Characterization of the promoter elements required for hepatic and intestinal transcription of the human apoB gene: definition of the DNA-binding site of a tissue-specific transcriptional factor

Mechanism of a transcriptional cross talk between transforming growth factor-beta-regulated Smad3 and Smad4 proteins and orphan nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor-4

We have shown previously that the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta)-regulated Sma-Mad (Smad) protein 3 and Smad4 proteins transactivate the apolipoprotein C-III promoter in hepatic cells via a hormone response element that binds the nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4). In the present study, we show that Smad3 and Smad4 but not Smad2 physically interact with HNF-4 via their Mad homology 1 domains both in vitro and in vivo. The synergistic transactivation of target promoters by Smads and HNF-4 was shown to depend on the specific promoter context and did not require an intact beta-hairpin/DNA binding domain of the Smads. Using glutathione S-transferase interaction assays, we established that two regions of HNF-4, the N-terminal activation function 1 (AF-1) domain (aa 1-24) and the C-terminal F domain (aa 388-455) can mediate physical Smad3/HNF-4 interactions in vitro. In vivo, Smad3 and Smad4 proteins enhanced the transactivation function of various GAL4-HNF-4 fusion proteins via the AF-1 and the adjacent DNA binding domain, whereas a single tyrosine to alanine substitution in AF-1 abolished coactivation by Smads. The findings suggest that the transcriptional cross talk between the TGFbeta-regulated Smads and HNF-4 is mediated by specific functional domains in the two types of transcription factors. Furthermore, the specificity of this interaction for certain target promoters may play an important role in various hepatocyte functions, which are regulated by TGFbeta and the Smads.

Position-independent transgene expression mediated by boundary elements from the apolipoprotein B chromatin domain

The human apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene resides within a 47.5-kb chromatin domain that is flanked by sequences that bind to the nuclear matrix. These matrix attachment regions (MARs) are boundaries between nuclease-sensitive and -resistant chromatin. As domain boundaries are thought to function as insulator elements, shielding sequences between them from effects of neighboring chromatin, this raised the possibility that the apoB MARs have functions that could be assayed by transfection. To test this possibility, we examined effects of the apoB MARs on transgene expression in transiently and stably transfected rat and human hepatoma cells. The apoB MARs had no effects on expression of transiently transfected reporters, but they altered expression of stably integrated transgenes in dramatic and reproducible ways. Single integrated copies of transgenes that contained the apoB promoter and second intron enhancer, which are sufficient for high-level expression in transient assays, were expressed at low and variable levels in stable transfectant clones. In contrast, transgenes containing the apoB 5' and 3' MARs were expressed at levels nearly 200-fold higher than levels of the minimal reporters in stable transfectants, and expression was position independent. Transgenes that contained the apoB MARs and an additional 3.3 kb of apoB 5' flanking sequence were also expressed in an elevated, position-independent manner. Surprisingly, tandem transgene arrays in multicopy transfectants were transcriptionally inactive. These observations suggest that the apoB MARs function as insulator elements, shielding transgene expression from effects of neighboring chromatin domains.

Sequences containing the second-intron enhancer are essential for transcription of the human apolipoprotein B gene in the livers of transgenic mice

To identify DNA sequence elements from the human apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene required for high-level, correct tissue-specific expression in transgenic mice, we made several constructs that included one or more of the key regulatory elements that were previously characterized with cultured liver-derived and intestine-derived cell lines. Our data show that the apoB promoter alone (-898 to +121) is not sufficient to direct transcription in transgenic mice. An enhancer located in the second intron is absolutely required to specify transcription by the homologous apoB promoter in the livers of transgenic mice; this enhancer does not direct transcription in the small intestines. Thus, the elements controlling transcriptional activation of the apoB gene in the liver and the intestine in vivo are distinct and separable. Analysis of the DNase I hypersensitivity of the integrated human transgenes in various lines of expressing and nonexpressing mice suggests that the formation of DH4, a strong hypersensitive site in intron 2, may be a prerequisite for hepatic expression of the apoB gene. Nuclear matrix association regions (MARs) of the apoB gene may play a role in transgene expression. Constructs including MAR sequences displayed higher levels of expression than those lacking them. However, these MARs did not completely insulate the associated transgenes from position effects.

