Isolation of the human insulin-like growth factor genes: insulin-like growth factor II and insulin genes are contiguous

Growth characteristics and response to growth hormone therapy in patients with hypochondroplasia: genetic linkage of the insulin-like growth factor I gene at chromosome 12q23 to the disease in a subgroup of these patients

Hypochondroplasia, a heterogeneous and usually mild form of chondrodystrophy, is a common cause of short stature. It often goes unrecognized in childhood and is diagnosed in adult life when disproportionate short stature becomes obvious. We performed restriction enzyme analysis of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) gene on the families of 20 white British Caucasian children with short stature attributed to hypochondroplasia by radiological and clinical criteria, who were undergoing human growth hormone (r-hGH) treatment, in 60 children with isolated growth hormone deficiency and in 50 normal individuals. The frequency of the heterozygous pattern (Hind III: 8.2, 5.2, 4.8, 3.2 kb fragments, Pvu: 8.4, 5.1, 4.7, 2.5 kb fragments) in children with hypochondroplasia was significantly higher (chi2: P less than 0.05) than in the control groups. The hypochondroplastic children whose response to r-hGH treatment was characterized by a proportionate increase in both spinal and subischial leg length were all heterozygous for two co-inherited IGF-I gene restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) alleles (Hind III: 5.2, 4.8 kb; Pvu II: 5.1, 4.7 kb). Children whose response was characterized by accentuation of the body disproportion by r-hGH treatment were all homozygous for these alleles (Hind III: 4.8, 4.8 kb; Pvu II: 4.7, 4.7 kb). Their response to r-hGH treatment is significantly different (P less than 0.01). Studies of the families of the heterozygous affected children demonstrated strong linkage (lod score 3.311 at zero recombination) of the IGF-I gene locus at chromosome 12q23 to this subgroup of hypochondroplasia. The 5.2 kb Hind III and 5.1 kb Pvu II alleles are in strong linkage disequilibrium with this trait. These data indicate that IGF-I gene may be a candidate gene for involvement in the aetiology of short stature presenting with hypochondroplastic features and a proportionate response to r-hGH treatment; they also provide support for the concept of genetic heterogeneity in chondrodystrophy.

Expression of insulin-like growth factor-IA and factor-IB mRNA in human liver, hepatoma cells, macrophage-like cells and fibroblasts

The human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene codes for two transcripts, IGF-IA and IGF-IB mRNAs, formed by alternative splicing. In this study, the expression of these IGF-I mRNA transcripts was examined using human liver, hepatoma cells, macrophage-like cells and fibroblasts. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that these cells contained both IGF-IA mRNA (representing exons I, II, III and V) and IGF-IB mRNA (representing exons I, II, III and IV). Interestingly, an RNase protection assay using 32P-labeled IGF-IA and IGF-IB exon-specific cRNA probes demonstrated that IGF-IA mRNA was 10-fold more abundant than IGF-IB mRNA in these cells. However, there was no difference in the stabilities of IGF-IA and IGF-IB mRNAs. These observations indicate that IGF-IA mRNA is more expressed than IGF-IB mRNA in these cells independent of their stabilities.

Abnormalities of 2q: a common genetic link between rhabdomyosarcoma and hepatoblastoma?

Cytogenetic and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses were performed on a mediastinal germ cell tumor comprising distinct teratoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma components in a 31-year-old male and a hepatoblastoma in a 2 month-old male child. Clonal relationship between the teratoma and rhabdomyosarcoma of the germ cell tumor was established by the presence in both of i(12p), the characteristic marker of germ cell tumors. Both the rhabdomyosarcoma component of the mediastinal germ cell tumor and the hepatoblastoma exhibited rearrangements of 2q. These data suggest that malignant differentiation of a teratoma is accompanied by the development of chromosome abnormalities specific for the transformed histology and further suggest that 2q abnormalities may be the common genetic link in the development of the two histologically unrelated tumor types, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and hepatoblastoma.

Heparin and hormonal regulation of mRNA synthesis and abundance of autocrine growth factors: relevance to clonal growth of tumors

