Identification of an evolutionarily conserved 110 base-pair cis-acting regulatory sequence that governs Wnt-1 expression in the murine neural plate

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (14) ◽  
pp. 2735-2746 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.H. Rowitch ◽  
Y. Echelard ◽  
P.S. Danielian ◽  
K. Gellner ◽  
S. Brenner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Neural Plate ◽  
Homologous Region ◽  
Regulatory Sequence ◽  
Embryonic Mouse ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved

The generation of anterior-posterior polarity in the vertebrate brain requires the establishment of regional domains of gene expression at early somite stages. Wnt-1 encodes a signal that is expressed in the developing midbrain and is essential for midbrain and anterior hindbrain development. Previous work identified a 5.5 kilobase region located downstream of the Wnt-1 coding sequence which is necessary and sufficient for Wnt-1 expression in vivo. Using a transgenic mouse reporter assay, we have now identified a 110 base pair regulatory sequence within the 5.5 kilobase enhancer, which is sufficient for expression of a lacZ reporter in the approximate Wnt-1 pattern at neural plate stages. Multimers of this element driving Wnt-1 expression can partially rescue the midbrain-hindbrain phenotype of Wnt-1(−/−) embryos. The possibility that this region represents an evolutionarily conserved regulatory module is suggested by the identification of a highly homologous region located downstream of the wnt-1 gene in the pufferfish (Fugu rubripes). These sequences are capable of appropriate temporal and spatial activation of a reporter gene in the embryonic mouse midbrain; although, later aspects of the Wnt-1 expression pattern are absent. Genetic evidence has implicated Pax transcription factors in the regulation of Wnt-1. Although Pax-2 binds to the 110 base pair murine regulatory element in vitro, the location of the binding sites could not be precisely established and mutation of two putative low affinity sites did not abolish activation of a Wnt-1 reporter transgene in vivo. Thus, it is unlikely that Pax proteins regulate Wnt-1 by direct interactions with this cis-acting regulatory region. Our analysis of the 110 base pair minimal regulatory element suggests that Wnt-1 regulation is complex, involving different regulatory interactions for activation and the later maintenance of transgene expression in the dorsal midbrain and ventral diencephalon, and at the midbrain-hindbrain junction.

scholarly journals Functional Analysis of a Novel cis-Acting Regulatory Region within the Human Ankyrin Gene (ANK-1) Promoter

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (14) ◽  
pp. 3493-3502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Laflamme ◽  
Ashley N. Owen ◽  
Emily E. Devlin ◽  
Mary Q. Yang ◽  
Clara Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hereditary Spherocytosis ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Regulatory Sequence ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Promoter Sequences ◽  
Promoter Function

ABSTRACT The characterization of atypical mutations in loci associated with diseases is a powerful tool to discover novel regulatory elements. We previously identified a dinucleotide deletion in the human ankyrin-1 gene (ANK-1) promoter that underlies ankyrin-deficient hereditary spherocytosis. The presence of the deletion was associated with a decrease in promoter function both in vitro and in vivo establishing it as a causative hereditary spherocytosis mutation. The dinucleotide deletion is located in the 5′ untranslated region of the ANK-1 gene and disrupts the binding of TATA binding protein and TFIID, components of the preinitiation complex. We hypothesized that the nucleotides surrounding the mutation define an uncharacterized regulatory sequence. To test this hypothesis, we generated a library of more than 16,000 ANK-1 promoters with degenerate sequence around the mutation and cloned the functional promoter sequences after cell-free transcription. We identified the wild type and three additional sequences, from which we derived a consensus. The sequences were shown to be functional in cell-free transcription, transient-transfection, and transgenic mouse assays. One sequence increased ANK-1 promoter function 5-fold, while randomly chosen sequences decreased ANK-1 promoter function. Our results demonstrate a novel functional motif in the ANK-1 promoter.

Functional characterization of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene promoter: evidence for a negative regulatory element

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 4157-4164
Author(s):  
D E Rincón-Limas ◽  
D A Krueger ◽  
P I Patel
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Genomic Structure ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Translation Initiation Site ◽  
Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ◽  
Hprt Gene ◽  
Negative Element ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Human Hprt Gene

The enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) catalyzes the metabolic salvage of the purine bases hypoxanthine and guanine. We previously characterized the genomic structure of the human HPRT gene and described its promoter sequence. In this report, we identify cis-acting transcriptional control regions of the human HPRT gene by linking various 5'-flanking sequences to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. The sequence from positions -219 to -122 relative to the translation initiation site is required for maximal expression of this gene, and it functions equally in both normal and reverse orientations. In addition, a cis-acting negative element is present in the region spanning from positions -570 to -388. This negative element can also repress promoters of heterologous genes, such as those of adenosine deaminase and dihydrofolate reductase, which are structurally and functionally similar to the human HPRT promoter. Furthermore, this repressor element functions independently of its orientation but appears to be distance dependent. In vivo competition assays demonstrated that the trans-acting factor(s) that binds to this negative element specifically inhibits human HPRT promoter activity. Taken together, these data localize cis-acting sequences important in the regulation of human HPRT gene expression and should allow the study of protein-DNA interactions which modulate the transcription of this gene.