Sequences containing the second-intron enhancer are essential for transcription of the human apolipoprotein B gene in the livers of transgenic mice

To identify DNA sequence elements from the human apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene required for high-level, correct tissue-specific expression in transgenic mice, we made several constructs that included one or more of the key regulatory elements that were previously characterized with cultured liver-derived and intestine-derived cell lines. Our data show that the apoB promoter alone (-898 to +121) is not sufficient to direct transcription in transgenic mice. An enhancer located in the second intron is absolutely required to specify transcription by the homologous apoB promoter in the livers of transgenic mice; this enhancer does not direct transcription in the small intestines. Thus, the elements controlling transcriptional activation of the apoB gene in the liver and the intestine in vivo are distinct and separable. Analysis of the DNase I hypersensitivity of the integrated human transgenes in various lines of expressing and nonexpressing mice suggests that the formation of DH4, a strong hypersensitive site in intron 2, may be a prerequisite for hepatic expression of the apoB gene. Nuclear matrix association regions (MARs) of the apoB gene may play a role in transgene expression. Constructs including MAR sequences displayed higher levels of expression than those lacking them. However, these MARs did not completely insulate the associated transgenes from position effects.

Increased expression of apolipoprotein genes accompanies differentiation in the intestinal cell line Caco-2

We have analyzed determinants of the synthesis and secretion of apolipoproteins including mRNA for apolipoproteins, in the human colon carcinoma cell line Caco-2 during differentiation in continuous culture. Significant increases in both cellular and secreted apolipoprotein A-I were observed early in the differentiation process. Increases in apolipoprotein B were limited to secreted protein and started later in the differentiation process. Levels of mRNA for apolipoproteins A-I, A-IV, B, C-III, and E increased significantly between the time cells reached confluence and 1 week postconfluence. The kinetics of mRNA accumulation were influenced by culture conditions. Nuclear extracts from postconfluent Caco-2 cells contained increased amounts of protein that bound to oligonucleotides containing the control regions of the apolipoprotein A-I and B genes. A competition experiment suggested that this protein recognized the control regions of both genes. We propose to name this protein DRIFT-1 (differentiation-related intestinal factor for transcription 1).

The mechanism by which the human apolipoprotein B gene reducer operates involves blocking of transcriptional activation by hepatocyte nuclear factor 3

Previously, we showed that when a DNA fragment extending from -3067 to -2734 of the human apolipoprotein B (apo-B) gene is inserted immediately upstream of an apo-B promoter segment (-139 to +121), transcription from this promoter is reduced by about 10-fold in cultured colon carcinoma cells (CaCo-2) but not in cultured hepatoma cells (HepG2). We postulated that this reducer operates by a mechanism involving active repression of a transcriptional activator that binds to the segment from -111 to -88 of the apo-B promoter (B. Paulweber and B. Levy-Wilson, J. Biol. Chem. 266:24161-24168 1991). In the current study, the reducer element has been localized to a 24-bp sequence from -2801 to -2778 of the apo-B gene that contains a binding site for the negative regulatory protein ARP-1. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 alpha (HNF-3 alpha) binds to the sequence 5'-TGTTTGCTTTTC-3' from -95 to -106 of the apo-B promoter, to stimulate transcription. Transcriptional activation by HNF-3 is repressed when the reducer sequence is inserted immediately upstream of the HNF-3 binding site, suggesting a mechanism by which the reducer-bound protein blocks the activation promoted by HNF-3. Data from cotransfection experiments in which ARP-1 is overexpressed in the absence of its binding site suggest that ARP-1 interacts either directly or via a mediator protein with proteins recognizing the HNF-3 site and that this interaction is sufficient to repress transcriptional activation by HNF-3. Because transcriptional activation by Sp1 is not affected by the reducer, it is unlikely that the reducer interacts directly with basic components of the transcriptional machinery.

The mechanism by which the human apolipoprotein B gene reducer operates involves blocking of transcriptional activation by hepatocyte nuclear factor 3

Previously, we showed that when a DNA fragment extending from -3067 to -2734 of the human apolipoprotein B (apo-B) gene is inserted immediately upstream of an apo-B promoter segment (-139 to +121), transcription from this promoter is reduced by about 10-fold in cultured colon carcinoma cells (CaCo-2) but not in cultured hepatoma cells (HepG2). We postulated that this reducer operates by a mechanism involving active repression of a transcriptional activator that binds to the segment from -111 to -88 of the apo-B promoter (B. Paulweber and B. Levy-Wilson, J. Biol. Chem. 266:24161-24168 1991). In the current study, the reducer element has been localized to a 24-bp sequence from -2801 to -2778 of the apo-B gene that contains a binding site for the negative regulatory protein ARP-1. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 alpha (HNF-3 alpha) binds to the sequence 5'-TGTTTGCTTTTC-3' from -95 to -106 of the apo-B promoter, to stimulate transcription. Transcriptional activation by HNF-3 is repressed when the reducer sequence is inserted immediately upstream of the HNF-3 binding site, suggesting a mechanism by which the reducer-bound protein blocks the activation promoted by HNF-3. Data from cotransfection experiments in which ARP-1 is overexpressed in the absence of its binding site suggest that ARP-1 interacts either directly or via a mediator protein with proteins recognizing the HNF-3 site and that this interaction is sufficient to repress transcriptional activation by HNF-3. Because transcriptional activation by Sp1 is not affected by the reducer, it is unlikely that the reducer interacts directly with basic components of the transcriptional machinery.