Highly sulfated, heparinlike species of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, with heparinlike glycosaminoglycan chains, are extracellular matrix components that are plasma membrane bound in growth-arrested liver cells. Heparins were found to inhibit the growth and lower the clonal growth efficiency of HepG2, a minimally deviant, human hepatoma cell line. Heparan sulfates, closely related glycosaminoglycans present in the extracellular matrix around growing liver cells, had no effect on the growth rate or clonal growth efficiency of HepG2 cells. Neither heparins nor heparan sulfates had any effect on the growth rate or clonal growth efficiency of two poorly differentiated, highly metastatic hepatoma cell lines, SK-Hep-1 and PLC/PRF/5. Heparin's inhibition of growth of HepG2 cells correlated with changes in the mRNA synthesis and abundance of insulinlike growth factor II (IGF II) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta). HepG2 cells expressed high basal levels of mRNAs encoding IGF II and TGF beta that were inducible, through transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms, to higher levels by specific heparin-hormone combinations. For both IGF II and TGF beta, the regulation was multifactorial. Transcriptionally, IGF II was regulated by the additive effects of insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone in combination with heparin; TGF beta was regulated primarily by the synergistic effects of insulin and growth hormone in combination with heparin. Posttranscriptionally, the mRNA abundance of the IGF II 4.5- and 3.7-kb transcripts was affected by insulin. Heparin induction of all IGF II transcripts was also dependent on triiodotyronine and prolactin, but it is unknown whether their induction by heparin was via transcriptional or posttranscriptional mechanisms. Heparin-insulin combinations regulated TGF beta posttranscriptionally. The poorly differentiated hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and SK-Hep-1 either did not express or constitutively expressed low basal levels of IGF I, IGF II, and TGF beta, whose mRNA synthesis and abundance showed no response to any heparin-hormone combination. We discuss the data as evidence that matrix chemistry is a variable determining the expression of autocrine growth factor genes and the biological responses to them.

Heparin and hormonal regulation of mRNA synthesis and abundance of autocrine growth factors: relevance to clonal growth of tumors

Highly sulfated, heparinlike species of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, with heparinlike glycosaminoglycan chains, are extracellular matrix components that are plasma membrane bound in growth-arrested liver cells. Heparins were found to inhibit the growth and lower the clonal growth efficiency of HepG2, a minimally deviant, human hepatoma cell line. Heparan sulfates, closely related glycosaminoglycans present in the extracellular matrix around growing liver cells, had no effect on the growth rate or clonal growth efficiency of HepG2 cells. Neither heparins nor heparan sulfates had any effect on the growth rate or clonal growth efficiency of two poorly differentiated, highly metastatic hepatoma cell lines, SK-Hep-1 and PLC/PRF/5. Heparin's inhibition of growth of HepG2 cells correlated with changes in the mRNA synthesis and abundance of insulinlike growth factor II (IGF II) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta). HepG2 cells expressed high basal levels of mRNAs encoding IGF II and TGF beta that were inducible, through transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms, to higher levels by specific heparin-hormone combinations. For both IGF II and TGF beta, the regulation was multifactorial. Transcriptionally, IGF II was regulated by the additive effects of insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone in combination with heparin; TGF beta was regulated primarily by the synergistic effects of insulin and growth hormone in combination with heparin. Posttranscriptionally, the mRNA abundance of the IGF II 4.5- and 3.7-kb transcripts was affected by insulin. Heparin induction of all IGF II transcripts was also dependent on triiodotyronine and prolactin, but it is unknown whether their induction by heparin was via transcriptional or posttranscriptional mechanisms. Heparin-insulin combinations regulated TGF beta posttranscriptionally. The poorly differentiated hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and SK-Hep-1 either did not express or constitutively expressed low basal levels of IGF I, IGF II, and TGF beta, whose mRNA synthesis and abundance showed no response to any heparin-hormone combination. We discuss the data as evidence that matrix chemistry is a variable determining the expression of autocrine growth factor genes and the biological responses to them.

Evolution of insulin-like growth factor II: characterization of the mouse IGF-II gene and identification of two pseudo-exons

We have cloned the mouse insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) gene as a series of overlapping cosmid and lambda recombinants and have characterized its six exons. The gene extends over approximately 12 kb of mouse chromosome 7 and is located 18 kb 3' to the insulin 2 gene and in the same transcriptional polarity. Exons 1-3 encode distinct 5' untranslated regions and are transcribed by three different promoters, P1, P2, and P3, into three IGF-II mRNAs sharing common coding and 3' untranslated sequences. Promoters P2 and P3 each contain a TATA box and appear to direct transcription from single initiation sites. By contrast, exon 1 has three major transcriptional start sites distributed over 556 nucleotides, and P1 lacks a TATA region and other typical transcriptional control sequences. Exons 4-6 code for the 180-amino-acid IGF-II precursor, and exon 6 also contains a 3,045-nucleotide 3' untranslated region which ends at a single polyadenylation site. In addition to six functional IGF-II exons, we identified two 5' "pseudo-exons," which appear to be evolutionarily retained remnants of an alternative promoter-exon cassette that is active in human IGF-II. Loss of the homolog of this promoter, which directs "adult-specific" expression of the IGF-II gene in some human tissues, may explain the disappearance of this growth factor from most murine tissues in the early postnatal period.

Irradiation microcell-mediated chromosome transfer (XMMCT): the generation of specific chromosomal arm deletions

The microcell-mediated chromosome transfer technique has been used to introduce whole chromosomes into malignant cells and revert the tumorigenic phenotype. However, in most instances the limited availability of selectable chromosomes has hindered the ability to reduce the region containing the tumor suppressive information. The work presented here describes a new method to enrich for specific chromosomal arm deletions of selectable chromosomes and thereby more finely focus upon the genetic region of interest. The irradiation-microcell mediated chromosome transfer (XMMCT) technique involves the irradiation of microcells containing single human chromosomes followed by fusion to a nonirradiated host and cytogenetic characterization. The XMMCT procedure was performed on a microcell hybrid containing a der(11) as the only human chromosome. The resultant irradiated microcell hybrids were found to have deletions that ranged from simple interstitial deletions to complex deletions/rearrangements involving only the human der(11) chromosome. The XMMCT procedure has broad applications in generating chromosomal reagents for mapping genetic loci and for use in functional analyses such as tumor suppression studies.

