Structure of the genes encoding transcription factor IIB and TATA box-binding protein from Drosophila melanogaster

Screening and Structural Characterization of Heat Shock Response Elements (HSEs) in Entamoeba histolytica Promoters

Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) exhibits a remarkable capacity to respond to thermal shock stress through a sophisticated genetic regulation mechanism. This process is carried out via Heat Shock Response Elements (HSEs), which are recognized by Heat Shock Transcription Factors (EhHSTFs), enabling fine and precise control of gene expression. Our study focused on screening for HSEs in the promoters of the E. histolytica genome, specifically analyzing six HSEs, including Ehpgp5, EhrabB1, EhrabB4, EhrabB5, Ehmlbp, and Ehhsp100. We discovered 2578 HSEs, with 1412 in promoters of hypothetical genes and 1166 in coding genes. We observed that a single promoter could contain anywhere from one to five HSEs. Gene ontology analysis revealed the presence of HSEs in essential genes for the amoeba, including cysteine proteinases, ribosomal genes, Myb family DNA-binding proteins, and Rab GTPases, among others. Complementarily, our molecular docking analyses indicate that these HSEs are potentially recognized by EhHSTF5, EhHSTF6, and EhHSTF7 factors in their trimeric conformation. These findings suggest that E. histolytica has the capability to regulate a wide range of critical genes via HSE-EhHSTFs, not only for thermal stress response but also for vital functions of the parasite. This is the first comprehensive study of HSEs in the genome of E. histolytica, significantly contributing to the understanding of its genetic regulation and highlighting the complexity and precision of this mechanism in the parasite's survival.

Analysis of the chicken TBP-like protein(tlp) gene: evidence for a striking conservation of vertebrate TLPs and for a close relationship between vertebrate tbp and tlp genes

TLP (TBP-like protein), which is a new protein dis-covered by us, has a structure similar to that of the C-terminal conserved domain (CCD) of TBP, although its function has not yet been elucidated. We isolated cDNA and genomic DNA that encode chicken TLP (cTLP) and determined their structures. The predicted amino acid sequence of cTLP was 98 and 91% identical to that of its mammalian and Xenopus counterparts, respectively, and its translation product was ubiquitously observed in chicken tissues. FISH detection showed that chicken tlp and tbp genes were mapped at 3q2.6-2.8 and 3q2.4-2.6 of the same chromosome, respectively. Genome analysis revealed that the chicken tlp gene was spliced with five introns. Interestingly, the vertebrate tbp genes were also found to be split by five introns when we focused on the CCDs, and their splicing points were similar to those of tlp. On the contrary, another TBP-resembling gene of Drosophila, trf1, is split by only one intron, as is the Drosophila 's tbp gene. These results support our earlier assumption that vertebrate TLPs did not directly descend from Drosophila TRF1. On the basis of these results together with phylogenetical exam-ination, we speculate that tlp diverged from an ancestral tbp gene through a process of gene duplication and point mutations.

Isolation and characterization of the gene coding for Artemia franciscana TATA-binding protein: expression in cryptobiotic and developing embryos

Genomic and cDNA clones coding for the Artemia franciscana homolog of the TATA box-binding protein (TBP) were isolated. The C-terminal region of the predicted protein displays up to 92% sequence identity with the conserved C-terminal regions of TBPs from other species. The gene is divided in seven exons that expand over a region of 33 kb. The position of the four introns located in the conserved C-terminal region has been compared with those of other species. Two of these introns have been generally conserved during evolution, another is an arthropod specific intron, present in Drosophila melanogaster and A. franciscana, and the other is only conserved between vertebrates and A. franciscana. Primer extension experiments detected several transcription initiation sites. Northern blot analyses showed the presence of four mRNAs of estimated sizes of 6.8, 2.6, 1.6 and 1.1 kb. Except for the low expression of the 6.8 and 2. 6 kb RNAs in encysted embryos, steady-state levels showed little variation during the activation of the encysted embryo and the first steps of embryonic and larval development. The amount of TBP protein expressed in encysted embryos and developing larvae has been analyzed by Western blot. Cryptobiotic embryos contain significant amounts of TBP although the level of expression increased almost twice during the first 20 h of development. The presence of TBP protein in cryptobiotic embryos suggests that TBP does not play, by itself, a critical role in the arrest of transcription characteristic of these resistance forms.

