scholarly journals The pruned gene encodes the Drosophila serum response factor and regulates cytoplasmic outgrowth during terminal branching of the tracheal system

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1353-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Guillemin ◽  
J. Groppe ◽  
K. Ducker ◽  
R. Treisman ◽  
E. Hafen ◽  
...  

We identified a Drosophila gene, pruned, that regulates formation of the terminal branches of the tracheal (respiratory) system. These branches arise by extension of long cytoplasmic processes from terminal tracheal cells towards oxygen-starved tissues, followed by formation of a lumen within the processes. The pruned gene is expressed in terminal cells throughout the period of terminal branching. pruned encodes the Drosophila homologue of serum response factor (SRF), which functions with an ETS domain ternary complex factor as a growth-factor-activated transcription complex in mammalian cells. In pruned loss of function mutants, terminal cells fail to extend cytoplasmic projections. A constitutively activated SRF drives formation of extra projections that grow out in an unregulated fashion. An activated ternary complex factor has a similar effect. We propose that the Drosophila SRF functions like mammalian SRF in an inducible transcription complex, and that activation of this complex by signals from target tissues induces expression of genes involved in cytoplasmic outgrowth.

2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (23) ◽  
pp. 10340-10351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine R. Vickers ◽  
Aneta Kasza ◽  
Isil Aksan Kurnaz ◽  
Anne Seifert ◽  
Leo A. H. Zeef ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Members of the ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily of the ETS-domain transcription factors are activated through phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in response to a variety of mitogenic and stress stimuli. The TCFs bind and activate serum response elements (SREs) in the promoters of target genes in a ternary complex with a second transcription factor, serum response factor (SRF). The association of TCFs with SREs within immediate-early gene promoters is suggestive of a role for the ternary TCF-SRF complex in promoting cell cycle entry and proliferation in response to mitogenic signaling. Here we have investigated the downstream gene regulatory and phenotypic effects of inhibiting the activity of genes regulated by TCFs by expressing a dominantly acting repressive form of the TCF, Elk-1. Inhibition of ternary complex activity leads to the downregulation of several immediate-early genes. Furthermore, blocking TCF-mediated gene expression leads to growth arrest and triggers apoptosis. By using mutant Elk-1 alleles, we demonstrated that these effects are via an SRF-dependent mechanism. The antiapoptotic gene Mcl-1 is identified as a key target for the TCF-SRF complex in this system. Thus, our data confirm a role for TCF-SRF-regulated gene activity in regulating proliferation and provide further evidence to indicate a role in protecting cells from apoptotic cell death.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 4134-4148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexia-Ileana Zaromytidou ◽  
Francesc Miralles ◽  
Richard Treisman

ABSTRACT The transcription factor serum response factor (SRF) interacts with its cofactor, MAL/MKL1, a member of the myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) family, through its DNA-binding domain. We define a seven-residue sequence within the conserved MAL B1 region essential and sufficient for complex formation. The neighboring Q-box sequence facilitates this interaction. The B1 and Q-box regions also have antagonistic effects on MAL nuclear import, but the residues involved are largely distinct. Both MAL and the ternary complex factor (TCF) family of SRF cofactors interact with a hydrophobic groove and pocket on the SRF DNA-binding domain. Unlike the TCFs, however, interaction of MAL with SRF is impaired by SRF αI-helix mutations that reduce DNA bending in the SRF-DNA complex. A clustered SRF αI-helix mutation strongly impairs MAL-SRF complex formation but does not affect DNA distortion in the MAL-SRF complex. MAL-SRF complex formation is facilitated by DNA binding. DNase I footprinting indicates that in the SRF-MAL complex MAL directly contacts DNA. These contacts, which flank the DNA sequences protected from DNase I by SRF, are required for effective MAL-SRF complex formation in gel mobility shift assays. We propose a model of MAL-SRF complex formation in which MAL interacts with SRF by the addition of a β-strand to the SRF DNA-binding domain β-sheet region, while SRF-induced DNA bending facilitates MAL-DNA contact.