Abnormal expression and structural modification of the insulin-like growth-factor-II gene in human colorectal tumors

The insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is a small protein implicated in fetal growth and development. It may play a role in the neoplastic process. The IGF-II gene is located on the short arm of chromosome II near insulin and c-Ha-ras I genes. Three distinct promoters control the transcription of this gene, leading to different IGF-II mRNA species. We have analyzed 21 human colorectal tumors and found overexpression of IGF-II in 6 of them (30%). When compared with expression in normal adjacent tissues, IGF-II mRNA increase in these tumors was either moderate (2- to 15-fold) or very marked (200- to 800-fold). In situ hybridization experiments confirmed that high IGF-II mRNA amounts were localized in cancer cells of the tumors overexpressing the IGF-II gene. In addition, DNA analysis revealed a structural modification of one IGF-II locus in one tumor characterized by very high IGF-II mRNA.

A genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 10: localization of eighteen molecular markers using a single interspecific backcross

Interspecific mouse backcross analysis was used to generate a molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 10. The map locations of the Act-2, Ahi-1, Bcr, Braf, Cdc-2a, Col6a-1, Col6a-2, Cos-1, Esr, Fyn, Gli, Ifg, Igf-1, Myb, Pah, pgcha, Ros-1 and S100b loci were determined. These loci extend over 80% of the genetic length of the chromosome, providing molecular access to many regions of chromosome 10 for the first time. The locations of the genes mapped in this study extend the known regions of synteny between mouse chromosome 10 and human chromosomes 6, 10, 12 and 21, and reveal a novel homology segment between mouse chromosome 10 and human chromosome 22. Several loci may lie close to, or correspond to, known mutations. Preferential transmission of Mus spretus-derived alleles was observed for loci mapping to the central region of mouse chromosome 10.

Polymorphism in 5' flanking region of human insulin gene. Relationships with atherosclerosis, lipid levels, and age in three samples from Denmark

Variations in the DNA sequence flanking the 5' region of the human insulin gene (U- and L-alleles) were studied in relation to atherosclerosis, lipid levels, and age in three groups of atherosclerotic individuals and in nonatherosclerotic controls. The atherosclerotic groups comprised a postmyocardial infarction group with a mean age of 48 years, a group of individuals operated on for carotid stenosis with a mean age of 62 years, and a group of 85-year-olds with clinical coronary disease, peripheral arterial disease, or both. All 331 individuals were unrelated Caucasians of Danish ancestry. There were no significant differences (p greater than 0.05) in genotype distribution or allele frequencies between atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic individuals, but in the 85-year-olds, there was evidence (p less than 0.10) for a lower U-allele frequency in nonatherosclerotic women compared to atherosclerotic women. In nonatherosclerotic women, there was a significant decrease in U-allele frequency with age (60 to 85 years). This decrease does not prove conclusively, but is compatible with, the hypothesis that the U-allele predisposes to, or the L-allele protects against, atherosclerosis. The possible effect of the U-allele on the development of atherosclerosis does not seem to be mediated through conventional risk factors.

Rhabdomyosarcoma-associated locus and MYOD1 are syntenic but separate loci on the short arm of human chromosome 11

The MYOD1 locus is preferentially expressed in skeletal muscle and at higher levels in its related neoplasm, rhabdomyosarcoma. We have combined physical mapping of the human locus with meiotic and physical mapping in the mouse, together with synteny homologies between the two species, to compare the physical relationship between MYOD1 and the genetically ascertained human rhabdomyosarcoma-associated locus. We have determined that the myogenic differentiation gene is tightly linked to the structural gene for the M (muscle) subunit of lactate dehydrogenase in band p15.4 on human chromosome 11 and close to the p and Ldh-1 loci in the homologous region of mouse chromosome 7. Because the rhabdomyosarcoma locus maps to 11p15.5, MYOD1 is very unlikely to be the primary site of alteration in these tumors. Further, these analyses identify two syntenic clusters of muscle-associated genes on the short arm of human chromosome 11, one in the region of rhabdomyosarcoma locus that includes IGF2 and TH and the second the tightly linked MYOD1 and LDHA loci, which have been evolutionarily conserved in homologous regions of both the mouse and the rat genomes.

