotypes of individual CRTC-knockouts in lung cancer, suggesting functional redundancy of CRTC1-3. We consequently designed a dominant-negative mutant (dnCRTC) to block all three CRTCs to bind and co-activate CREB. Expression of dnCRTC efficiently inhibited the aberrantly activated cAMP/CREB-mediated oncogenic transcriptional program induced by LKB1-deficiency, and specifically blocked the growth of human and murine LKB1-inactivated lung cancer. Collectively, this study provides direct proof for an essential role of the CRTC-CREB activation in promoting the malignant phenotypes of LKB1-null lung cancer and proposes the CRTC-CREB interaction interface as a novel therapeutic target.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 4759-4759
Author(s):  
Jarmila Podskocova ◽  
Pavel Burda ◽  
Karin Vargova ◽  
Juraj Kokavec ◽  
Nikola Curik ◽  
...  

Abstract Gata1 is transcription factor that regulates erythropoiesis and its direct interaction with chromatin remodeling protein Snf2h may affect chromatin structure (Rodriguez 2005). Snf2h belongs to SWI/SNF2 superfamily of ATPases regulating structure of nuclear chromatin by nucleosome movement and assembly. Snf2h knockout in mice is embryonic lethal and heterozygotes display mild growth retardation (Stopka 2003). We studied nuclear localization of Snf2h and detected its presence in euchromatin and to a lesser extent in heterochromatin. Decreased Snf2h levels in Snf2h heterozygotes and Snf2h-null embryos exhibit significantly decreased heterochromatin size. In addition, histone modifications associated with transcription activation (histone H3K79 dimethylation and H4K16 acetylation) are globally decreased in Snf2h mutants. To test the involvement of Snf2h in hematopoiesis, ectopically expressed Snf2h mutants were tested in Gata1-mediated transcription assay in HeLa cells and demonstrated that Snf2h efficiently repressed Gata1 transactivation. Testing whether the ATPase domain is required for the repression mechanism we found the Snf2h dominant negative mutant (DN) can also repress Gata1-dependent transcription in both HeLa and Snf2h +/− fibroblasts. We next studied the effect of Snf2h DN mutant on histone modifications downstream the Gata1 binding site and found that Snf2h DN further increases H3K79 dimethylation induced by Gata1. In contrast, an occupancy of histone H3 downstream the Gata1 binding site was significantly reduced by Snf2h DN mutant indicated it caused a defect in chromatin remodeling. Collectively, our data demonstrate a cooperative role of Gata1 and Snf2h in erythroid transcription regulation and propose that Snf2h in both ATP-dependent and ATPindependent manner represses transcription by disrupting the regular array of nucleosomes near Gata1 binding sites.


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 4888-4899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Schroder ◽  
Michael V. Ortiz ◽  
William A. Dunn

Several Sec proteins including a guanosine diphosphate/guanosine triphosphate exchange factor for Sar1p have been implicated in autophagy. In this study, we investigated the role of Sar1p in pexophagy by expressing dominant-negative mutant forms of Sar1p in Pichia pastoris. When expressing sar1pT34N or sar1pH79G, starvation-induced autophagy, glucose-induced micropexophagy, and ethanol-induced macropexophagy are dramatically suppressed. These Sar1p mutants did not affect the initiation or expansion of the sequestering membranes nor the trafficking of Atg11p and Atg9p to these membranes during micropexophagy. However, the lipidation of Atg8p and assembly of the micropexophagic membrane apparatus, which are essential to complete the incorporation of the peroxisomes into the degradative vacuole, were inhibited when either Sar1p mutant protein was expressed. During macropexophagy, the expression of sar1pT34N inhibited the formation of the pexophagosome, whereas sar1pH79G suppressed the delivery of the peroxisome from the pexophagosome to the vacuole. The pexophagosome contained Atg8p in wild-type cells, but in cells expressing sar1pH79G these organelles contain both Atg8p and endoplasmic reticulum components as visualized by DsRFP-HDEL. Our results demonstrate key roles for Sar1p in both micro- and macropexophagy.


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