2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ελένη Ψυχάρη

Η πρωτεΐνη SRF (Serum Response Factor) είναι ένας μεταγραφικός παράγοντας, ο οποίος ρυθμίζει τη μεταγραφή πολλών πρώιμα εκφρασμένων γονιδίων, που σχετίζονται με τον κυτταρικό πολλαπλασιασμό, τη διαφοροποίηση και την ανάπτυξη. Σε αυτή την κατηγορία γονιδίων ανήκει το πρωτο-ογκογονίδιο c-fos. Στον υποκινητή του c-fos και πιο συγκεκριμένα στο στοιχείο SRE (Serum Response Element), που θεωρείται και το σημαντικότερο για τη μεταγραφή του, προσδένονται οι μεταγραφικοί παράγοντες SRF και TCFs (Ternary Complex Factors). Η οικογένεια των μεταγραφικών παραγόντων TCFs περιλαμβάνει τις πρωτεΐνες Elk-1, SAP1a και SAP-2/Erp/Net. Οι πρωτεΐνες αυτές προσδένονται στο DNA στη χαρακτηριστική αλληλουχία ets (GAA), αλληλεπιδρούν με τον SRF και ενεργοποιούνται από το ογκογονίδιο ras μέσω των MAP κινασών. Η πρωτεΐνη SRF προσδένεται στη χαρακτηριστική αλληλουχία GG(AT)6CC και φωσφορυλιώνεται κυρίως από την κασεϊνική κινάση II, γεγονός που αυξάνει τη δυνατότητα πρόσδεσής της στο DNA. Τελευταία έχουν προταθεί διάφοροι μηχανισμοί ενεργοποίησης της πρωτεΐνης SRF, δύο από τους οποίους σχετίζονται είτε με το σήμα της RhoA GΤΡάσης, ή με την ομάδα πρωτεϊνών υψηλής κινητικότητας (High Mobility Group Proteins, HMG-ls), που αυξάνουν την ικανότητα πρόσδεσής του SRF στο DNA και έτσι ενισχύεται η μεταγραφή των γονιδίων-στόχων. Στα πειράματα μας έχει χρησιμοποιηθεί ένα πολυσταδιακό σύστημα καρκινογένεσης της επιδερμίδας του ποντικού. Το σύστημα αυτό αποτελείται από αθανατοποιημένες φυσιολογικές έως πλήρως μεταστατικές κυτταρικές σειρές, οι οποίες έχουν προέλθει από κατεργασία της επιδερμίδας ποντικών με χημικά καρκινογόνο (DMBA, ΤΡΑ). Οι ουσίες αυτές επιφέρουν γενετικές αλλοιώσεις (με πιο χαρακτηριστικές μία σημειακή μετάλλαξη στο ογκογονίδιο ras και απώλεια του ογκοκατασταλτικού γονιδίου p53), που έχουν ως συνέπεια τη δημιουργία πλακώδους (επιθηλιακού) ή ατρακτοειδούς (μεσεγχυματικού) φαινοτύπου στις καρκινικές κυτταρικές σειρές. Σε αυτό το κυτταρικό σύστημα προσπαθήσαμε να διερευνήσουμε το ρόλο του μεταγραφικού παράγοντα SRF κατά την καρκινογένεση. Τα αποτελέσματά μας έδειξαν ότι ο SRF συμμετέχει στην εξέλιξη του καρκίνου και συγκεκριμένα στην επιθηλιακή-μεσεγχυματική μετάβαση (epithelial-mesenchymal transition, ΕΜΤ) των καρκινικών κυττάρων. Βρέθηκε ότι η ενεργότητα του SRF συσχετίζεται με την ενεργοποίηση της RhoA και τον αυξημένο σχηματισμό ινιδίων stress ακτίνης, στα καρκινικά κύτταρα με ατρακτοειδή φαινότυπο. Επίσης, στα καρκινικά κύτταρα, οι δομικές πρωτεΐνες HMG-I αυξάνουν την πρόσδεση του SRF στο SRE, συμμετέχοντας έτσι στην ενεργοποίηση του SRF. Αποτέλεσμα της δράσης αυτών των μηχανισμών ρύθμισης του SRF είναι η αύξηση της επαγωγής της μεταγραφής μέσω του στοιχείου SRE και κατά συνέπεια η μεταγραφική ενεργοποίηση γονιδίων-στόχων του SRF, όπως το c-fos. Επιπλέον, σε αυτή την εργασία εξετάστηκε ο μηχανισμός της μεταγραφικής ενεργοποίησης μέσω της πρωτεΐνης c-Jun. Συγκεκριμένα, έγινε ανάλυση της αλληλεπίδρασης της πρωτεΐνης c-Jun με το γενικό μεταγραφικό παράγοντα TFIID. Με πειράματα σε κύτταρα COS, βρέθηκε ότι υπάρχει φυσική αλληλεπίδραση των πρωτεϊνών c-Jun και hTAFII55 και συνεργασία μεταξύ τους στην μεταγραφική ενεργοποίηση γονιδίων-στόχων.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (24) ◽  
pp. 10853-10862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Buchwalter ◽  
Christian Gross ◽  
Bohdan Wasylyk

ABSTRACT Net, Elk-1, and Sap-1 are members of the ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily of Ets transcription factors. They form ternary complexes with serum response factor (SRF) on serum response elements of immediate early genes such as c-fos and egr-1 and mediate responses to growth factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Although the TCFs have been extensively studied as intermediates in signaling cascades, surprisingly little is known about their different target genes and physiological functions. We report that Net homozygous mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts have a defect in cell migration. This defect results at least in part from increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) that controls extracellular proteolysis and cell matrix adhesion. The defect in cell migration can be reverted by the addition of a PAI-1 blocking antibody. Net represses PAI-1 promoter activity and binds to a specific region of the promoter containing Ets binding sites in the absence of SRF. We conclude that Net is a negative regulator of PAI-1 expression and is thereby involved in cell migration.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1036-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steves Morin ◽  
Pierre Paradis ◽  
Anne Aries ◽  
Mona Nemer