High-resolution mapping of human chromosome 11 by in situ hybridization with cosmid clones

Cosmid clones containing human DNA inserts have been mapped on chromosome 11 by fluorescence in situ hybridization under conditions that suppress signal from repetitive DNA sequences. Thirteen known genes, one chromosome 11-specific DNA repeat, and 36 random clones were analyzed. High-resolution mapping was facilitated by using digital imaging microscopy and by analyzing extended (prometaphase) chromosomes. The map coordinates established by in situ hybridization showed a one to one correspondence with those determined by Southern (DNA) blot analysis of hybrid cell lines containing fragments of chromosome 11. Furthermore, by hybridizing three or more cosmids simultaneously, gene order on the chromosome could be established unequivocally. These results demonstrate the feasibility of rapidly producing high-resolution maps of human chromosomes by in situ hybridization.

A fine-structure deletion map of human chromosome 11p: analysis of J1 series hybrids

Deletion analysis offers a powerful alternative to linkage and karyotypic approaches for human chromosome mapping. A panel of deletion hybrids has been derived by mutagenizing J1, a hamster cell line that stably retains chromosome 11 as its only human DNA, and selecting for loss of MIC1, a surface antigen encoded by a gene in band 11p13. A unique, self-consistent map was constructed by analyzing the pattern of marker segregation in 22 derivative cells lines; these carry overlapping deletions of 11p13, but selectively retain a segment near the 11p telomere. The map orders 35 breakpoints and 36 genetic markers, including 3 antigens, 2 isozymes, 12 cloned genes, and 19 anonymous DNA probes. The deletions span the entire short arm, dividing it into more than 20 segments and define a set of reagents that can be used to rapidly locate any newly identified marker on 11p, with greatest resolution in the region surrounding MIC1. The approach we demonstrate can be applied to map any mammalian chromosome. To test the gene order, we examined somatic cell hybrids from five patients, whose reciprocal translocations bisect band 11p13; these include two translocations associated with familial aniridia and two with acute T-cell leukemia. In each patient, the markers segregate in telomeric and centromeric groups as predicted by the deletion map. These data locate the aniridia gene (AN2) and a recurrent T-cell leukemia breakpoint (TCL2) in the marker sequence, on opposite sides of MIC1. To provide additional support, we have characterized the dosage of DNA markers in a patient with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and an 11p15-11pter duplication. Our findings suggest the following gene order: TEL - (HRAS1, MER2, CTSD, TH/INS/IGF2, H19, D11S32) - (RRM1, D11S1, D11S25, D11S26) - D11S12 - (HBBC, D11S30) - D11S20 - (PTH, CALC) - (LDHA, SAA, TRPH, D11S18, D11S21) - D11S31 - D11S17 - HBVS1 - (FSHB, D11S16) - AN2 - MIC1 - TCL2 - delta J - CAT - MIC4 - D11S9 - D11S14 - ACP2 - (D11S33, 14L) - CEN. We have used the deletion map to show the distribution on 11p of two centromeric repetitive elements and the low-order interspersed repeat A36Fc. Finally, we provide evidence for an allelic segregation event in the hamster genome that underlies the stability of chromosome 11 in J1. The deletion map provides a basis to position hereditary disease loci on 11p, to distinguish the pattern of recessive mutations in different forms of cancer and, since many of these genes have been mapped in other mammalian species, to study the evolution of a conserved syntenic group.

Multiple polyadenylation sites in a large 3'-most exon of the rat insulin-like growth factor II gene

The rat insulin-like growth factor II (rIGFII) gene produces, in addition to three major mRNA species 3.6 kilobases (kb), 4.6 kb and 3.8 kb in length which represent transcripts from three independent leader-exons, multiple smaller-sized products that distribute broadly in the 1-3 kb region on Northern blots. Structural constituents of these RNAs were analyzed by hybridization with region-specific probes prepared from the entire rIGFII genome. Most of these shorter RNAs contained both 5'-untranslated and coding regions, but only parts of the 3'-untranslated region. At least nine protected sites were mapped within a single 3'-most exon E6 by S1 nuclease analysis. Some but not all of these sites were associated with the upstream polyadenylation signal, AATAAA, or its variants. Since none of the shorter subspecies contained intronic sequences, aberration in splicing is not involved in their generation. Thus, the main parts of submature materials are a collection of discrete species of RNAs, most, if not all, of which are produced by alternative polyadenylation site selection.

Structural alteration of the insulin-like growth factor II-gene in Wilms tumour

In this study messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and DNA of five Wilms tumours were investigated. As expected, the level of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) II-mRNA was elevated up to 50 times in tumour tissue as compared to normal adjacent kidney tissue. In addition, genomic DNA was isolated and digested with appropriate restriction enzymes. Southern blots were prepared and hybridized to IGF II-cDNA probes. Additional bands were present in one of the five Wilms tumours compared to normal tissue. The results indicate a rearrangement of the IGF II-gene on one of the two chromosomes. It is speculated, that this change is responsible for the elevated IGF II expression which may be a factor contributing to tumour growth.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and bone

Bone is not only a rich source of a diverse group of growth factors, but is also a very responsive tissue to such growth promoting agents. IGF-I and IGF-II are reported to be synthesized and retained in bone. While both IGF-I and IGF-II stimulate DNA, collagen, and noncollagenous protein synthesis in cultured calvariae, these explant cultures have quantitative differential sensitivities to these IGF's. In addition to the observed increase in collagen synthesis, collagen degradation decreased in calvariae treated with IGF-I or IGF-II.