Hematopoietic regulatory domain of gata1 gene is positively regulated by GATA1 protein in zebrafish embryos

Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (12) ◽  
pp. 2341-2350
Author(s):  
Makoto Kobayashi ◽  
Keizo Nishikawa ◽  
Masayuki Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Transgenic Fish ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Gfp Reporter ◽  
Gata Motif

Expression of gata1 is regulated through multiple cis-acting GATA motifs. To elucidate regulatory mechanisms of the gata1 gene, we have used zebrafish. To this end, we isolated and analyzed zebrafish gata1 genomic DNA, which resulted in the discovery of a novel intron that was unknown in previous analyses. This intron corresponds to the first intron of other vertebrate Gata1 genes. GFP reporter analyses revealed that this intron and a distal double GATA motif in the regulatory region are important for the regulation of zebrafish gata1 gene expression. To examine whether GATA1 regulates its own gene expression, we microinjected into embryos a GFP reporter gene linked successively to the gata1 gene regulatory region and to GATA1 mRNA. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of the reporter gene was induced at the site of GATA1 overexpression and was dependent on the distal double GATA motif. Functional domain analyses using transgenic fish lines that harbor the gata1-GFP reporter construct revealed that both the N- and C-terminal zinc-finger domains of GATA1, hence intact GATA1 function, are required for the ectopic GFP expression. These results provide the first in vivo evidence that gata1 gene expression undergoes positive autoregulation.

scholarly journals Molecular determinants of metazoan tricRNA biogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 6452-6465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey A Schmidt ◽  
Joseph D Giusto ◽  
Alicia Bao ◽  
Anita K Hopper ◽  
A Gregory Matera
Keyword(s):  
Base Pair ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Processing Enzymes ◽  
New Class ◽  
Weak Bases ◽  
Molecular Determinants ◽  
Intron Removal

Abstract Mature tRNAs are generated by multiple post-transcriptional processing steps, which can include intron removal. Recently, we discovered a new class of circular non-coding RNAs in metazoans, called tRNA intronic circular (tric)RNAs. To investigate the mechanism of tricRNA biogenesis, we generated constructs that replace native introns of human and fruit fly tRNA genes with the Broccoli fluorescent RNA aptamer. Using these reporters, we identified cis-acting elements required for tricRNA formation in vivo. Disrupting a conserved base pair in the anticodon-intron helix dramatically reduces tricRNA levels. Although the integrity of this base pair is necessary for proper splicing, it is not sufficient. In contrast, strengthening weak bases in the helix also interferes with splicing and tricRNA production. Furthermore, we identified trans-acting factors important for tricRNA biogenesis, including several known tRNA processing enzymes such as the RtcB ligase and components of the TSEN endonuclease complex. Depletion of these factors inhibits Drosophila tRNA intron circularization. Notably, RtcB is missing from fungal genomes and these organisms normally produce linear tRNA introns. Here, we show that in the presence of ectopic RtcB, yeast lacking the tRNA ligase Rlg1/Trl1 are converted into producing tricRNAs. In summary, our work characterizes the major players in eukaryotic tricRNA biogenesis.

scholarly journals Long-Range Transcriptional Control of theIl2Gene by an Intergenic Enhancer

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (22) ◽  
pp. 3880-3891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parul Mehra ◽  
Andrew D. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Regulatory Architecture

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potent cytokine with roles in both immunity and tolerance. Genetic studies in humans and mice demonstrate a role forIl2in autoimmune disease susceptibility, and for decades the proximalIl2upstream regulatory region has served as a paradigm of tissue-specific, inducible gene regulation. In this study, we have identified a novel long-range enhancer of theIl2gene located 83 kb upstream of the transcription start site. This element can potently enhanceIl2transcription in recombinant reporter assaysin vitro, and the native region undergoes chromatin remodeling, transcribes a bidirectional enhancer RNA, and loops to physically interact with theIl2genein vivoin a CD28-dependent manner in CD4+T cells. Thiscisregulatory element is evolutionarily conserved and is situated near a human single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with multiple autoimmune disorders. These results indicate that the regulatory architecture of theIl2locus is more complex than previously appreciated and suggest a novel molecular basis for the genetic association ofIl2polymorphism with autoimmune disease.

scholarly journals Isolation and characterization of the Beadex locus of Drosophila melanogaster: a putative cis-acting negative regulatory element for the heldup-a gene.