Promoter structure and transcriptional activation with chromatin templates assembled in vitro. A single Gal4-VP16 dimer binds to chromatin or to DNA with comparable affinity

To gain a better understanding of the role of chromatin in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, we examined the relation between promoter structure and the ability of Gal4-VP16 to function with chromatin templates assembled in vitro. First, to investigate whether there are synergistic interactions among multiple bound factors, we studied promoter constructions containing one or five Gal4 sites and found that a single recognition site is sufficient for Gal4-VP16 to bind to chromatin, to induce nucleosome rearrangement, and to activate transcription. Notably, we observed that Gal4-VP16 binds to a single site in chromatin with affinity comparable with that which it binds to naked DNA, even in the absence of ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling activity. Second, to explore the relation between translational nucleosome positioning and transcriptional activation, we analyzed a series of promoter constructions in which nucleosomes were positioned by Gal4-VP16 at different locations relative to the RNA start site. These experiments revealed that the positioning of a nucleosome over the RNA start site is not an absolute barrier to transcriptional activation. Third, to determine the contribution of core promoter elements to transcriptional activation with chromatin templates, we tested the ability of Gal4-VP16 to activate transcription with TATA box- versus DPE-driven core promoters and found that the TATA box is not required to achieve transcriptional activation by Gal4-VP16 with chromatin templates. These results suggest that a single protomer of a strong activator is able to bind to chromatin, to induce nucleosome remodeling, and to activate transcription in conjunction with a broad range of chromatin structures and core promoter elements.

Biochemical and genetic characterization of the dominant positive element driving transcription ofthe yeast TBP-encoding gene, SPT15

We previously demonstrated that a combination of both positive and negative cis -acting upstream elements control the transcription of the gene encoding TBP ( SPT15 ) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . One of these elements found in that study, resident between 5' flanking sequences -147 and -128 , and termed PED (for positive element distal), was found to play an essential positive role in driving transcription of the gene encoding TBP. In this report, we map at nucleotide-level resolution, the critical residues which comprise PED, purify and sequence the protein that binds to it and determine that this PED binding factor is Abf1p, an abundant yeast protein previously broadly implicated in both gene regulation and DNA replication. In the case of the TBP-encoding gene, however, Abf1p works through the PED element which is a non-consensus binding site. Based upon the work of others, the PED-variant ABF1 site would be predicted to be a very poor binding site for this factor yet Abf1p binds PED and a consensus ABF1 site with comparable affinity. These results are discussed in light of the broader context of Abf1p-mediated gene regulation.

Autoregulation of eukaryotic transcription factors

The structures of several promoters regulating the expression of eukaryotic transcription factors have in recent years been examined. In many cases there is good evidence for autoregulation, in which a given factor binds to its own promoter and either activates or represses transcription. Autoregulation occurs in all eukaryotes and is an important component in controlling expression of basal, cell cycle specific, inducible response and cell type-specific factors. The basal factors are autoregulatory, being strictly necessary for their own expression, and as such must be epigenetically inherited. Autoregulation of stimulus response factors typically serves to amplify cellular signals transiently and also to attenuate the response whether or not a given inducer remains. Cell cycle-specific transcription factors are positively and negatively autoregulatory, but this frequently depends on interlocking circuits among family members. Autoregulation of cell type-specific factors results in a form of cellular memory that can contribute, or define, a determined state. Autoregulation of transcription factors provides a simple circuitry, useful in many cellular circumstances, that does not require the involvement of additional factors, which, in turn, would need to be subject to another hierarchy of regulation. Autoregulation additionally can provide a direct means to sense and control the cellular conce]ntration of a given factor. However, autoregulatory loops are often dependent on cellular pathways that create the circumstances under which autoregulation occurs.

Transcription of DmRP140, the gene coding for the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II

To analyze transcriptional control regions of Drosophila melanogaster housekeeping genes, we have characterized the promoter of the gene coding for the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (DmRP140). Upstream of DmRP140 the genomic region harbors a gene which is transcribed in the opposite direction (DmRP140up). By determination of the transcription start sites of both genes we found a short non-transcribed intergenic region of 220 bp. Functional analysis of various promoter reportergene constructs by transient transfection of cultured cells revealed that sequences important for transcription of DmRP140 are located in the untranslated leader of the upstream gene. The onset of DmRP140 transcription during embryonic development was studied in transgenic flies using beta-galactosidase as reportergene. To distinguish between the maternally provided DmRP140 transcripts and the embryonically transcribed RNA the offspring of nontransformed females and male transformants was examined. The development of a sensitive detection assay based on a chemiluminescent substrate for beta-galactosidase allowed us to determine the onset of DmRP140 transcription to between 8-10 h after oviposition. Thus, DmRP140 transcription does not start following the transcriptional transition period between 2-3 h of development but occurs much later in embryogenesis coinciding with decreasing DNA synthesis and cell division rates.