DNA sequences bound specifically by glucocorticoid receptor in vitro render a heterologous promoter hormone responsive in vivo

Functional analysis of the purified glucocorticoid receptor

Glucocorticoid-receptor complex (GR) has been purified from rat liver by differential affinity for DNA before and after activation, followed by ion-exchange chromatography. The purified GR has mol. wt 94,000 dalton. The protein contains three functional domains: (A) a steroid-binding domain; (B) a DNA-binding domain; and (C) a domain necessary for normal biological function. A second protein, with mol. wt 72,000 dalton, copurifies with the GR. This protein does not bind steroid, does not interact with antibodies raised against the GR and does not show the same susceptibility to limited proteolytic cleavage as the 94,000 dalton protein. Analysis of the specific interaction of the purified GR with the mouse mammary tumour virus gene, assayed by glycerol-gradient centrifugation, shows that one molecule of 94,000 dalton protein binds to each of the specific binding sites in the long terminal repeat region. Analysis of the fractions from the glycerol gradients show that the 72,000 dalton protein is associated to the binding species (94,000 dalton receptor protein) in about equimolar amounts. Analysis of the molybdate-stabilized non-activated receptor complex using monoclonal antibodies raised against the 94,000 dalton receptor protein indicates that the molybdate-stabilized complex is a hetero-oligomer. The hetero-oligomer consists of only one molecule of the 94,000 dalton receptor protein, in association with other non-steroid-binding proteins.

CAT vectors for analysis of eukaryotic promoters and enhancers

We have constructed two sets of plasmids for analysis of factors affecting mammalian gene expression. The pOCAT series contains a bacterial chloramphenicol-resistance expression unit (cat) and no eukaryotic promoter. The pUTKAT series contains the same cat unit under the control of the thymidine-kinase promoter of Herpes simplex virus. These plasmids are designed for testing effects of inserted regulatory elements on cat expression after transient transfection of mammalian cells in culture. We demonstrate here that the pOCAT series is useful for studying activities of inserted eukaryotic promoters, and the pUTKAT series is useful for studying activities of inserted eukaryotic enhancers.

Control of cell growth and division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Considerable advances have been made in recent years in our understanding of the biochemistry of protein and nucleic acid synthesis and, particularly, the molecular biology of gene expression in eukaryotes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and to a lesser extent Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has had a preeminent role as a focus for these studies, principally because of the facility with which these organisms can be experimentally manipulated biochemically and genetically. This review will be designed to critically examine and integrate recent advances in several vital areas of regulatory control of enzyme synthesis in yeast: structure and organization of DNA, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional modification, control of translation, post-translational modification and secretion, and cell-cycle modulation. It will attempt to emphasize and illustrate, where detailed information is available, principal underlying molecular mechanisms, and it will attempt to make relevant comparisons of this material to inferred and demonstrated facets of regulatory control of enzyme and protein synthesis in higher eukaryotes.

Structure of transcriptionally active chromatin

Transcriptionally active or potentially active genes can be distinguished by several criteria from inactive sequences. Active genes show both an increased general sensitivity to endonucleases like DNase I or micrococcal nuclease and the presence of nuclease hypersensitive sites. Frequently, the nuclease hypersensitive sites are present just upstream of the transcription initiation site covering sequences that are crucial for the promoter function. Viral or cellular transcription enhancer elements are also associated with DNase I hypersensitive sites. At least for the SV40 enhancer, it was shown by electronmicroscopic studies that the DNase I hypersensitive DNA segment is excluded from nucleosomes. It is highly plausible that the binding of regulatory proteins to enhancer or promoter sequences is responsible for the exclusion of these DNA segments from nucleosomes and for the formation of nuclease hypersensitive sites. We speculate that the binding of such proteins may switch on a change in the conformation and/or the protein composition of a chromatin segment or domain containing one to several genes. Biochemical analysis of fractionated nucleosome particles or of active and inactive chromatin fractions have revealed differences in the composition as well as in the degree of modification of histones in these two subfractions of the chromosome. However, until present it is impossible to define unambiguously what are the crucial structural elements that distinguish between particles present on active and inactive chromatin.

Mechanisms of glucocorticoid hormone action

This report summarizes our studies, in context with the results of other laboratories, of the molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid hormone action. The receptors for these steroids are comprised of single polypeptide chains of about 90,000 molecular weight. Binding of agonist steroids to the receptor induces a conformational change to an active receptor form that is followed by a second change in the glucocorticoid-receptor complex, termed activation, that alters the charge of the complex and results in its binding to specific sites on the DNA termed glucocorticoid regulatory elements (GREs). The GRE on the human metallothionein-IIA gene is located in the 5'-flanking DNA. It can function independently of the gene's promoter, and when ligated upstream from the herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase (TK) gene promoter, can activate it. The binding of the glucocorticoid-receptor complex to the GRE probably alters chromatin structure over a limited span to facilitate RNA polymerase action. The regulation by glucocorticoids of growth hormone gene expression is more complex. The steroid appears to elicit both transcriptional and posttranscriptional influences that are also affected by thyroid hormone. Also the glucocorticoid influences appear to be exerted in part through DNA structures located downstream from the transcriptional initiation site. A GRE has been defined in intron A of the hGH gene through gene transfer and DNA binding experiments. Finally, gene transfer experiments suggest that pituitary-specific factors influence the ability of glucocorticoids to affect GH gene expression.