Analysis of gene dosage on chromosome 11 in children suffering from Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

The Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is composed of multiple congenital malformations coupled with a high concurrent risk for the development of specific rare childhood tumours. The syndrome is characterised by a complex mode of inheritance, but recent evidence indicates that it is an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. It has been previously suggested that major rearrangements of the short arm of chromosome 11 are involved in the aetiology of the disease. We undertook to search for rearrangements in 11p in four patients with BWS and their parents and siblings. By using cloned DNA fragments homologous to four genes located on 11p, namely catalase, parathyroid hormone, insulin-like growth factor II and the proto-oncogene c-Ha-Ras, we subjected DNA from the patients to a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis after digestion with restriction enzymes. We found no evidence for any large scale deletions or amplifications in this chromosomal region. We therefore conclude that altered gene dosage is not, as has been suggested, a requirement for the development of BWS. This raises the question of whether some other molecular mechanism is responsible for the malformations observed.

Increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus associated with insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor II restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. We have examined restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) near "candidate diabetogenic genes" as one approach to identify molecular markers for GDM genes. Genotypes for insulin hypervariable region (HVR), insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2), insulin receptor (INSR), and glucose transporter (GLUT1) RFLPs were studied in 96 GDM and 164 control subjects, matched to GDM for race, age, and gravidity. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between genotypes at these candidate gene loci and GDM, while adjusting for the effects of potential confounding variables. Among black subjects, the INSR allele 1 (P = 0.001) and interactions between INSR allele 1 with body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.002) and history of DM in subject's mother (P = 0.004) contributed significantly to GDM risk. Among Caucasian subjects, a similar relationship between the INSR allele 1 (P = 0.007) and INSR allele 1-BMI interactions (P = 0.011) on GDM risk were observed. In Caucasians, an additional significant risk factor was determined by an INSR allele 1-IGF2 allele 2 interaction (P = 0.018). No risk factors were identified in Hispanic subjects. These data continue to support the hypothesis that GDM is a heterogeneous disorder with respect to phenotypic and genotypic features. Furthermore, our data suggest that risk for GDM in black and Caucasian subjects is not due to obesity perse but to interactions between obesity and INSR alleles. In Caucasian women, INSR and IGF2 alleles interact to confer additional risk for GDM. Thus genes underlying susceptibility to GDM in some women may be similar to genes conferring risk to NIDDM, while in others novel genes may contribute to GDM risk.

Molecular nature of genetic changes resulting in loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 11 in Wilms' tumours

In this paper we describe the analysis of genetic changes in chromosome 11 in Wilms' tumours. Using a range of probes for regions 11p15, 11p13 and 11q we have screened DNA from 14 Wilms' tumours together with control DNA obtained from the patients' lymphocytes and their parents. We have been able to demonstrate loss of heterozygosity in 5 of the 14 different Wilms' tumours. In three of these five tumours, loss of heterozygosity did not involve markers for 11p13, 11p15.4 or the proximal region of 11p15.5, but only some markers assigned to the most distal part of 11p15.5. In two of these tumours we could demonstrate unequal mitotic recombination in 11p with breakpoints in the hypervariable regions 5' of the insulin gene and/or 3' of the HRASI proto-oncogene. In one tumour, from a Beckwith-Wiedemann patient, all markers for the region 11q13-pter became hemizygous; the region 11q13-qter remained heterozygous. These results demonstrate that loss of heterozygosity in Wilms' tumours may not necessarily involve the proposed Wilms' tumours locus at 11p13 but may be limited to 11p15.5. This suggests that not only the 11p13 region, but also the 11p15.5 region is involved in Wilms' tumour development. The possible role of both regions in the development of Wilms' tumour is discussed.

Asynchronous DNA replication within the human beta-globin gene locus

The timing of DNA replication of the human beta-globin gene locus has been studied by blot hybridization of newly synthesized BrdUrd-substituted DNA from cells in different stages of the S phase. Using probes that span greater than 120 kilobases across the human beta-globin gene locus, we show that the majority of this domain replicates in early S phase in the human erythroleukemia cell line K562 and in middle-to-late S phase in the lymphoid cell line Manca. However, in K562 cells three small regions display a strikingly different replication pattern than adjacent sequences. These islands, located in the inter-gamma-globin gene region and approximately 20 kilobases 5' to the epsilon-globin gene and 20 kilobases 3' to the beta-globin gene, replicate later and throughout S phase. A similar area is also present in the alpha-globin gene region in K562 cells. We suggest that these regions may represent sites of termination of replication forks.