1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 1343-1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
W W Mattox ◽  
N Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
P Element ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Lambda Phage ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Negative Regulatory Element ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Isolation And Characterization

We isolated recombinant lambda phage clones spanning 49 kilobases of DNA which contain the Beadex and heldup-a loci of Drosophila melanogaster. These cloned DNAs were used to analyze the structure of eight dominant mutant alleles of the Beadex locus which show increased gene activity. A region, only 700 base pairs in length, is altered in each of these mutants. Six of the mutations have DNA insertions within this segment. Most of these insertions resemble retrovirus-like transposable elements. In one case (Beadex2) the inserted sequences are homologous to the gypsy transposon family. The other two Beadex alleles were induced by hybrid dysgenesis and suffered deletions which included at least part of the 700-base-pair segment. These deletions appear to have resulted from imprecise excision or deletion of a nearby P element found in the wild-type parental strain. Analysis of one heldup-a allele (heldup-aD30r) indicates that a similar P element-mediated event is responsible for this lesion. In this mutant, deletion of sequences no more than 1,600 base pairs from the Beadex locus accompanies the loss of heldup-a function. The deleted sequences in heldup-aD30r include the entire 700-base-pair segment within which at least part of the Beadex locus resides, yet these flies have no Beadex phenotype. This indicates that a functional heldup-a gene is necessary for expression of the Beadex phenotype. Together, these results suggest that the Beadex functional domain is contained within a short segment of DNA near the heldup-a gene and support the hypothesis that the Beadex locus functions as a cis-acting negative regulatory element for the heldup-a gene.

scholarly journals Isolation and characterization of the Beadex locus of Drosophila melanogaster: a putative cis-acting negative regulatory element for the heldup-a gene

1984 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 1343-1353
Author(s):  
W W Mattox ◽  
N Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
P Element ◽  
Functional Domain ◽  
Lambda Phage ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Negative Regulatory Element ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Isolation And Characterization

We isolated recombinant lambda phage clones spanning 49 kilobases of DNA which contain the Beadex and heldup-a loci of Drosophila melanogaster. These cloned DNAs were used to analyze the structure of eight dominant mutant alleles of the Beadex locus which show increased gene activity. A region, only 700 base pairs in length, is altered in each of these mutants. Six of the mutations have DNA insertions within this segment. Most of these insertions resemble retrovirus-like transposable elements. In one case (Beadex2) the inserted sequences are homologous to the gypsy transposon family. The other two Beadex alleles were induced by hybrid dysgenesis and suffered deletions which included at least part of the 700-base-pair segment. These deletions appear to have resulted from imprecise excision or deletion of a nearby P element found in the wild-type parental strain. Analysis of one heldup-a allele (heldup-aD30r) indicates that a similar P element-mediated event is responsible for this lesion. In this mutant, deletion of sequences no more than 1,600 base pairs from the Beadex locus accompanies the loss of heldup-a function. The deleted sequences in heldup-aD30r include the entire 700-base-pair segment within which at least part of the Beadex locus resides, yet these flies have no Beadex phenotype. This indicates that a functional heldup-a gene is necessary for expression of the Beadex phenotype. Together, these results suggest that the Beadex functional domain is contained within a short segment of DNA near the heldup-a gene and support the hypothesis that the Beadex locus functions as a cis-acting negative regulatory element for the heldup-a gene.

Regulation of Pax6 expression is conserved between mice and flies

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.X. Xu ◽  
X. Zhang ◽  
S. Heaney ◽  
A. Yoon ◽  
A.M. Michelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
System Development ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Pax6 Expression ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Visual System Development ◽  
Lens Placode