Xenopus ribosomal gene enhancers function when inserted inside the gene they enhance

The ribosomal DNA of Xenopus laevis contains repeated sequence elements in the intergenic spacer region that enhance transcription from the adjacent gene promoter (1,2). Previous work has shown that these RNA polymerase I enhancers influence the target promoter when they are in either orientation, at a distance of several kilobases, and only when they are in cis (3-5). In this work, we further show that enhancer activity is unaffected by inserting the enhancers within the transcription unit whose promoter is being enhanced. In addition, enhancer activity does not interfere with transcription through its sequences. The results suggest that the enhancers act at a point prior to the initiation of transcription and that they are likely to be dispensable once transcription has begun.

Primary structure and expression of a functional human glucocorticoid receptor cDNA

Identification of complementary DNAs encoding the human glucocorticoid receptor predicts two protein forms, of 777 (alpha) and 742 (beta) amino acids, which differ at their carboxy termini. The proteins contain a cysteine/lysine/arginine-rich region which may define the DNA-binding domain. Pure radiolabelled glucocorticoid receptor, synthesized in vitro, is immunoreactive and possesses intrinsic steroid-binding activity characteristic of the native glucocorticoid receptor.

Simian virus 40-mediated cis induction of the Xenopus beta-globin DNase I hypersensitive site

Regions in chromatin which are hypersensitive to the action of DNase I appear to be associated with sites of genetic activity; the association between DNase I hypersensitivity and transcriptional activation is well known. In the case of the chicken beta-globin gene the establishment of a DNase I hypersensitive site is dependent on tissue-specific trans-acting factors. Such factors have also been implicated in the action of viral and cellular enhancers, which are themselves hypersensitive to DNase I. Enhancers have been defined operationally as DNA sequences which act in cis to potentiate transcription from their own, heterologous or cryptic promoters. This activity is essentially unaffected by changes in the orientation, position (5' or 3') or distance of the enhancer element with respect to its cognate promoter. We demonstrate here that the transcriptional rescue of the Xenopus laevis beta-globin gene by simian virus 40 (SV40) sequences including the enhancer coincides with the conferment of DNase I hypersensitivity upon that gene, and that this occurs in the absence of any change in the complement of trans-acting factors. These results suggest that a propensity to form sites hypersensitive to the action of DNase I is encoded in the primary sequence of DNA, and that this predilection is aggravated by SV40 sequences, perhaps through a mechanism dependent on supercoiling.

Light regulation of plant gene expression by an upstream enhancer-like element

Light regulates many varied physiological and developmental phenomena during plant growth and differentiation, including the formation of a photosynthetically competent chloroplast from a proplastid. The expression of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit (rbcS) genes is regulated by light in a development- and tissue-specific manner2,3. In some plant species, phytochrome has been demonstrated to mediate this response, and photoregulation of rbcS expression occurs at least in part at the level of transcription. We have shown previously that a 5'-noncoding fragment (4-973 base pairs (bp) upstream of the messenger RNA cap site) of the pea rbcS ss3.6 gene contains all of the nucleotide sequence information necessary to direct the photoregulated expression of a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene in tobacco. Consistent with these findings, Morelli et al.11 have shown by deletion analysis of a second rbcS gene promoter, that the sequences required for photoregulated expression of rbcS E9 reside within the 5'-noncoding region. They identified an upstream region of approximately 700 bp needed for maximum transcription but not light-dark regulation, and a region from -35 to -2 bp which included the TATA box and contained the necessary information for light responsiveness. We now demonstrate that regulatory sequences 5' distal to the rbcS ss3.6 TATA box and transcriptional start site not only contain the information necessary for maximum expression, but also confer photoregulation. These upstream regulatory sequences function independently of orientation when fused to their homologous promoter or a heterologous promoter.

Binding of the human glucocorticoid receptor to defined regions in the human growth hormone and placental lactogen genes

An in vitro competition assay was used to investigate whether binding sites for the human glucocorticoid receptor occur in the human genes for growth hormone (hGH) and placental lactogen (chorionic somatomammotropin, hCS). These genes display 95% sequence homology. Two receptor-binding regions were found in the hGH gene, one of which is located within 290 bp upstream, and one within 251 bp downstream from the transcription initiation site. Two binding regions homologous to those in the hGH gene were found in the hCS gene. The receptor-binding DNA fragment from the structural part of the genes, but not that from their promoter area, contained a sequence homologous to a 15-bp consensus sequence proposed earlier for the glucocorticoid receptor binding site. It is unlikely that the putative difference in glucocorticoid sensitivity between the hGH and hCS genes is accounted for by major differences in glucocorticoid receptor binding pattern.

Each of three "TATA elements" specifies a subset of the transcription initiation sites at the CYC-1 promoter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Transcription initiation of the yeast iso-1-cytochrome c gene (CYC-1) occurs in six major clusters at positions +1, +10, +16, +25, +34, and +43. Potential "TATA elements" lie upstream at positions -154, -106, -52, and -22. Analysis of the TATA region suggests that three of these TATA sequences are functional and contribute to initiation at CYC-1, with the -106 TATA promoting initiation at +1, +10, and +16; the -52 TATA, at +16, +25, +34, and +43; and the -22 TATA, at +34 and +43. Deletions changing the spacing between the TATA sequences and the region of transcription initiation do not change the location of the CYC-1 transcription start points. This finding suggests that at least part of the information determining mRNA initiation sites is encoded within the DNA sequence at the site of transcription initiation. Analysis of 18 yeast RNA polymerase II promoters suggests that two classes of DNA sequences serve as preferred sites for transcription initiation. To test this possibility, we replaced some of the normal CYC-1 start sites with one of these sequences, TCGA, and found that transcription initiates at this newly introduced sequence. These results are in contrast to those from higher eukaryotes, where RNA polymerase II typically initiates transcription a fixed distance downstream from the TATA element. The presence of multiple, functional TATA sequences at CYC-1 is inconsistent with the idea that RNA polymerase or another transcription factor attaches to the template at an upstream activation site and scans for the nearest TATA element.

