c-jun inhibits transcriptional activation by the insulin enhancer, and the insulin control element is the target of control

Costus pictus D. Don leaf extract stimulates GLP-1 secretion from GLUTag L-cells and has cytoprotective effects in BRIN-BD11 β-cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Costus pictus D. Don, commonly known as insulin plant, is a traditional Indian antidiabetic herbal medicine with glucose-lowering and insulin secretory effects having been reported in animal models and humans with Type 2 diabetes. However, its effects on GLP-1 secretion from intestinal endocrine L-cells and potential metabolic and protective effects in insulin secreting pancreatic β-cells are not yet fully understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed to elucidate the effects of Costus pictus D. Don leaf extract (CPE) on L-cell function and GLP-1 secretion using the established murine GLUTag L-cell model and to investigate its potential cytoprotective effects against detrimental effects of palmitate and cytokines in pancreatic β-cells using BRIN-BD11 cells.

METHODS

Costus pictus D. Don dried leaf powder was extracted by soxhlet method. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Changes in gene and protein expression were quantified by qPCR and western blotting, respectively. GLP-1 and insulin secretion were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

CPE significantly enhanced the percentage of viable BRIN-BD11 and GLUTag cells and protected BRIN-BD11 cells against palmitate- and proinflammatory cytokine-induced toxicity. CPE enhanced acute GLP-1 secretion 6.4-16.3-fold from GLUTag cells at both low (1.1 mM) and high (16.7 mM) glucose (P < 0.01) concentrations. Antioxidant (Nrf2, Cat & Gpx1) and pro-proliferative (Erk1 and Jnk1) gene expression were upregulated by 24 h culture with CPE, while proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB was downregulated.

CONCLUSION

Diminished postprandial GLP-1 secretion and loss of insulin secreting β-cells are known contributors of T2DM. Our data suggests that CPE acutely stimulates GLP-1 secretion from L-cells. Long term exposure of the BRIN-BD11 cells to CPE enhances cell number and may protect against palmitate and proinflammatory cytokines by activating multiple pathways. Thus, the current study suggests that the possible antidiabetic properties of CPE may be linked to enhanced GLP-1 secretion and β-cell protection which could be beneficial in the management of T2DM.

Role of c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Obesity has been described as a global epidemic and is a low-grade chronic inflammatory disease that arises as a consequence of energy imbalance. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), by mechanisms that are not entirely clarified. Elevated circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and free fatty acids (FFA) during obesity cause insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction, the two main features of T2D, which are both aggravated with the progressive development of hyperglycemia. The inflammatory kinase c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) responds to various cellular stress signals activated by cytokines, free fatty acids and hyperglycemia, and is a key mediator in the transition between obesity and T2D. Specifically, JNK mediates both insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction, and is therefore a potential target for T2D therapy.

Glucose-Induced β-Cell Dysfunction In Vivo: Evidence for a Causal Role of C-jun N-terminal Kinase Pathway

Prolonged elevation of glucose can adversely affect β-cell function. Oxidative stress, which has been implicated in glucose-induced β-cell dysfunction, can activate c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). However, whether JNK is causal in glucose-induced β-cell dysfunction in vivo is unclear. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the causal role of JNK activation in in vivo models of glucose-induced β-cell dysfunction. Glucose-induced β-cell dysfunction was investigated in the presence or absence of JNK inhibition. JNK inhibition was achieved using either (i) the JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125 or (ii) JNK-1-null mice. (i) Rats or mice were infused intravenously with saline or glucose with or without SP600125. (ii) JNK-1 null mice and their littermate wild-type controls were infused intravenously with saline or glucose. Following the glucose infusion periods in rats and mice, β-cell function was assessed in isolated islets or in vivo using hyperglycemic clamps. Forty-eight-hour hyperglycemia at ~20 mM in rats or 96-hour hyperglycemia at ~13 mM in mice impaired β-cell function in isolated islets and in vivo. Inhibition of JNK using either SP600125 or JNK-1-null mice prevented glucose-induced β-cell dysfunction in isolated islets and in vivo. Islets of JNK-1-null mice exposed to hyperglycemia in vivo showed an increase in Pdx-1 and insulin 2 mRNA, whereas islets of wild-type mice did not. Together, these data show that JNK pathway is involved in glucose-induced β-cell dysfunction in vivo and is thus a potential therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes.

