Transfected human beta-polymerase promoter contains a ras-responsive element

Upstream CREs participate in the basal activity of minute virus of mice promoter P4 and in its stimulation in ras-transformed cells

The activity of the P4 promoter of the parvovirus minute virus of mice (prototype strain MVMp) is stimulated in ras-transformed FREJ4 cells compared with the parental FR3T3 line. This activation may participate in the oncolytic effect of parvoviruses, given that P4 drives a transcriptional unit encoding cytotoxic nonstructural proteins. Our results suggest that the higher transcriptional activity of promoter P4 in FREJ4 cells is mediated at least in part by upstream CRE elements. Accordingly, mutations in the CRE motifs impair P4 function more strongly in the FREJ4 derivative than in its FR3T3 parent. Further evidence that these elements contribute to hyperactivity of the P4 promoter in the ras transformant is the fact that they form distinct complexes with proteins from FREJ4 and FR3T3 cell extracts. This difference can be abolished by treating the FREJ4 cell extracts with cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or treating original cultures with a PKA activator. These findings can be linked with two previously reported features of ras-transformed cells: the activation of a PKA-inhibited protein kinase cascade and the reduction of PKA-induced protein phosphorylation. In keeping with these facts, P4-directed gene expression can be up- or downmodulated in vivo by exposing cells to known inhibitors or activators of PKA, respectively.

Identification of a ras-activated enhancer in the mouse osteopontin promoter and its interaction with a putative ETS-related transcription factor whose activity correlates with the metastatic potential of the cell

The role of RAS in transducing signals from an activated receptor into altered gene expression is becoming clear, though some links in the chain are still missing. Cells possessing activated RAS express higher levels of osteopontin (OPN), an alpha v beta 3 integrin-binding secreted phosphoprotein implicated in a number of developmental, physiological, and pathological processes. We report that in T24 H-ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells enhanced transcription contributes to the increased expression of OPN. Transient transfection studies, DNA-protein binding assays, and methylation protection experiments have identified a novel ras-activated enhancer, distinct from known ras response elements, that appears responsible for part of the increase in OPN transcription in cells with an activated RAS. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, the protein-binding motif GGAGGCAGG was found to be essential for the formation of several complexes, one of which (complex A) was generated at elevated levels by cell lines that are metastatic. Southwestern blotting and UV light cross-linking studies indicated the presence of several proteins able to interact with this sequence. The proteins that form these complexes have molecular masses estimated at approximately 16, 28, 32, 45, 80, and 100 kDa. Because the approximately 16-kDa protein was responsible for complex A formation, we have designated it MATF for metastasis-associated transcription factor. The GGANNNAGG motif is also found in some other promoters, suggesting that they may be similarly controlled by MATF.

A novel mechanism of Ha-ras oncogene action: regulation of fibronectin mRNA levels by a nuclear posttranscriptional event

Although loss of cell surface fibronectin (FN) is a hallmark of many oncogenically transformed cells, the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain poorly understood. The present study utilized the nontumorigenic human osteosarcoma cell line TE-85 to investigate the effects of induced Ha-ras oncogene expression on FN biosynthesis. TE-85 cells were stably transfected with metallothionein-Ha-ras fusion genes, and the effects of metal-induced ras expression on FN biosynthesis were determined. Induction of the ras oncogene, but not proto-oncogene, was accompanied by a decrease in total FN mRNA and protein levels. Transfection experiments indicated that these oncogene effects were not due to reduced FN promoter activity, suggesting that a posttranscriptional mechanism was involved. The most common mechanism of posttranscriptional regulation affects cytoplasmic mRNA stability. However, in this study the down-regulation of FN was identified as a nuclear event. A component of the ras effect was due to a mechanism affecting accumulation of processed nuclear FN RNA. Mechanisms that would generate such an effect include altered RNA processing and altered stability of the processed message in the nucleus. There was no effect of ras on FN mRNA poly(A) tail length or site of polyadenylation. There was also no evidence for altered splicing at the ED-B domain of FN mRNA. This demonstration of nuclear posttranscriptional down-regulation of FN by the Ha-ras oncogene identifies a new level at which ras oncoproteins can regulate gene expression and thus contribute to development of the malignant phenotype.