Cloning and molecular analysis of the HAP2 locus: a global regulator of respiratory genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We report here the cloning of the HAP2 gene, a locus required for the expression of many cytochromes and respiratory functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cloned sequences were found to direct integration of a marked vector to the chromosomal HAP2 locus, and derivatives of these sequences were shown to yield chromosomal disruptions with a Hap2- phenotype. The gene maps 18 centimorgans centromere proximal to ade5 on the left arm of chromosome VII, distinguishing it from any other previously characterized nuclear petite locus. The HAP2 locus encodes a 1.3-kilobase transcript which is present at extremely low levels and which is derepressed in cells grown in media containing nonfermentable carbon sources. Levels of HAP2 mRNA are not reduced in strains bearing a mutation at the HAP3 locus, which is also required for expression of respiratory functions. Models outlining possible interactions of the products of the HAP2 and HAP3 genes are presented.

A modular system for the assay of transcription regulatory signals: the sequence TAATGARAT is required for herpes simplex virus immediate early gene activation

A modular system for assaying the activity of transcriptional regulatory signals based on herpes simplex virus (HSV) promoter and terminator sequences linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene has been used to study activation of HSV immediate early (IE) gene expression. Insertion of the SV40 72 base pair (bp) repeat increased mRNA levels by 15-fold thus demonstrating the ability of the HSV IE promoter to respond to a heterologous enhancer. A fragment containing part of the intergenic region located between HSV-2 immediate early (IE) genes-3 and -4/-5 increased mRNA levels by 5-fold in response to transactivation by an HSV virion structural polypeptide. The HSV activator fragment increased mRNA levels by 2-fold in the absence of transactivation indicating that cellular proteins are involved in IE gene expression. From HSV-1/HSV-2 DNA sequence comparisons we previously proposed that a DNA sequence, consensus TAATGARAT, present upstream of all HSV-1 and HSV-2 IE genes was required for the co-ordinate induction of IE genes. We show here that a synthetic oligonucleotide containing TAATGARAT conferred the ability to stimulate CAT activity only on transactivation: two copies of TAATGARAT stimulated expression by 2-fold while six copies gave an 8-fold increase. This activation, which was not dependent on orientation of the TAATGARAT sequence, directly demonstrates that TAATGARAT is a component of the IE gene activation sequence.

Differential expression of the human gonadotropin alpha gene in ectopic and eutopic cells

We have analyzed the regulation of the alpha gonadotropin gene in eutopic placental cells and ectopic tumor cells by constructing a series of plasmid vectors containing alpha genomic 5' flanking DNA placed upstream of the gene encoding the bacterial enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). These plasmid DNAs were transfected into a eutopic (JAr) and an ectopic (HeLa) cell line. Both cell types expressed the CAT gene from plasmid constructs containing as much as 1,500 base pairs (bp) and as little as 140 bp of alpha 5' flanking DNA; JAr cells were considerably more efficient than HeLa cells. Ectopic and eutopic cells differed qualitatively in their expression from these alpha-CAT constructs when cells were treated with cAMP or butyrate. Butyrate induced alpha expression in HeLa cells but not in JAr cells, while cAMP induced expression in JAr cells. These results are consistent with and extend previous observations suggesting that there are cell-specific differences in the regulation of alpha gene expression in ectopic and eutopic cells. However, by using deletion constructs of the alpha-CAT gene, we found that the basal expression and cell-specific induction of the alpha gene in ectopic and eutopic cells were dependent on the same 140 bp of alpha 5' flanking DNA. These 140 bp were sequenced and found to contain a 9-bp stretch of DNA homologous with the consensus viral enhancer sequence. Such features of alpha expression common to both ectopic and eutopic cells may be involved in the coordinate expression of the alpha gene and the tumorigenic phenotype observed in each cell type.

Glucocorticoid receptor binding and activation of a heterologous promoter by dexamethasone by the first intron of the human growth hormone gene

In this study DNA-binding and gene transfer experiments were performed to examine a potential glucocorticoid regulatory element (GRE) in the human growth hormone gene. As assayed by nitrocellulose filter binding, only two regions of the human growth hormone gene, the 5'-flanking sequences and a fragment containing part of the first intron, were retained preferentially by purified glucocorticoid-receptor complexes. The relative binding by the transcribed sequences was three times greater than the relative binding by the 5'-flanking sequences, but less than the relative binding by a fragment containing the human metallothionein-IIA gene GRE. The intron, but not the 5'-flanking sequences, generated a "footprint" when the receptor complex was used to protect the segments against exonuclease III digestion; the protected sequence spanned nucleotides +86 to +115 in the first intron and contained a structure homologous in 14 of 16 nucleotides to a 16-nucleotide consensus GRE. The hexanucleotide 5'-TGTCCT-3', thought to be important for GRE activity, not only was found in this sequence and in the 5'-flanking region, but also was present twice in the 3' end of the gene that did not show specific receptor binding. The latter results suggest that the hexanucleotide alone is not sufficient to generate specific receptor binding tight enough to be assayed in this way. To test the biological activity of the intron binding site, a fragment containing these sequences was fused 5' to the human metallothionein-IIA gene promoter depleted of its GRE and linked to the structural sequences of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene. When this hybrid gene was transfected into Rat 2 TK- cells, its expression was induced threefold by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, as assessed by transfection efficiency and RNA blotting analyses. Expression of the same gene without the human growth hormone gene segment was not affected by the steroid, whereas the wild-type human metallothionein-IIA gene promoter containing its GRE responded to the hormone by a sixfold increase in thymidine kinase mRNA. These results indicate that the human growth hormone gene contains a structure within its first intron that can function as a GRE.