Role of pancreatic transcription factors in maintenance of mature β-cell function

A variety of pancreatic transcription factors including PDX-1 and MafA play crucial roles in the pancreas and function for the maintenance of mature β-cell function. However, when β-cells are chronically exposed to hyperglycemia, expression and/or activities of such transcription factors are reduced, which leads to deterioration of β-cell function. These phenomena are well known as β-cell glucose toxicity in practical medicine as well as in the islet biology research area. Here we describe the possible mechanism for β-cell glucose toxicity found in type 2 diabetes. It is likely that reduced expression levels of PDX-1 and MafA lead to suppression of insulin biosynthesis and secretion. In addition, expression levels of incretin receptors (GLP-1 and GIP receptors) in β-cells are decreased, which likely contributes to the impaired incretin effects found in diabetes. Taken together, down-regulation of insulin gene transcription factors and incretin receptors explains, at least in part, the molecular mechanism for β-cell glucose toxicity.

Role of ceramide in diabetes mellitus: evidence and mechanisms

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease with multiple complications that causes serious diseases over the years. The condition leads to severe economic consequences and is reaching pandemic level globally. Much research is being carried out to address this disease and its underlying molecular mechanism. This review focuses on the diverse role and mechanism of ceramide, a prime sphingolipid signaling molecule, in the pathogenesis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and its complications. Studies using cultured cells, animal models, and human subjects demonstrate that ceramide is a key player in the induction of β-cell apoptosis, insulin resistance, and reduction of insulin gene expression. Ceramide induces β-cell apoptosis by multiple mechanisms namely; activation of extrinsic apoptotic pathway, increasing cytochrome c release, free radical generation, induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inhibition of Akt. Ceramide also modulates many of the insulin signaling intermediates such as insulin receptor substrate, Akt, Glut-4, and it causes insulin resistance. Ceramide reduces the synthesis of insulin hormone by attenuation of insulin gene expression. Better understanding of this area will increase our understanding of the contribution of ceramide to the pathogenesis of diabetes, and further help in identifying potential therapeutic targets for the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein inhibits DKK1 expression through c-Jun-mediated inhibition of β-catenin activation of the DKK1 promoter in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa)bone metastases are unique in that majority of them induce excessive mineralized bone matrix, through undefined mechanisms, as opposed to most other cancers that induce bone resorption. Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is produced by PCa cells and intermittent PTHrP exposure has bone anabolic effects, suggesting that PTHrP could contribute to the excess bone mineralization. Wnts are bone-productive factors produced by PCa cells, and the Wnt inhibitor Dickkopfs-1 (DKK1) has been shown to promote PCa progression. These findings, in conjunction with the observation that PTHrP expression increases and DKK1 expression decreases as PCa progresses, led to the hypothesis that PTHrP could be a negative regulator of DKK1 expression in PCa cells and, hence, allow the osteoblastic activity of Wnts to be realized. To test this, we first demonstrated that PTHrP downregulated DKK1 mRNA and protein expression. We then found through multiple mutated DKK1 promoter assays that PTHrP, through c-Jun activation, downregulated the DKK1 promoter through a transcription factor (TCF) response element site. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and re-ChIP assays revealed that PTHrP mediated this effect through inducing c-Jun to bind to a transcriptional activator complex consisting of β-catenin, which binds the most proximal DKK1 promoter, the TCF response element. Together, these results demonstrate a novel signaling linkage between PTHrP and Wnt signaling pathways that results in downregulation of a Wnt inhibitor allowing for Wnt activity that could contribute the osteoblastic nature of PCa.