A novel mechanism of Ha-ras oncogene action: regulation of fibronectin mRNA levels by a nuclear posttranscriptional event

Although loss of cell surface fibronectin (FN) is a hallmark of many oncogenically transformed cells, the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain poorly understood. The present study utilized the nontumorigenic human osteosarcoma cell line TE-85 to investigate the effects of induced Ha-ras oncogene expression on FN biosynthesis. TE-85 cells were stably transfected with metallothionein-Ha-ras fusion genes, and the effects of metal-induced ras expression on FN biosynthesis were determined. Induction of the ras oncogene, but not proto-oncogene, was accompanied by a decrease in total FN mRNA and protein levels. Transfection experiments indicated that these oncogene effects were not due to reduced FN promoter activity, suggesting that a posttranscriptional mechanism was involved. The most common mechanism of posttranscriptional regulation affects cytoplasmic mRNA stability. However, in this study the down-regulation of FN was identified as a nuclear event. A component of the ras effect was due to a mechanism affecting accumulation of processed nuclear FN RNA. Mechanisms that would generate such an effect include altered RNA processing and altered stability of the processed message in the nucleus. There was no effect of ras on FN mRNA poly(A) tail length or site of polyadenylation. There was also no evidence for altered splicing at the ED-B domain of FN mRNA. This demonstration of nuclear posttranscriptional down-regulation of FN by the Ha-ras oncogene identifies a new level at which ras oncoproteins can regulate gene expression and thus contribute to development of the malignant phenotype.

Activation of the mouse DNA polymerase beta gene promoter by adenovirus type 12 E1A proteins

A plasmid carrying the 5'-flanking region (-1852 to +33 with respect to the transcription initiation site) of the mouse DNA polymerase beta gene fused with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene was cotransfected into mouse N18TG2 cells with adenovirus type 12 E1 genes-expressing plasmids. Expression of E1A gene products resulted in the elevation of the CAT expression by 3 to 7 folds, but that of E1B gene product was much less effective. RNase protection analysis revealed that the activation by E1A was at the transcription process. Both the 13S E1A and the 12S E1A activated the DNA polymerase beta gene promoter, indicating that the activation domain of E1A is in a common region(s) of 13S and 12S E1A products. The major target sequence of E1A was mapped within the 10 base pair-region (-30 to -20) of the DNA polymerase beta gene promoter, which overlapped with the palindromic sequence known as the ATF(CREB)/E4F-binding consensus. The results suggest that the palindromic sequence is essential for E1A-induced transcriptional activation of the mouse DNA polymerase beta gene.

Ribozyme-mediated cleavage of c-fos mRNA reduces gene expression of DNA synthesis enzymes and metallothionein

The c-fos gene product Fos has been implicated in many cellular processes, including signal transduction, DNA synthesis, and resistance to antineoplastic agents. A fos ribozyme (catalytic RNA) was designed to evaluate the effects of suppressing Fos protein synthesis on expression of enzymes involved in DNA synthesis, DNA repair, and drug resistance. DNA encoding the fos ribozyme (fosRb) was cloned into the pMAMneo expression plasmid, and the resultant vector was transfected into A2780DDP cells resistant to the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. The parental drug-sensitive A2780S cells were transfected with the pMMV vector containing the c-fos gene. Morphological alterations were accompanied by significant changes in pharmacological sensitivity in both c-fos- and fosRb-transfected cells. pMAMneo fosRb transfectants revealed decreased c-fos gene expression, concomitant with reduced thymidylate (dTMP) synthase, DNA polymerase beta, topoisomerase I, and metallothionein IIA mRNAs. In contrast, c-myc expression was elevated after fos ribozyme action. Insertion of a mutant ribozyme, mainly capable of antisense activity, into A2780DDP cells resulted in smaller reductions in c-fos gene expression and in cisplatin resistance than the active ribozyme. These studies establish a role for c-fos in drug resistance and in mediating DNA synthesis and repair processes by modulating expression of genes such as dTMP synthase, DNA polymerase beta, and topoisomerase I. These studies also suggest the utility of ribozymes in the analysis of cellular gene expression.

Mammalian beta-polymerase promoter: phosphorylation of ATF/CRE-binding protein and regulation of DNA binding

The gene for the mammalian DNA repair enzyme DNA polymerase beta (beta-pol) is constitutively expressed in most cells, but is regulated in a tissue-specific fashion and can be induced in response to some types of DNA damaging agents. The promoter for the human beta-pol gene has been characterized and found to be TATA-less, but it does have multiple GC boxes and one ATF/CRE-binding site located within 50 residues 5' of the major mRNA start site. The ATF/CRE-binding site has been found to be essential for activity of the cloned promoter. We report that a bovine testes DNA-binding protein with specificity for the beta-pol promoter ATF/CRE-binding site is phosphorylated in vivo and contains several phosphorylation sites. Sequence specific DNA-binding by the purified protein is reduced when the natural protein is dephosphorylated or when it is hyperphosphorylated by protein kinase A (cKA) in vitro. These results suggest the possibility that phosphorylation systems may change binding of this ATF/CRE-binding protein to the beta-pol promoter and in turn modulate the promoter. Possible correlation of the results with transient expression activity of the cloned beta-pol promoter fusion gene was obtained in 293 cells. Cotransfection with a cKA expression plasmid to elevate phosphorylation was found to strongly reduce promoter activity.