ABSTRACT Endothelins are a family of biologically active peptides that are critical for development and function of neural crest-derived and cardiovascular cells. These effects are mediated by two G-protein-coupled receptors and involve transcriptional regulation of growth-responsive and/or tissue-specific genes. We have used the cardiac ANF promoter, which represents the best-studied tissue-specific endothelin target, to elucidate the nuclear pathways responsible for the transcriptional effects of endothelins. We found that cardiac-specific response to endothelin 1 (ET-1) requires the combined action of the serum response factor (SRF) and the tissue-restricted GATA proteins which bind over their adjacent sites, within a 30-bp ET-1 response element. We show that SRF and GATA proteins form a novel ternary complex reminiscent of the well-characterized SRF-ternary complex factor interaction required for transcriptional induction of c-fos in response to growth factors. In transient cotransfections, GATA factors and SRF synergistically activate atrial natriuretic factor and other ET-1-inducible promoters that contain both GATA and SRF binding sites. Thus, GATA factors may represent a new class of tissue-specific SRF accessory factors that account for muscle- and other cell-specific SRF actions.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 5667-5678 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Giovane ◽  
P Sobieszczuk ◽  
A Ayadi ◽  
S M Maira ◽  
B Wasylyk

The Ras signalling pathway targets transcription factors such as the ternary complex factors that are recruited by the serum response factor to form complexes on the serum response element (SRE) of the fos promoter. We have identified a new ternary complex factor, Net-b. We report the features of the net gene and show that it produces several splice variants, net-b and net-c. net-b RNA and protein are expressed in a variety of tissues and cell lines. net-c RNA is expressed at low levels, and the protein was not detected, raising the possibility that it is a cryptic splice variant. We have studied the composition of ternary complexes that form on the SRE of the fos promoter with extracts from fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) cultured under various conditions and pre-B cells (70Z/3) before and after differentiation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The fibroblast complexes contain mainly Net-b followed by Sap1 and Elk1. Net-b complexes, as well as Sap1 and Elk1, are induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of cells cultured in low serum. Pre-B-cell complexes contain mainly Sap1, with less of Net-b and little of Elk1. There is little change upon LPS-induced differentiation compared to the increase with EGF in fibroblasts. We have also found that Net-b is a nuclear protein that constitutively represses transcription. Net-b is not activated by Ras signalling, in contrast to Net, Sap1a, and Elk1. We have previously reported that down-regulation of Net proteins with antisense RNA increases SRE activity. The increase in SRE activity is observed at low serum levels and is even greater after serum stimulation, showing that the SRE is under negative regulation by Net proteins and the level of repression increases during induction. Net-b, the predominant factor in ternary complexes in fibroblasts, may both keep the activity of the SRE low in the absence of strong inducing conditions and rapidly shut the activity off after stimulation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (41) ◽  
pp. 25951-25958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinfang Liao ◽  
Christina Hodge ◽  
Debra Meyer ◽  
Pier Sun Ho ◽  
Karen Rosenspire ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 2801-2809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerryn L. Elliott ◽  
Andreas Svanström ◽  
Matthias Spiess ◽  
Roger Karlsson ◽  
Julie Grantham

Correct protein folding is fundamental for maintaining protein homeostasis and avoiding the formation of potentially cytotoxic protein aggregates. Although some proteins appear to fold unaided, actin requires assistance from the oligomeric molecular chaperone CCT. Here we report an additional connection between CCT and actin by identifying one of the CCT subunits, CCTε, as a component of the myocardin-related cotranscription factor-A (MRTF-A)/serum response factor (SRF) pathway. The SRF pathway registers changes in G-actin levels, leading to the transcriptional up-regulation of a large number of genes after actin polymerization. These genes encode numerous actin-binding proteins as well as actin. We show that depletion of the CCTε subunit by siRNA enhances SRF signaling in cultured mammalian cells by an actin assembly-independent mechanism. Overexpression of CCTε in its monomeric form revealed that CCTε binds via its substrate-binding domain to the C-terminal region of MRTF-A and that CCTε is able to alter the nuclear accumulation of MRTF-A after stimulation by serum addition. Given that the levels of monomeric CCTε conversely reflect the levels of CCT oligomer, our results suggest that CCTε provides a connection between the actin-folding capacity of the cell and actin expression.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1094-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Gille ◽  
M Kortenjann ◽  
T Strahl ◽  
P E Shaw

The rapid and transient induction of the human proto-oncogene c-fos in response to a variety of stimuli depends on the serum responses element (SRE). In vivo footprinting experiments show that this promoter element is bound by a multicomponent complex including the serum response factor (SRF) and a ternary complex factor such as Elk-1. SRF is thought to recruit a ternary complex factor monomer into an asymmetric complex. In this report, we describe a quaternary complex over the SRE which, in addition to an SRF dimer, contains two Elk-1 molecules. Its formation at the SRE is strictly dependent on phosphorylation of S-383 in the Elk-1 regulatory domain and appears to involve a weak intermolecular association between the two Elk-1 molecules. The influence of mutations in Elk-1 on quaternary complex formation in vitro correlates with their effect on the induction of c-fos reporter expression in response to mitogenic stimuli in vivo.


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