Involvement of oxidative stress in suppression of insulin biosynthesis under diabetic conditions

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance, and the number of patients has markedly increased worldwide. In the diabetic state, hyperglycemia per se and subsequent induction of oxidative stress decrease insulin biosynthesis and secretion, leading to the aggravation of Type 2 diabetes. In addition, there is substantial reduction in expression and/or activities of several insulin gene transcription factors. This process is known as β-cell glucose toxicity, which is often observed under diabetic conditions. Taken together, it is likely that oxidative stress explains, at least in part, the molecular mechanism for β-cell glucose toxicity, which is often observed in Type 2 diabetes.

Cx36 is a target of Beta2/NeuroD1, which associates with prenatal differentiation of insulin-producing β cells

The insulin-producing β cells of pancreatic islets are coupled by connexin36 (Cx36) channels. To investigate what controls the expression of this connexin, we have investigated its pattern during mouse pancreas development, and the influence of three transcription factors that are critical for β-cell development and differentiation. We show that (1) the Cx36 gene (Gjd2) is activated early in pancreas development and is markedly induced at the time of the surge of the transcription factors that determine β-cell differentiation; (2) the cognate protein is detected about a week later and is selectively expressed by β cells throughout the prenatal development of mouse pancreas; (3) a 2-kbp fragment of the Gjd2 promoter, which contains three E boxes for the binding of the bHLH factor Beta2/NeuroD1, ensures the expression of Cx36 by β cells; and (4) Beta2/NeuroD1 binds to these E boxes and, in the presence of the E47 ubiquitous cofactor, transactivates the Gjd2 promoter. The data identify Cx36 as a novel early marker of β cells and as a target of Beta2/NeuroD1, which is essential for β-cell development and differentiation.

Glucolipotoxicity of the pancreatic beta cell

The concept of glucolipotoxicity refers to the combined, deleterious effects of elevated glucose and fatty acid levels on pancreatic beta-cell function and survival. Significant progress has been made in recent years towards a better understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of glucolipotoxicity in the beta cell. The permissive effect of elevated glucose on the detrimental actions of fatty acids stems from the influence of glucose on intracellular fatty acid metabolism, promoting the synthesis of cellular lipids. The combination of excessive levels of fatty acids and glucose therefore leads to decreased insulin secretion, impaired insulin gene expression, and beta-cell death by apoptosis, all of which probably have distinct underlying mechanisms. Recent studies from our laboratory have identified several pathways implicated in fatty acid inhibition of insulin gene expression, including the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway, the metabolic sensor Per-Arnt-Sim kinase (PASK), and the ATF6 branch of the unfolded protein response. We have also confirmed in vivo in rats that the decrease in insulin gene expression is an early defect which precedes any detectable abnormality in insulin secretion. While the role of glucolipotoxicity in humans is still debated, the inhibitory effects of chronically elevated fatty acid levels has been clearly demonstrated in several studies, at least in individuals genetically predisposed to developing type 2 diabetes. It is therefore likely that glucolipotoxicity contributes to beta-cell failure in type 2 diabetes as well as to the decline in beta-cell function observed after the onset of the disease.

Short-term modulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase in pancreatic islets by glucose and palmitate: possible involvement of ceramide

OBJECTIVES

The effect of glucose and palmitate on the phosphorylation of proteins associated with cell growth and survival (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 [ERK1/2] and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase [SAPK/JNK]) and on the expression of immediate early genes was investigated.

METHODS

Groups of freshly isolated rat pancreatic islets were incubated in 10-mmol/L glucose with palmitate, LY294002, or fumonisin B1 for the measurement of the phosphorylation and the content of ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK, and v-akt murine thymoma viral oncongene (AKT) (serine 473) by immunoblotting. The expressions of the immediate early genes, c-fos and c-jun, were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Glucose at 10 mmol/L induced ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylations and decreased SAPK/JNK phosphorylation. Palmitate (0.1 mmol/L) abolished the glucose effect on ERK1/2, AKT, and SAPK/JNK phosphorylations. LY294002 caused a similar effect. The inhibitory effect of palmitate on glucose-induced ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation changes was not observed in the presence of fumonisin B1. Glucose increased c-fos and decreased c-jun expressions. Palmitate and LY294002 abolished these latter glucose effects. The presence of fumonisin B1 abolished the effect induced by palmitate on c-jun expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that short-term changes of mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT signaling pathways and c-fos and c-jun expressions caused by glucose are abolished by palmitate through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibition via ceramide synthesis.