Transcriptional regulation of the apolipoprotein B100 gene: purification and characterization of trans-acting factor BRF-2

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB), the only protein of low-density lipoprotein, is produced primarily in the liver and serves as a ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Hepatic cell-specific expression of the human apoB gene is controlled by at least two cis-acting positive elements located between positions-128 and -70 (H. K. Das, T. Leff, and J.L. Breslow, J. Biol. Chem. 263:11452-11458, 1988). The distal element (-128 to -85) appears to be liver specific since it shows positive activity in HepG2 cells and negative activity in HeLa cells. The proximal element (-84 to -70) acts as a positive element in both these cell lines, and two rat liver nuclear proteins, BRF-1 and C/EBP, bind to two overlapping sites (-84 to -60 and -70 to -50, respectively). By gel mobility shift assay, we have identified a rat liver nuclear protein (BRF-2) which binds to the distal element (-128 to -85) of the apoB gene. This putative trans-acting factor has been purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose, heparin-agarose, and DNA-specific affinity chromatography. The purified BRF-2 has an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa and was found to specifically recognize sequence -128 to -85; BRF-2 also produced a strong hypersensitive site at nucleotide position -95 with copper-orthophenanthroline reagent. A double-stranded oligonucleotide (-128 to -85) containing a 3-nucleotide (TTC) insertion between position -95 and -94 was found to abolish DNA binding by BRF-2. This result suggests that the region surrounding the hypersensitive site -95 is important for protein-DNA interaction. By using apoB promoter fragments containing various internal deletions as templates for gel mobility shift assay, the region between -104 and -85 was identified to be crucial for binding by BRF-2. We propose that BRF-2 may play an important role in the tissue-specific regulation of apoB gene transcription.

Transcriptional regulation of the apolipoprotein B100 gene: purification and characterization of trans-acting factor BRF-2

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB), the only protein of low-density lipoprotein, is produced primarily in the liver and serves as a ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Hepatic cell-specific expression of the human apoB gene is controlled by at least two cis-acting positive elements located between positions-128 and -70 (H. K. Das, T. Leff, and J.L. Breslow, J. Biol. Chem. 263:11452-11458, 1988). The distal element (-128 to -85) appears to be liver specific since it shows positive activity in HepG2 cells and negative activity in HeLa cells. The proximal element (-84 to -70) acts as a positive element in both these cell lines, and two rat liver nuclear proteins, BRF-1 and C/EBP, bind to two overlapping sites (-84 to -60 and -70 to -50, respectively). By gel mobility shift assay, we have identified a rat liver nuclear protein (BRF-2) which binds to the distal element (-128 to -85) of the apoB gene. This putative trans-acting factor has been purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose, heparin-agarose, and DNA-specific affinity chromatography. The purified BRF-2 has an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa and was found to specifically recognize sequence -128 to -85; BRF-2 also produced a strong hypersensitive site at nucleotide position -95 with copper-orthophenanthroline reagent. A double-stranded oligonucleotide (-128 to -85) containing a 3-nucleotide (TTC) insertion between position -95 and -94 was found to abolish DNA binding by BRF-2. This result suggests that the region surrounding the hypersensitive site -95 is important for protein-DNA interaction. By using apoB promoter fragments containing various internal deletions as templates for gel mobility shift assay, the region between -104 and -85 was identified to be crucial for binding by BRF-2. We propose that BRF-2 may play an important role in the tissue-specific regulation of apoB gene transcription.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 and C/EBP are essential for the activity of the human apolipoprotein B gene second-intron enhancer