Effects of dexamethasone on metallothionein induction by Zn, Cu, and Cd in Chang liver cells

Metallothioneins (MTs) were induced in Chang liver cells by the metals, Zn, Cu and Cd, and the glucocorticoid hormone, dexamethasone. When 116 microM Zn, 32 microM Cu and 18 microM Cd, and 10(-7) M dexamethasone, respectively, were administered for 9 h, MTs induced by each inducer in the cells reached maximum levels. The maximum accumulation of MT level induced by dexamethasone was the lowest of the four inducers investigated; the levels induced by Zn, Cu and Cd were 4.7, 1.2 and 1.5 times of that induced by dexamethasone. When dexamethasone was added to the cells together with the heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Cd), dexamethasone had an additive effect on the maximum MT accumulations induced by heavy metals as compared to when induction was conducted using one of heavy metals alone or by dexamethasone alone. However, dexamethasone did almost not effect the metal accumulations in the cells, although the maximum MT levels induced by heavy metal increased by dexamethasone. These results suggest that the process of MT induction by heavy metals and that by dexamethasone are independent of one another. When dexamethasone was added to the cells together with a high concentration of Cu (32 microM) induced the maximum MT accumulation, Cu transport into the cells decreased by 20-40% of that into non-treated cells, which was statistically significant.

Retroviral insertional mutagenesis in murine mammary cancer

We are attempting to identify cellular oncogenes activated in mammary tumours by using the mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV) as an insertional mutagen. MMTV, a retrovirus lacking a host cell-derived viral oncogene, induces adenocarcinomas of the mammary gland after a long latency period. The tumours are clonal outgrowths of cells carrying one or more integrated MMTV proviral copies. We have cloned an integrated MMTV provirus with its adjacent chromosomal DNA and we have established that the insertion site was part of a domain of the mouse genome in which MMTV proviruses are inserted in many different tumours. A gene within this domain, called int-1 is transcriptionally activated as a consequence of proviral integration. We have proposed that int-1 is a cellular oncogene for mammary tumours. Proviral activation of int-1 occurs in cis, over distances of up to 10 kilobases and is presumably caused by the transcriptional enhancer present on the MMTV long terminal repeat. The putative int-1 mammary oncogene has been subjected to a detailed structural analysis by S1 mapping and DNA sequencing. It encodes a protein that is highly conserved between mouse and man. The protein encoding domain of the gene is distributed over four exons which are demarcated by the insertion sites of MMTV proviruses found in mammary tumours. Some insertions, however, are found in the transcriptional unit of int-1, but these insertions do not disrupt the protein encoding domain of the gene.

Stabilization of a specific nuclear mRNA precursor by thyroid hormone

The regulation of a thyroid hormone-responsive gene in rats, designated spot 14, was explored. The expression of this gene in liver is rapidly (less than 10 min) and markedly (greater than 10-fold) altered by the administration of 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) to hypothyroid rats (P. Narayan, C. W. Liaw, and H. C. Towle, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:4687-4691, 1984). To investigate the cellular site at which T3 acts to induce this hepatic mRNA, we made parallel measurements of the relative levels of spot 14 mRNA and nuclear precursor RNA and of the rate of gene transcription after treatments designed to alter the thyroid status of rats. The relative levels of both the mRNA and nuclear precursor were elevated roughly 5- to 6-fold in euthyroid animals and 9- to 12-fold in hyperthyroid animals over those in hypothyroid controls. However, only a small difference of approximately 1.5-fold was detected in the rate of spot 14 gene transcription. After a single injection of T3 into hypothyroid animals, a small and transient rise in the transcription rate was detected at 30 min. However, the levels of spot 14 mRNA and nuclear precursor RNA increased much more dramatically throughout the first 4 h of treatment. In both cases, changes in the rate of gene transcription were not capable of accounting for the alterations observed in mRNA levels. Thus, the major site of spot 14 gene regulation by T3 is at a posttranscriptional level. The proportional changes observed in the nuclear precursor and mRNA levels suggest that the site of control is at the level of stability of the nuclear precursor RNA for spot 14 mRNA.

Upstream region of the SUC2 gene confers regulated expression to a heterologous gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The SUC2 gene produces two differently regulated mRNAs that encode two forms of invertase. The 1.9-kilobase mRNA encoding secreted invertase is regulated by glucose (carbon catabolite) repression, and the 1.8-kilobase mRNA encoding intracellular invertase is synthesized constitutively. Previous work has shown that the 5' noncoding region between -650 and -418 is required for derepression of secreted invertase in response to glucose deprivation. We show here that this upstream region can confer glucose-repressible expression to a heterologous gene, a LEU2-lacZ gene fusion, that is not normally regulated by glucose repression. This expression was found to respond appropriately to mutations in trans-acting genes that affect regulation of SUC2 expression. Mutations in the SNF1 through SNF6 loci reduced derepression of beta-galactosidase, and a mutation at the SSN6 locus caused constitutive expression. These findings indicate that the SUC2 upstream region mediates the regulatory effects of these genes and suggest that regulation occurs at the level of transcription. In addition, the upstream region was partially active in the inverted orientation.