Linkage disequilibrium in the human insulin/insulin-like growth factor II region of human chromosome II

Caucasian (N = 128) and Chinese (N = 84) subjects were typed for RFLPs in the insulin (INS)/insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) region of chromosome 11. Both the analysis of extended haplotypes and the pairwise measures of linkage disequilibrium among the RFLPs indicate that there is extensive linkage disequilibrium in the INS/IGF2 region. The disequilibrium extends across the hypervariable region (HVR) located just 5' to the INS gene and encompasses a region of at least 40 kbp. Previous studies had suggested that linkage disequilibrium in the INS region was negligible and that this region may therefore contain a "recombinational hotspot" (Chakravarti et al. 1986). However, results of this and another recent study (Thompson et al. 1988) highlight the importance of the frequencies of associated alleles in the ability to detect linkage disequilibrium. Thus, the previous failure to detect disequilibrium in the INS region may have reflected a lack of power, rather than a true absence of disequilibrium in this region.

Human tyrosine hydroxylase and insulin genes are contiguous on chromosome 11

The gene for the catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), has been previously mapped to human chromosome 11 p15.5 in the vicinity of the loci for insulin (INS) and for the oncogene Harvey Ras 1 (HRAS). Here we show that gene probes derived from recombinant clones containing either human TH or INS cross-hybridize with each other. Direct DNA sequencing demonstrates that these genes are physically linked on chromosome 11. The TH gene is 5' to INS and is separated by only 2.7 kb of flanking DNA. Both genes have the same transcriptional polarity and form a head-to-tail linkage group with insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) in the order: 5' - TH - INS - IGF-2 - 3'. Because of the close physical proximity of these genes, previously described polymorphisms for INS are identical to those observed with TH. The localization of TH to the highly polymorphic INS locus provides four new restriction fragment length polymorphisms which should help determine rapidly whether defects in TH are responsible for bipolar affective disorder in the Old Order Amish and other populations.

Isolation of an insulin-like growth factor II cDNA with a unique 5' untranslated region from human placenta

Human insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) cDNA from a placental library was isolated and sequenced. The 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) sequence of this cDNA differs completely from that of adult human liver and has considerable base sequence identity to the same region of an IGF-II cDNA of a rat liver cell line, BRL-3A. Human placental poly(A)+ RNA was probed with either the 5'-UTR of the isolated human placental IGF-II cDNA or the 5'-UTR of the IGF-II cDNA obtained from adult human liver. No transcripts were detected by using the 5'-UTR of the adult liver IGF-II as the probe. In contrast, three transcripts of 6.0, 3.2, and 2.2 kilobases were detected by using the 5'-UTR of the placental IGF-II cDNA as the probe or the probe from the coding sequence. A fourth IGF-II transcript of 4.9 kilobases presumably containing a 5'-UTR consisting of a base sequence dissimilar to that of either IGF-II 5'-UTR was apparent. Therefore, IGF-II transcripts detected may be products of alternative splicing as their 5'-UTR sequence is contained within the human IGF-II gene or they may be a consequence of alternative promoter utilization in placenta.

Developmental and hormonal regulation of mRNAs for insulin-like growth factor II and steroidogenic enzymes in human fetal adrenals and gonads

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is regulated developmentally and hormonally in human fetal gonads and adrenals. The abundance of IGF-II mRNA is greatest in RNA from human fetal adrenals, followed by fetal liver, testis, placenta, and ovaries. Fetal testicular IGF-II mRNA decreases significantly with increasing gestational age, in parallel with our previous measurements of the mRNAs for the steroidogenic enzymes P450scc (cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme) and P450c17 (17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase) (J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 63, 1145, 1986). The abundances of P450scc and P450c17 mRNAs in cultured fetal testis cells rose 2.5-fold (p less than 0.01) and 9.2-fold (p less than 0.001), respectively, in response to 0.5 mM cAMP, but the abundance of IGF-II mRNA was not affected. This suggests that the IGF-II gene is regulated differently in fetal testes than it is in fetal adrenals, placenta, or adult granulosa cells, where we have previously shown that ACTH, cAMP, and gonadotropins, respectively, increase IGF-II mRNA accumulation (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 1590, 1987). Exogenously added IGF-I and IGF-II had no effect on mRNAs for P450c17 or P450c21 (21-hydroxylase), but decreased IGF-II mRNA in ACTH-stimulated fetal adrenal cells. Thus, the IGFs appear to exert short-loop feedback inhibition on accumulation of IGF-II mRNA.

A new 5'-non-coding region for human placental insulin-like growth factor II mRNA expression

A human placenta cDNA library was screened for insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). Four clones were selected, which exhibited an IGF-II cDNA coding sequence identical to those previously described for human adult liver IGF-II cDNA. Extensive sequence diversity was observed in the 5'-non-coding region, probably resulting from differential intron splicing.