The tissue-specific transcriptional enhancer of the human apolipoprotein B gene contains multiple protein-binding sites spanning 718 bp. Most of the enhancer activity is found in a 443-bp fragment (+621 to +1064) that is located entirely within the second intron of the gene. Within this fragment, a 147-bp region (+806 to +952) containing a single 97-bp DNase I footprint exhibits significant enhancer activity. We now report that this footprint contains four distinct protein-binding sites that have the potential to bind nine distinct liver nuclear proteins. One of these proteins was identified as hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1), which binds with relatively low affinity to the 5' half of a 20-bp palindrome located at the 5' end of the large footprint. A binding site for C/EBP (or one of the related proteins that recognize similar sequences) was identified in the center of the 97-bp footprint. This binding site is coincident or overlaps with the binding sites for five other proteins, two of which appear to be distinct from the C/EBP-related family of proteins. The binding site for a nuclear factor designated protein I is located between the HNF-1 and C/EBP binding sites. Finally, the 3'-most 15 bp of the footprinted sequence contain a binding site for another nuclear protein, which we have called protein II. Mutations that abolish the binding of either HNF-1, protein II, or the C/EBP-related proteins severely reduce enhancer activity. However, deletion experiments demonstrated that neither the HNF-1-binding site alone, nor the combination of binding sites for HNF-1, protein I, and C/EBP, nor the C/EBP-binding site plus the protein II-binding site is sufficient to enhance transcription from a strong apolipoprotein B promoter. Rather, HNF-1 and C/EBP act synergistically with protein II to enhance transcription of the apolipoprotein B gene.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 and C/EBP are essential for the activity of the human apolipoprotein B gene second-intron enhancer

The tissue-specific transcriptional enhancer of the human apolipoprotein B gene contains multiple protein-binding sites spanning 718 bp. Most of the enhancer activity is found in a 443-bp fragment (+621 to +1064) that is located entirely within the second intron of the gene. Within this fragment, a 147-bp region (+806 to +952) containing a single 97-bp DNase I footprint exhibits significant enhancer activity. We now report that this footprint contains four distinct protein-binding sites that have the potential to bind nine distinct liver nuclear proteins. One of these proteins was identified as hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1), which binds with relatively low affinity to the 5' half of a 20-bp palindrome located at the 5' end of the large footprint. A binding site for C/EBP (or one of the related proteins that recognize similar sequences) was identified in the center of the 97-bp footprint. This binding site is coincident or overlaps with the binding sites for five other proteins, two of which appear to be distinct from the C/EBP-related family of proteins. The binding site for a nuclear factor designated protein I is located between the HNF-1 and C/EBP binding sites. Finally, the 3'-most 15 bp of the footprinted sequence contain a binding site for another nuclear protein, which we have called protein II. Mutations that abolish the binding of either HNF-1, protein II, or the C/EBP-related proteins severely reduce enhancer activity. However, deletion experiments demonstrated that neither the HNF-1-binding site alone, nor the combination of binding sites for HNF-1, protein I, and C/EBP, nor the C/EBP-binding site plus the protein II-binding site is sufficient to enhance transcription from a strong apolipoprotein B promoter. Rather, HNF-1 and C/EBP act synergistically with protein II to enhance transcription of the apolipoprotein B gene.

A retinoic acid response element is part of a pleiotropic domain in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene

Several hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and glucocorticoids, regulate the expression of the rate-limiting gluconeogenic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [GTP: oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase (transphosphorylating); EC 4.1.1.32; PEPCK] in liver. In this report we demonstrate that retinoic acid (RA) also regulates PEPCK expression by inducing a 3-fold increase in the rate of transcription of the PEPCK gene. A RA response element located between -468 and -431 in the PEPCK promoter mediates a 7-fold increase in expression of a chimeric construct containing the basal PEPCK promoter ligated to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. This element confers RA responsiveness through the heterologous thymidine kinase promoter and functions relatively independent of position and orientation. An 18-base-pair core sequence (-451 to -434) (i) mediates an effect of RA on PEPCK gene expression and contains motifs found in two other RA response elements; (ii) corresponds to AF1, an accessory factor element that is an integral component of the complex glucocorticoid response unit in the PEPCK gene promoter; (iii) is in a region involved in the developmental expression of the PEPCK gene; and (iv) shows homology to elements involved in the tissue-specific regulation of genes, including the hepatic apolipoprotein genes and the alpha 1-antitrypsin gene.

The transcription factor LF-A1 interacts with a bipartite recognition sequence in the promoter regions of several liver-specific genes

The transcription factors LF-A1 and LF-B1 are required for the cell-specific expression of the human alpha 1-antitrypsin gene in hepatocytes. We report here the purification and preliminary characterization of LF-A1. This protein, purified to homogeneity from calf liver nuclei by site-specific DNA affinity chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC, has a molecular mass of 40 kDa. Binding sites of LF-A1 are present in the promoter regions of several genes expressed in the liver (alpha 1-antitrypsin, apolipoproteins A1, B1, A4 and pyruvate kinase). Interestingly, the binding site of LF-A1 is bipartite and consists of two short sequence motifs (consensus: TGGACT/CT/C and TGGCCC) separated by a variable 'spacer' region. Insertion or deletion of 1-4 nucleotides in the 'spacer' region of the site in the alpha 1-antitrypsin promoter does not abolish DNA binding.