Transient accumulation of c-fos RNA following serum stimulation requires a conserved 5' element and c-fos 3' sequences

Transcription of the c-fos gene is transiently activated to generate large amounts of unstable c-fos RNA when quiescent fibroblasts are stimulated by polypeptide mitogens or whole serum. A cloned human c-fos gene (c-fosH) transfected into mouse fibroblasts is regulated in a similar manner. An element essential for transcription activation is located between nucleotides -332 and -276 relative to the mRNA cap site. This element has properties similar to those of previously characterized transcription enhancer elements. However, replacement of the 5' activating element by enhancers from SV40 or Moloney murine leukemia virus does not allow regulated c-fosH expression. The study of fusion genes showed that in addition to the 5' activating element, transient accumulation of c-fosH RNA following serum stimulation requires sequences at the 3' end of the c-fosH gene.

Building a metal-responsive promoter with synthetic regulatory elements

A fusion gene consisting of the promoter region from the mouse metallothionein-I gene joined to the coding region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene is efficiently regulated by zinc in a transient assay when transfected into baby hamster kidney cells. Analysis of similar plasmids in which the metallothionein-I promoter region was mutated indicated the presence of multiple metal regulatory elements (MREs) between -176 and -44 base pairs from the cap site. To further investigate the function of MREs, we inserted a synthetic DNA fragment containing the sequence of MRE-a (the element between -55 and -44 base pairs) into the nonresponsive promoter of the thymidine kinase gene in various positions and configurations. Little or no induction by zinc was observed with single insertions of the regulatory sequence, whereas many different constructions having two copies of MRE-a were inducible. The precise position of the two MREs relative to each other or to the thymidine kinase promoter elements had a relatively small effect on the efficiency of induction, but the inducibility could be further increased by the introduction of more MRE-a sequences. MRE-a can function synergistically with the thymidine kinase distal promoter elements, but in the presence of the TATA box alone it functions as a positive, zinc-dependent promoter element.

Phorbol ester inhibition of hormonal induction of tyrosine aminotransferase

The liver specific enzyme, tyrosine aminotransferase, can be induced by glucocorticoids, cAMP analogs, or insulin. Each of these different inducing agents is believed to act through a separate pathway. The tumor promoting phorbol esters have been reported to stimulate phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and thereby decrease the ability of insulin to induce tyrosine aminotransferase. Our results demonstrate that TPA will not only inhibit the insulin stimulated increase in tyrosine aminotransferase, but will also inhibit induction of the enzyme by glucocorticoids or by cAMP.

Hormonally mediated negative regulation of human pro-opiomelanocortin gene expression after transfection into mouse L cells

We report results indicating that expression and hormonally controlled negative regulation of the human pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene in mouse fibroblasts can be accomplished by the placement nearby of a simian virus 40 enhancer sequence. Expression resulting from correctly initiated transcription required the enhancer in cis both in cells stably transfected with the POMC gene and in a transient expression assay with constructs that fused that POMC promoter region to the protein-coding region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) gene. Negative regulation of POMC transcription by glucocorticoids was demonstrated in transiently infected cells by assaying for TK activity encoded by the POMC-TK fusion constructs and by quantitative S1 nuclease mapping. The sequences responsible for such regulation were shown to be contained within a DNA segment that extends 670 base pairs upstream from the cap site for POMC mRNA.

Glucocorticoid regulation of mouse mammary tumor virus sequences in transgenic mice

We have introduced a chimeric plasmid, pLTR2TK, containing the mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV) long terminal repeat (LTR) linked to the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene into the mouse germ line by microinjection. In one mouse line, the thymidine kinase gene is appropriately expressed in the lactating mammary glands of heterozygous females; expression also occurs in the ovaries of these mice. In heterozygous males of this line, and in a male derived from another microinjection, transcription of these new germ line genes occurs in the testes and is specifically stimulated by glucocorticoid hormones. Thus, the MTV LTR may contain elements that allow its expression both in lactating mammary glands and in testicular tissue.

Two distinct transcription factors bind to the HSV thymidine kinase promoter in vitro

We have characterized an in vitro transcription system derived from uninfected HeLa cells that accurately initiates RNA synthesis at the herpes virus thymidine kinase (TK) promoter. Analysis of linker-scanning, single-site, and promoter-inversion mutants reveals that the TK upstream elements previously mapped in vivo are accurately recognized in vitro. A protein fraction required for TK transcription in reconstitution experiments was found to contain multiple protein species that bind specifically to the TK promoter. DNAase I footprint experiments with wild-type and mutant promoters reveal that the TK upstream elements contain three distinctive protein binding sites, two of which appear to be recognized by the Sp1 transcription factor and one which interacts with a cellular protein that binds to "CCAAT" sequences. Optimal expression of the thymidine kinase gene appears to require the coordinate interaction of these two types of transcription factors with the three upstream elements of the promoter.

Differential transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells by v-mos: sequential expression of transformation parameters

Extremely small quantities of the product of the transforming gene v-mos of Moloney murine sarcoma virus are able to efficiently transform cells. Recent data indicate the existence of a threshold level for v-mos transformation of NIH3T3 cells. Using mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat sequences or hybrid promoters consisting of mouse mammary tumor virus and Moloney murine sarcoma virus long terminal repeat elements to express v-mos in C3H10T1/2 cells, we established cell lines representing different stages of morphological transformation in vitro. The threshold level for v-mos transformation was considerably lower than that for NIH3T3 cells, because no treatment with dexamethasone or primary selection other than transformation was necessary during standard transfection procedures. Using the cell lines mentioned we established an association of the level of v-mos expression with the transformation parameters examined, but not with p53 levels. Furthermore, the characterization of the different promoters showed (i) that the distal binding site confers hormone responsiveness to Moloney murine sarcoma virus promoter elements and (ii) that artifactual transcription initiation sites can be detected in mouse mammary tumor virus-Moloney murine sarcoma virus hybrid promoters which are, however, not regulated by the hormone.