Pax6 plays a key role in visual system development throughout the metazoa and the function of Pax6 is evolutionarily conserved. However, the regulation of Pax6 expression during eye development is largely unknown. We have identified two physically distinct promoters in mouse Pax6, P0 and P1, that direct differential Pax6 expression in the developing eye. P0-initiated transcripts predominate in lens placode and corneal and conjunctival epithelia, whereas P1-initiated transcripts are expressed in lens placode, optic vesicle and CNS, and only weakly in corneal and conjunctival epithelia. To further investigate their tissue-specific expression, a series of constructs for each promoter were examined in transgenic mice. We identified three different regulatory regions which direct distinct domains of Pax6 expression in the eye. A regulatory element upstream of the Pax6 P0 promoter is required for expression in a subpopulation of retinal progenitors and in the developing pancreas, while a second regulatory element upstream of the Pax6 P1 promoter is sufficient to direct expression in a subset of post-mitotic, non-terminally differentiated photoreceptors. A third element in Pax6 intron 4, when combined with either the P0 or P1 promoter, accurately directs expression in amacrine cells, ciliary body and iris. These results indicate that the complex expression pattern of Pax6 is differentially regulated by two promoters acting in combination with multiple cis-acting elements. We have also tested whether the regulatory mechanisms that direct Pax6 ocular expression are conserved between mice and flies. Remarkably, when inserted upstream of either the mouse Pax6 P1 or P0 promoter, an eye-enhancer region of the Drosophila eyeless gene, a Pax6 homolog, directs eye- and CNS-specific expression in transgenic mice that accurately reproduces features of endogenous Pax6 expression. These results suggest that in addition to conservation of Pax6 function, the upstream regulation of Pax6 has also been conserved during evolution.

Regulation of the chicken embryonic myosin light-chain (L23) gene: existence of a common regulatory element shared by myosin alkali light-chain genes

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2562-2569
Author(s):  
T Uetsuki ◽  
Y Nabeshima ◽  
A Fujisawa-Sehara ◽  
Y Nabeshima
Keyword(s):  
Light Chain ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Nuclear Extract ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
Carg Box

The transcriptional regulation of the chicken myosin alkali light-chain (MLC) L23 gene was analyzed. Two different types of cis-regulatory regions were identified: one was a silencerlike region located between 3.7 and 2.7 kilobases upstream of the mRNA initiation site, and the other was essential for the expression of L23 in skeletal muscle cells and was located between 106 and 91 base pairs upstream of the cap site. This 16-base-pair cis-acting element was designated as the MLC box since it is well conserved in various muscle-specific MLC promoter regions. The activity of the MLC box showed tissue specificity. To analyze the relationship between the nucleotide sequence and the activity of the MLC box precisely, mutation analysis was performed. The 16-base-pair sequence was indispensable for the active transcription of L23 gene, and the MLC box could function in either orientation. The inverted sequence of the MLC box was similar to the sequence of the alpha-actin CArG box. By using a gel mobility retardation assay, the nuclear protein(s) that binds to both MLC box and CArG box was detected with nuclear extract prepared from chicken embryonic breast muscle. These observations imply that a common factor regulates the coordinate expression of these contractile proteins in muscle differentiation.

Different sequence requirements for expression in erythroid and megakaryocytic cells within a regulatory element upstream of the GATA-1 gene

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (12) ◽  
pp. 2799-2811 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Vyas ◽  
M.A. McDevitt ◽  
A.B. Cantor ◽  
S.G. Katz ◽  
Y. Fujiwara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Base Pair ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Comparative Sequence Analysis ◽  
Gata Factor ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
E Box ◽  
High Level

The lineage-restricted transcription factor GATA-1 is required for differentiation of erythroid and megakaryocytic cells. We have localized a 317 base pair cis-acting regulatory element, HS I, associated with a hematopoietic-specific DNase I hypersensitive site, which lies approx. 3.7 kilobases upstream of the murine hematopoietic-specific GATA-1 IE promoter. HS I directs high-level expression of reporter GATA-1/lacZ genes to primitive and definitive erythroid cells and megakaryocytes in transgenic mice. Comparative sequence analysis of HS I between human and mouse shows approx. 63% nucleotide identity with a more conserved core of 169 base pairs (86% identity). This core contains a GATA site separated by 10 base pairs from an E-box motif. The composite motif binds a multi-protein hematopoietic-specific transcription factor complex which includes GATA-1, SCL/tal-1, E2A, Lmo2 and Ldb-1. Point mutations of the GATA site abolishes HS I function, whereas mutation of the E-box motif still allows reporter gene expression in both lineages. Strict dependence of HS I activity on a GATA site implies that assembly of a protein complex containing a GATA-factor, presumably GATA-1 or GATA-2, is critical to activating or maintaining its function. Further dissection of the 317 base pair region demonstrates that, whereas all 317 base pairs are required for expression in megakaryocytes, only the 5′ 62 base pairs are needed for erythroid-specific reporter expression. These findings demonstrate differential lineage requirements for expression within the HS I element.

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