Human high-density lipoprotein particles prevent activation of the JNK pathway induced by human oxidised low-density lipoprotein particles in pancreatic beta cells

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We explored the potential adverse effects of pro-atherogenic oxidised LDL-cholesterol particles on beta cell function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Isolated human and rat islets and different insulin-secreting cell lines were incubated with human oxidised LDL with or without HDL particles. The insulin level was monitored by ELISA, real-time PCR and a rat insulin promoter construct linked to luciferase gene reporter. Cell apoptosis was determined by scoring cells displaying pycnotic nuclei.

RESULTS

Prolonged incubation with human oxidised LDL particles led to a reduction in preproinsulin expression levels, whereas the insulin level was preserved in the presence of native LDL-cholesterol. The loss of insulin production occurred at the transcriptional levels and was associated with an increase in activator protein-1 transcriptional activity. The rise in activator protein-1 activity resulted from activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK, now known as mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 [MAPK8]) due to a subsequent decrease in islet-brain 1 (IB1; now known as MAPK8 interacting protein 1) levels. Consistent with the pro-apoptotic role of the JNK pathway, oxidised LDL also induced a twofold increase in the rate of beta cell apoptosis. Treatment of the cells with JNK inhibitor peptides or HDL countered the effects mediated by oxidised LDL.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These data provide strong evidence that oxidised LDL particles exert deleterious effects in the progression of beta cell failure in diabetes and that these effects can be countered by HDL particles.

Regulation of the insulin gene by glucose and fatty acids

The insulin gene is expressed almost exclusively in pancreatic beta-cells. Metabolic regulation of insulin gene expression enables the beta-cell to maintain adequate stores of intracellular insulin to sustain the secretory demand. Glucose is the major physiologic regulator of insulin gene expression; it coordinately controls the recruitment of transcription factors [e.g., pancreatic/duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), mammalian homologue of avian MafA/L-Maf (MafA), Beta2/Neuro D (B2), the rate of transcription, and the stability of insulin mRNA. However, chronically elevated levels of glucose (glucotoxicity) and lipids (lipotoxicity) also contribute to the worsening of beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes, in part via inhibition of insulin gene expression. The mechanisms of glucotoxicity, which involve decreased binding activities of PDX-1 and MafA and increased activity of C/EBPbeta, are mediated by high-glucose-induced generation of oxidative stress. On the other hand, lipotoxicity is mediated by de novo ceramide synthesis and involves inhibition of PDX-1 nuclear translocation and MafA gene expression. Glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity have common targets, which makes their combination particularly harmful to insulin gene expression and beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes.

Palmitate inhibition of insulin gene expression is mediated at the transcriptional level via ceramide synthesis

Chronic exposure to elevated levels of fatty acids impairs pancreatic beta cell function, a phenomenon thought to contribute to the progressive deterioration of insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. We have previously demonstrated that prolonged exposure of isolated islets to elevated levels of palmitate inhibits preproinsulin mRNA levels in the presence of high glucose concentrations. However, whether this occurs via transcriptional or post-transcriptional mechanisms has not been determined. In addition, the nature of the lipid metabolites involved in palmitate inhibition of insulin gene expression is unknown. In this study, we show that palmitate decreases glucose-stimulated preproinsulin mRNA levels in isolated rat islets, an effect that is not mediated by changes in preproinsulin mRNA stability, but is associated with inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin promoter activity. Prolonged culture of isolated islets with palmitate is associated with increased levels of intracellular ceramide. Palmitate-induced ceramide generation is prevented by inhibitors of de novo ceramide synthesis. Further, exogenous ceramide inhibits insulin mRNA levels, whereas blockade of de novo ceramide synthesis prevents palmitate inhibition of insulin gene expression. We conclude that prolonged exposure to elevated levels of palmitate affects glucose-stimulated insulin gene expression via transcriptional mechanisms and ceramide synthesis.