Control of adenovirus late promoter expression in two human cell lines

We investigated the nucleotide sequence requirements of the adenovirus 2 late promoter when activated by either a trans-acting regulatory protein or a cis-acting enhancer element. Using deletion mutants in transient expression assays, we determined that the 5' limit of the region required for activation by a trans-acting regulatory protein, the adenovirus early region 1a gene product, and the simian virus 40 enhancer is the same in both 293 and HeLa cells. Surprisingly, the 3' limit of required sequences varied, depending on the mechanism of activation. Activation mediated by the early region 1a protein endogenous in 293 cells or produced after cotransfection of HeLa cells requires the region around the transcriptional start site, whereas activation brought about by an enhancer element in HeLa cells has no requirement for these sequences. Under no conditions tested did the simian virus 40 enhancer activate the late promoter in 293 cells, even when sequences sufficient for enhancer-mediated activation in HeLa cells, but not for early region 1a activation, were present. These results suggest the existence of at least two different mechanisms for positive regulation of promoter activity.

Control of eukaryotic messenger RNA synthesis by sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins

The enzymatic machinery that carries out RNA synthesis provides the cell with the means to adjust the patterns of transcription in response to environmental and developmental signals. In eukaryotes, this regulation is mediated in part by promoter-specific transcription factors, which are DNA-binding proteins with the ability to discriminate between distinctive DNA sequence elements found in the promoter regions of different genes. The presence of these factors bound to DNA enables other components of the transcriptional machinery, including the RNA polymerase, to initiate transcription with selectivity and accuracy.

Analysis of an activatable promoter: sequences in the simian virus 40 late promoter required for T-antigen-mediated trans activation

The late promoter of simian virus 40 (SV40) is activated in trans by the viral early gene product, T antigen. We inserted the wild-type late-promoter region, and deletion mutants of it, into chloramphenicol acetyltransferase transient expression vectors to identify promoter sequences which are active in the presence of T antigen. We defined two promoter activities. One activity was mediated by a promoter element within simian virus 40 nucleotides 200 to 270. The activity of this element was detectable only in the presence of an intact, functioning origin of replication and accounted for 25 to 35% of the wild-type late-promoter activity in the presence of T antigen. The other activity was mediated by an element located within a 33-base-pair sequence (simian virus nucleotides 168 to 200) which spans the junction of the 72-base-pair repeats. This element functioned in the absence of both the origin of replication and the T-antigen-binding sites and appeared to be responsible for trans-activated gene expression. When inserted into an essentially promoterless plasmid, the 33-base-pair element functioned in an orientation-dependent manner. Under wild-type conditions in the presence of T antigen, the activity of this element accounted for 65 to 75% of the late-promoter activity. The roles of the 33-base-pair element and T antigen in trans-activation are discussed.

Suppressors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae his3 promoter mutations lacking the upstream element

Transcription of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae his3 gene requires an upstream promoter element and a TATA element. A strain containing his3-delta 13, an allele which deletes the upstream promoter element but contains the TATA box and intact structural gene, fails to express the gene and consequently is unable to grow in medium lacking histidine. In this paper we characterize His+ revertants of his3-delta 13 which are due to unlinked suppressor mutations. Recessive suppressors in three different ope genes allow his3-delta 13 to be expressed at wild-type levels. In all cases, the suppression is due to increased his3 transcription. However, unlike the wild-type his3 gene, whose transcripts are initiated about equally from two different sites (+1 and +12), transcription due to the ope mutations is initiated only from the +12 site, ope-mediated transcription is regulated in a novel manner; it is observed in minimal medium, but not in rich broth. Although ope mutations restore wild-type levels of transcription, his3 chromatin structure, as assayed by micrococcal nuclease sensitivity of the TATA box, resembles that found in the his3-delta 13 parent rather than in the wild-type strain. This provides further evidence that TATA box sensitivity is not correlated with transcriptional activation. ope mutations are pleiotropic in that cells have a crunchy colony morphology and lyse at 37 degrees C in conditions of normal osmolarity. ope mutations are allele specific because they fail to suppress five other his3 promoter mutations. We discuss implications concerning upstream promoter elements and propose some models for ope suppression.

Modulation of DNA binding of glucocorticoid receptor by aurintricarboxylic acid

Effects of aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) were examined on the DNA binding properties of rat liver glucocorticoid-receptor complex. The DNA-cellulose binding capacity of the glucocorticoid-receptor complex was completely abolished by a pretreatment of receptor preparation with 0.1-0.5 mM ATA at 4 degrees C. The half-maximal inhibition (i.d.50) in the DNA binding of [3H]triamcinolone acetonide-receptor complex [( 3H]TARc) was observed at 130- and 40 microM ATA depending upon whether the inhibitor was added prior to or following the receptor activation. The entire DNA-cellulose bound [3H]TARc could be extracted in a concentration-dependent manner by incubation with 2-100 microns ATA. The [3H]TARc remained intact under the above conditions, the receptor in both control and ATA-treated preparations sedimented in the same region in salt-containing 5-20% sucrose gradients. The action of ATA appeared to be on the receptor and not on DNA-cellulose. The DNA-binding capacity of ATA-treated receptor preparations could be recovered upon exhaustive dialysis. The treatment with ATA did not appear to change the ionic behavior of heat activated GRc; the receptor in both control and the ATA-treated preparations showed similar elution profiles. Therefore, ATA appears to alter the binding to and dissociation of glucocorticoid-receptor complex from DNA. The use of ATA should offer a good chemical probe for analysis of the DNA binding domain(s) of the glucocorticoid receptor.