Tissue-specific expression of insulin-like growth factor II mRNAs with distinct 5' untranslated regions

We have used RNA from human hypothalamus as template for the production of cDNAs encoding insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). The prohormone coding sequence of brain IGF-II RNA is identical to that found in liver; however, the 5' untranslated sequence of the brain cDNA has no homology to the 5' untranslated sequence of the previously reported liver cDNAs. By using hybridization to specific probes as well as a method based on the properties of RNase H, we found that the human IGF-II gene has at least three exons that encode alternative 5' untranslated regions and that are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. A probe specific to the brain cDNA 5' untranslated region hybridizes to a 6.0-kilobase transcript present in placenta, hypothalamus, adrenal gland, kidney, Wilms tumor, and a pheochromocytoma. The 5' untranslated sequence of the brain cDNA does not hybridize to a 5.3-kilobase transcript found in liver or to a 5.0-kb transcript found in pheochromocytoma. By using RNase H to specifically fragment the IGF-II transcripts into 3' and 5' fragments, we found that the RNAs vary in size due to differences in the 5' end but not the 3' end.

Tissue-specific and developmentally regulated transcription of the insulin-like growth factor 2 gene

Transcription of the rat and human IGF-2 gene loci is unusually complex. The pattern of expression of these genes varies both between tissues and within a given tissue during different stages of development. Alternative splicing or possibly transcriptional initiation events generate variant IGF-2 mRNAs that contain different 5'-untranslated leader sequences. These leader exon sequences are shared with non-IGF-2 mRNAs. Certain noncoding IGF-2 gene sequence elements are transcribed extensively and are found in multiple copies elsewhere in the human genome. Furthermore, IGF-2 mRNA levels are particularly high in a variety of human malignancies.

Isolation of rat testis cDNAs encoding an insulin-like growth factor I precursor

We have characterized rat testis cDNAs encoding insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) precursor to facilitate studies of IGF-I expression in the male reproductive system. Two clones, P2 and P3, with inserts of 786 and 1200 bp, respectively, were isolated from a lambda gt11 library of rat testis cDNAs. The longest open reading frame of cDNA P2 predicts a 153-amino-acid residue IGF-I precursor that has only 11 amino acid substitutions compared with a human IGF-IA precursor encoded by a human liver mRNA. Three substitutions are within the predicted rat IGF-I sequence: a Pro for Asp in the B domain, an Ile for Ser in the C domain, and Thr for Ala in the D domain. Only two substitutions distinguish the predicted rat sequence from a mouse liver IGF-IA precursor: Thr for Ala in the signal peptide and Ala for Ser in the D domain. P2 hybridizes with poly(A)+ mRNAs of 7.5, 4.7, 1.7, and 1.2-0.9 kb in rat liver and testis. The other testis cDNA, P3, appears to represent a partially processed rat IGF-I mRNA precursor. By comparing the sequence of cDNA P2 with that of cDNA P3 and a 2.3-kb rat IGF-I genomic fragment, we predict exon splice sites within the codon for residue 26 and between residues 86-87 of the rat IGF-I precursor. Both of the predicted splice sites align with exon-intron junctions in the human IGF-I gene. We conclude, therefore, that IGF-I is synthesized as a precursor in the rat testis and that the structure of IGF-I genes, mRNAs, and precursors are highly conserved across species.

Sequential expression in the nervous system of c-myb and VIP genes, located in human chromosomal region 6q24

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a major neuropeptide involved in multiple functions such as vasodilation, smooth-muscle relaxation, sweat secretion, gastrointestinal peristalsis, pancreatic function, and brain activity. In view of the multiple roles associated with VIP, it is important to understand its gene regulation. We have recently isolated the human VIP gene and determined its structure. By in situ hybridization techniques we have now localized this gene to the long arm of chromosome 6, 6q24, a chromosomal region that has been shown previously to contain the coding sequences for the nuclear protooncogene c-myb. Genes found in close proximity to each other on the chromosome are often functionally related and, as VIP is primarily expressed in the nervous system, we investigated the possible correlation of c-myb to VIP in neuronal tissue. A sharp peak of c-myb mRNA was observed in the hippocampus of 3-day-old rats, preceding the peak of VIP mRNA that occurs in this brain area at 8 days of age. Thus, the protooncogene c-myb may be associated with events in brain development occurring prior to the appearance of elevated concentrations of VIP.

Expression of a synthetic gene encoding human insulin-like growth factor I in cultured mouse fibroblasts

A synthetic gene encoding human insulin-like growth factor I (hIGF-I) was assembled and inserted into an expression vector containing the cytomegalovirus immediate early (CMV-IE) transcriptional regulatory region and portions of the bovine growth hormone gene. The recombinant plasmid encodes a 97 amino acid fusion protein containing the first 27 amino acids of the bovine growth hormone precursor and the 70 amino acids of hIGF-I. This plasmid, when transiently introduced into cultured mouse fibroblasts, directs synthesis of the fusion protein, subsequent proteolytic removal of the bovine growth hormone signal peptide, and secretion of hIGF-I into the culture medium. Conditioned medium from transfected cells inhibits binding of 125I-labeled IGF-I to type I IGF receptors on human placental membranes and to acid-stable human serum carrier proteins. The recombinant hIGF-I produced is biologically active, as monitored by the stimulation of DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The human insulin-like growth factor II gene contains two development-specific promoters

The insulin-like growth factors (IGF) play an important role in fetal and postnatal development. Recently, the nucleotide sequences of the cDNAs encoding IGF-I and IGF-II and part of the human IGF genes were reported. In this communication we describe two distinct IGF-II cDNAs isolated from a human adult liver and a human hepatoma cDNA library, respectively. Using these two cDNAs, we have established that the human IGF-II gene contains at least 7 exons. Two different IGF-II promoters have been identified, 19 kilobases (kb) apart, which are active in a development-specific manner. The promoter, active in the adult stage, is located only 1.4 kb downstream from the insulin gene.

