Specific enzyme production in eukaryotic cells

In vivo analysis of the model tyrosine aminotransferase gene reveals multiple sequential steps in glucocorticoid receptor action

We are studying the mechanisms of transcriptional activation by nuclear receptors and we focus our studies on the glucocorticoid regulation of the model tyrosine aminotransferase gene. Rather than using in vitro biochemical approaches, we determine the actual events occurring in the cells. Our experimental approaches include genomic footprinting, chromatin immunoprecipitation, in situ hybridization and transgenic mice. Our results show that the glucocorticoid receptor uses a dynamic multistep mechanism to recruit successively accessory DNA binding proteins that assist in the activation process. Chromatin is first remodelled, DNA is then demethylated, and the synthesis of an accessory factor is induced. Efficient transcription induction is finally achieved upon the formation of a 'stable' multiprotein complex interacting with the regulatory element. We discuss: the relative contribution of histone acetyltransferases and ATP-dependent remodelling machines to the chromatin remodelling event; the nature of the remodelled state; the contribution of regulated DNA demethylation to gene memory during development; the mechanisms of regulated DNA demethylation; the dynamics of protein recruitment at regulatory elements; the control of the frequency of transcription pulses and the control levels of the cell-type specificity of the glucocorticoid response.

Properties of growth-related acetylcholinesterase in a cell line of fibroblastic origin

We have previously reported the presence and regulation of an acetylcholine-hydrolyzing enzyme in high density suspension cultures of WRL-10A fibroblasts where its activity increases 100-fold when growth is arrested. Substrate specificity, substrate inhibition, and product identification studies indicate that this enzyme is acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7). Treatment of whole cells with 5 mM diazotized sulfanilic acid revealed that most of the AChE is located on the external surface of the cell membrane. It was also found that the enzyme is released in the medium at a rate of 0.5 U/h/mg cell protein and that within a 24-h period the de novo synthesized and liberated AChE is equivalent to 90% of the activity associated with the cells. No similar synthesis of AChE was found in six order fibroblastic cell lines examined. These and related findings indicating that acetylcholine is also present in high density populations of WRL-10A cells suggest that this unique phenotype may be used profitably in exploring further the relationship between components of the cholinergic system and non-neuronal cell growth.

Induction of aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase and tyrosine aminotransferase in hepatoma cells in culture

In the Reuber (H35) hepatoma cell strain, microsomal aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase is induced 25-fold by the polycyclic hydrocarbon benz[a]anthracene but is not induced by the steroid hormone dexamethasone. Soluble tyrosine aminotransferase is induced sixfold by dexamethasone and twofold by benz[a]anthracene. Each enzyme requires similar inducer concentrations for induction, and their induction kinetics are similar. The induction of each enzyme requires RNA and protein synthesis; in each case the transcriptional and translational steps can occur independently. The two induction systems are differentially sensitive to inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis. Simultaneous exposure to both inducers produces increases in both enzyme activities that are greater than those produced by either inducer alone. Each inducer acts at a pretranslational level to produce this synergistic effect. The results suggest that the requirements for macromolecular synthesis are similar for the induction of each enzyme, but that the turnover of enzyme-specific macromolecules may differ for each.

Synthesis of inducible tyrosine aminotransferase in a cell-free extract from cultured hepatoma cells

A cell-free extract from cultured rat hepatoma cells is described that incorporates amino acids into chains of tyrosine aminotransferase that are identical, by several criteria, with tyrosine aminotransferase from rat liver. Extracts from steroid-induced cells are 6-to 10-times more active for tyrosine aminotransferase synthesis than extracts from uninduced cells, although the total incorporation rates are identical.