Alterations in chromatin structure associated with glucocorticoid-induced expression of endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus genes

Alterations in the chromatin structure of endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus genes accompany glucocorticoid induction of viral RNA synthesis in the C57BL/6 T lymphoma cell line T1M1. These alterations are defined by the appearance of sites of DNase I hypersensitivity within proviral DNA in isolated nuclei, as well as by changes in the moderate nuclease sensitivity of entire proviral transcription units. Induced hypersensitive sites, termed type I, appear with a time course comparable to that required for induction of the rate of viral RNA synthesis and are maintained only in the continuous presence of hormone. Two such sites map to analogous positions in the 5' and 3' long terminal repeats of proviral DNA within, or very near, sequences that have been shown to comprise positions of specific binding of the glucocorticoid receptor in vitro and that are required for hormone-inducible transcription in vivo. A third type I site maps to another position of in vitro receptor binding near the 3' long terminal repeat. Some sites of DNase I hypersensitivity, termed type II, appear not to be markedly hormone dependent; two such sites are present in corresponding positions in each long terminal repeat. Comparison of the moderate DNase I sensitivity of mouse mammary tumor virus proviral DNA suggests that the three different endogenous units in T1M1 cells can be maintained in distinct chromatin conformations that are determined by factors related to the site of provirus insertion. It seems possible that altered chromatin conformations may reflect, or actually encode, important mechanistic features of these hormone-responsive genes.

The positive transcription factor of the 5S RNA gene induces a 5S DNA-specific gyration in Xenopus oocyte extracts

We report that TFIIIA, the positive transcription factor of the 5S RNA gene, induces DNA gyration in Xenopus oocyte extracts. The reaction uses one molecule of TFIIIA per molecule of DNA and is highly specific for 5S DNA plasmids. DNA gyration also requires the oocyte supernatant, ATP, and Mg2+, and is inhibited by novobiocin, suggesting that it is catalyzed by a type II DNA topoisomerase. The chromatin assembled with TFIIIA is dynamic and rapidly relaxed by novobiocin; the chromatin assembled without TFIIIA is static and unaffected by novobiocin. The torsionally strained DNA is produced in a novel concerted reaction: all of the 5S DNA molecules gyrate at TFIIIA-5S DNA ratios equal to or above 1, and none of them gyrate at TFIIIA-5S DNA ratios below 1. We discuss the biological implications of this eukaryotic DNA gyration.

The location of cis-acting regulatory sequences in the human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV) long terminal repeat

The location of cis-acting regulatory sequences within the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV) was determined. An enhancer element capable of increasing the rate of transcription from a heterologous promoter, irrespective of distance and orientation, is located between nucleotides -137 and -17 (cap site +1). The promoter sequences present near the TATA box respond to heterologous enhancers. The sequences present between nucleotides -17 and +80 are responsive to HTLV-III-associated trans-acting regulatory factors. Activation of these sequences by the viral regulatory factors requires the presence of a functional enhancer. The enhancer requirement is nonspecific, as the enhancer sequences of RSV, HTLV-I, and SV40 can functionally replace the HTLV-III enhancer. These findings define a new type of regulatory element, provide insight into the mechanisms that regulate HTLV-III gene expression, and may help to explain the effects of this virus on infected cells.

Building a metal-responsive promoter with synthetic regulatory elements

A fusion gene consisting of the promoter region from the mouse metallothionein-I gene joined to the coding region of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene is efficiently regulated by zinc in a transient assay when transfected into baby hamster kidney cells. Analysis of similar plasmids in which the metallothionein-I promoter region was mutated indicated the presence of multiple metal regulatory elements (MREs) between -176 and -44 base pairs from the cap site. To further investigate the function of MREs, we inserted a synthetic DNA fragment containing the sequence of MRE-a (the element between -55 and -44 base pairs) into the nonresponsive promoter of the thymidine kinase gene in various positions and configurations. Little or no induction by zinc was observed with single insertions of the regulatory sequence, whereas many different constructions having two copies of MRE-a were inducible. The precise position of the two MREs relative to each other or to the thymidine kinase promoter elements had a relatively small effect on the efficiency of induction, but the inducibility could be further increased by the introduction of more MRE-a sequences. MRE-a can function synergistically with the thymidine kinase distal promoter elements, but in the presence of the TATA box alone it functions as a positive, zinc-dependent promoter element.

Binding of the glucocorticoid receptor complex to the nucleosomal core in the P1798 mouse lymphosarcoma

Binding of the glucocorticoid receptor complex to nucleosomes has been studied using the mouse P1798 lymphosarcoma. Cells were incubated with [3H]triamcinolone acetonide (TA), and nuclei prepared and digested with 3 different concentrations of micrococcal nuclease. After fractionation with EDTA and NaCl, it was observed that [3H]TA bound with similar specific radioactivity to mononucleosomes containing both core and linker DNA, of 183 +/- 5, and 168 +/- 4 base pair lengths, respectively, as well as to core size DNA, of 148 +/- 3 base pair length, suggesting that the glucocorticoid receptor bound to the core portion of the nucleosome. Steroid binding was found to be associated with regions of the nucleosome that were depleted in histone H1 and enriched in high mobility group (HMG) proteins 1 and 2; only negligible binding was noted in nucleosomes enriched in histone H1 and depleted in HMG proteins. In addition to binding to core nucleosomes, the glucocorticoid receptor complex was also shown to bind to a fraction sedimenting at 5-6 S on sucrose gradients characterized by subnucleosome and mononucleosome size DNA, as well as by core histones. While binding of the steroid receptor complex to linker regions of the nucleosome cannot be ruled out, this data would appear to present the first concrete evidence that glucocorticoid binding, at least in the P1798 lymphosarcoma, is to core nucleosomes. Some caution in interpretation of the results is indicated, however, on 2 points: (1) receptor redistribution during nuclease digestion cannot be ruled out; (2) only the binding of a small proportion of the steroid receptor complex may be physiologically relevant.