Activation of the ribosomal DNA promoter in cells exposed to insulinlike growth factor I

We constructed a stable cell line, 3T3A5, which carried a chimeric gene in which the simian virus 40 T-antigen-coding gene was under the control of the mouse ribosomal DNA promoter. These cells expressed T antigen when they were growing exponentially in 10% fetal calf serum, but they all became T negative when incubated for 5 days in low-concentration serum. The readdition of serum or platelet-poor plasma again induced the expression of T antigen, which was accompanied by an increase in steady-state levels of the corresponding RNA. Among the various growth factors tested for their ability to induce T-antigen expression in 3T3A5 cells, only insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) could induce T antigen at physiological concentrations. The effect of IGF-I or platelet-poor plasma was abolished by an antibody to IGF-I. Other growth factors, like insulin and epidermal growth factor, could induce the expression of T antigen in 3T3A5 cells, but only at concentrations far above the physiological range. Other growth factors were totally ineffective. These results indicate that exposure of cells to IGF-I can activate transcription from the ribosomal DNA promoter.

Coordinate tropic hormone regulation of mRNAs for insulin-like growth factor II and the cholesterol side-chain-cleavage enzyme, P450scc [corrected], in human steroidogenic tissues

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are single-chain polypeptides important for cell proliferation and growth. IGFs are produced in several tissues, suggesting that they function in a paracrine or autocrine fashion as well as functioning as endocrine hormones. We studied the hormonal regulation of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA in human steroidogenic tissues. In cultured human ovarian granulosa cells, follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, and dibutyryl cAMP increased IGF-II mRNA, but corticotropin [adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)], chorionic somatomammotropin, growth hormone, prolactin, dexamethasone, estradiol, and progesterone had no effect. In cultured human fetal adrenal cells, ACTH and dibutyryl cAMP increased IGF-II mRNA accumulation, but human chorionic gonadotropin and angiotensin II did not. The same five size species of IGF-II mRNA were detected in transfer blots of RNA from granulosa cells and fetal adrenal cells, and all of these increased after hormonal stimuli. Dibutyryl cAMP also increased IGF-II mRNA accumulation in cultured human placental cells. Accumulation of mRNA for the cholesterol side-chain-cleavage monooxygenase [P450scc [corrected]; cholesterol, reduced-adrenal-ferredoxin:oxygen oxidoreductase (side-chain-cleaving), EC 1.14.15.6] was regulated in parallel with IGF-II mRNA in all these steroidogenic tissues. IGF-I mRNA was not detected in transfer blots of these RNAs, and the minimal amounts detected in dot blots showed no detectable change after any of the hormonal stimuli studied. The data indicate that the IGF-II gene is expressed in human steroidogenic tissues and is regulated by cAMP. These data suggest that IGF-II may act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion to stimulate the adrenal and gonadal growth stimulated by ACTH and gonadotropins, respectively.

Expression of growth regulatory genes in primary human testicular neoplasms

Seven testicular tumours of different histological type--two seminomas, two teratomas/teratocarcinomas/embryonal carcinomas, one mixed seminoma/teratoma, one Leydig cell tumour and one testicular lymphoma--were examined for the expression of four potentially growth regulatory genes by Northern blotting. Seven out of seven testicular tumours contained transcripts that hybridized with a human insulin cDNA-probe whereas only four out of seven tumours contained IGF II transcripts. One tumour contained high levels of LDL-receptor transcript whereas all seven tumours contained significant quantities of HMG-CoA-reductase mRNA.

Activation of the ribosomal DNA promoter in cells exposed to insulinlike growth factor I

We constructed a stable cell line, 3T3A5, which carried a chimeric gene in which the simian virus 40 T-antigen-coding gene was under the control of the mouse ribosomal DNA promoter. These cells expressed T antigen when they were growing exponentially in 10% fetal calf serum, but they all became T negative when incubated for 5 days in low-concentration serum. The readdition of serum or platelet-poor plasma again induced the expression of T antigen, which was accompanied by an increase in steady-state levels of the corresponding RNA. Among the various growth factors tested for their ability to induce T-antigen expression in 3T3A5 cells, only insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) could induce T antigen at physiological concentrations. The effect of IGF-I or platelet-poor plasma was abolished by an antibody to IGF-I. Other growth factors, like insulin and epidermal growth factor, could induce the expression of T antigen in 3T3A5 cells, but only at concentrations far above the physiological range. Other growth factors were totally ineffective. These results indicate that exposure of cells to IGF-I can activate transcription from the ribosomal DNA promoter.