Simian virus 40 enhancer increases number of RNA polymerase II molecules on linked DNA

Since the discovery of transcription enhancer sequences in the genomes of the DNA viruses simian virus 40(SV40) and polyoma virus, these elements have been shown to play an important part in the control of both viral and cellular gene expression. Enhancer elements act in cis to increase the amount of RNA produced from linked genes in a manner largely independent of distance and orientation. The mechanisms by which enhancers act are not understood; in particular, it is not known whether the enhancer-dependent increase in the level of stable RNA reflects an increase in the rate of transcription. To address this question, we have used an in vitro nuclear transcription assay to examine the effect of the SV40 enhancer on transcription of cloned human beta-globin genes transiently introduced into HeLa cells. We show here that the SV40 enhancer acts at least in part to increase the number of RNA polymerase II molecules transcribing the linked gene.

Alterations in chromatin structure associated with glucocorticoid-induced expression of endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus genes

Alterations in the chromatin structure of endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus genes accompany glucocorticoid induction of viral RNA synthesis in the C57BL/6 T lymphoma cell line T1M1. These alterations are defined by the appearance of sites of DNase I hypersensitivity within proviral DNA in isolated nuclei, as well as by changes in the moderate nuclease sensitivity of entire proviral transcription units. Induced hypersensitive sites, termed type I, appear with a time course comparable to that required for induction of the rate of viral RNA synthesis and are maintained only in the continuous presence of hormone. Two such sites map to analogous positions in the 5' and 3' long terminal repeats of proviral DNA within, or very near, sequences that have been shown to comprise positions of specific binding of the glucocorticoid receptor in vitro and that are required for hormone-inducible transcription in vivo. A third type I site maps to another position of in vitro receptor binding near the 3' long terminal repeat. Some sites of DNase I hypersensitivity, termed type II, appear not to be markedly hormone dependent; two such sites are present in corresponding positions in each long terminal repeat. Comparison of the moderate DNase I sensitivity of mouse mammary tumor virus proviral DNA suggests that the three different endogenous units in T1M1 cells can be maintained in distinct chromatin conformations that are determined by factors related to the site of provirus insertion. It seems possible that altered chromatin conformations may reflect, or actually encode, important mechanistic features of these hormone-responsive genes.

Sequence organization and molecular cloning of mouse mammary tumor virus DNA endogenous to C57BL/6 mice

The sequence organization of mouse mammary tumor virus DNA endogenous to the C57BL/6 inbred mouse strain was characterized by Southern blot analysis, utilizing probes specific for particular regions of the mouse mammary tumor virus provirus and by molecular cloning of endogenous mouse mammary tumor virus DNA. The genome of C57BL/6 mice contains three apparently intact, endogenous proviral units; two of these units comprise the Mtv-8 (unit II) and Mtv-9 (unit III) genetic loci that are also present in the DNA of BALB/c mice. The third unit is defined by EcoRI restriction fragments of 10.0 and 8.4 kilobases that contain the 5' and 3' portions of the provirus, respectively. This unit, termed unit XI and encoded by the genetic locus Mtv-17, has not been previously recognized in C57BL/6 DNA, but it can be clearly distinguished from the proviral units at Mtv-8 and Mtv-9 by Southern blot analysis under appropriate conditions. The proviral unit at Mtv-17 is not present in BALB/c DNA. DNAs comprising the entire Mtv-8 locus and the 3' portions of Mtv-9 and Mtv-17 were cloned. Analysis of the cloned DNA revealed no obvious deletions or rearrangements that would render proviral DNA defective; however, these endogenous genes are normally not transcriptionally active.

In vitro transcription with extracts of nuclei of Drosophila embryos

An in vitro transcription system has been developed from 0.3M NaCl extracts of nuclei of Drosophila embryos. Optimal transcription in the Drosophila embryo extract (DEX) was at 5mM MgCl2, 70mM KCl, 25 degrees C and with promoter concentrations of 0,75-1.0 pmol/assay. In vitro transcription from the Adenovirus-2 major late and the Drosophila histone gene promoters was studied in particular. S1-nuclease protection experiments showed that in vitro transcription from these promoters was accurate. In vitro transcription from the Adenovirus-2 major late promoter was less efficient than from histone gene H3 and H4 promoters in DEX. Vicecersa, in vitro transcription from Adenovirus-2 major late promoter was more efficient in HeLa whole cell extracts. The efficiencies of transcription from histone gene promoters decreased in DEX in the order H4 greater than or equal to H3 greater than H2a. Transcription from H2b and H1 promoters was not detected in DEX. The transcription from the Adenovirus-2 major late promoter was completely inhibited by histone H3 and H4 promoters. Preincubation of DEX with the adenoviral template, however, did not inhibit transcription from histone H3 and H4 promoters. The transcription start sites of histone genes H3 and H4 are separated by 160 base pairs. The H3 and H4 transcription start sites were subcloned separately. Now, a competition of transcription from the H3/H4 promoters with the Adenovirus-2 major late promoter was observed. The competition studies suggest that preincubation of DEX with the adenoviral template inhibited transcription from the H3 promoter more strongly than from the H4 promoter.