Involvement of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in oxidative stress-mediated suppression of insulin gene expression

Oxidative stress, which is found in pancreatic beta-cells in the diabetic state, suppresses insulin gene transcription and secretion, but the signaling pathways involved in the beta-cell dysfunction induced by oxidative stress remain unknown. In this study, subjecting rat islets to oxidative stress activates JNK, p38 MAPK, and protein kinase C, preceding the decrease of insulin gene expression. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of dominant-negative type (DN) JNK, but not the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 nor the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X, protected insulin gene expression and secretion from oxidative stress. Moreover, wild type JNK overexpression suppressed both insulin gene expression and secretion. These results were correlated with changes in the binding of the important transcription factor PDX-1 to the insulin promoter; adenoviral overexpression of DN-JNK preserved PDX-1 DNA binding activity in the face of oxidative stress, whereas wild type JNK overexpression decreased PDX-1 DNA binding activity. Furthermore, to examine whether suppression of the JNK pathway can protect beta-cells from the toxic effects of hyperglycemia, rat islets were infected with DN-JNK expressing adenovirus or control adenovirus and transplanted under renal capsules of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nude mice. In mice receiving DN-JNK overexpressing islets, insulin gene expression in islet grafts was preserved, and hyperglycemia was ameliorated compared with control mice. In conclusion, activation of JNK is involved in the reduction of insulin gene expression by oxidative stress, and suppression of the JNK pathway protects beta-cells from oxidative stress.

Induction of c-Myc expression suppresses insulin gene transcription by inhibiting NeuroD/BETA2-mediated transcriptional activation

Insulin biosynthesis and secretion are critical for pancreatic beta-cell function, but both are impaired under diabetic conditions. We have found that hyperglycemia induces the expression of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor c-Myc in islets in several different diabetic models. To examine the possible implication of c-Myc in beta-cell dysfunction, c-Myc was overexpressed in isolated rat islets using adenovirus. Adenovirus-mediated c-Myc overexpression suppressed both insulin gene transcription and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Insulin protein content, determined by immunostaining, was markedly decreased in c-Myc-overexpressing cells. In gel-shift assays c-Myc bound to the E-box in the insulin gene promoter region. Furthermore, in betaTC1, MIN6, and HIT-T15 cells and primary rat islets, wild type insulin gene promoter activity was dramatically decreased by c-Myc overexpression, whereas the activity of an E-box mutated insulin promoter was not affected. In HeLa and HepG2 cells c-Myc exerted a suppressive effect on the insulin promoter activity only in the presence of NeuroD/BETA2 but not PDX-1. Both c-Myc and NeuroD can bind the E-box element in the insulin promoter, but unlike NeuroD, the c-Myc transactivation domain lacked the ability to activate insulin gene expression. Additionally p300, a co-activator of NeuroD, did not function as a co-activator of c-Myc. In conclusion, increased expression of c-Myc in beta-cells suppresses the insulin gene transcription by inhibiting NeuroD-mediated transcriptional activation. This mechanism may explain some of the beta-cell dysfunction found in diabetes.

The gene MAPK8IP1, encoding islet-brain-1, is a candidate for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a polygenic and genetically heterogeneous disease . The age of onset of the disease is usually late and environmental factors may be required to induce the complete diabetic phenotype. Susceptibility genes for diabetes have not yet been identified. Islet-brain-1 (IB1, encoded by MAPK8IP1), a novel DNA-binding transactivator of the glucose transporter GLUT2 (encoded by SLC2A2), is the homologue of the c-Jun amino-terminal kinase-interacting protein-1 (JIP-1; refs 2-5). We evaluated the role of IBi in beta-cells by expression of a MAPK8IP1 antisense RNA in a stable insulinoma beta-cell line. A 38% decrease in IB1 protein content resulted in a 49% and a 41% reduction in SLC2A2 and INS (encoding insulin) mRNA expression, respectively. In addition, we detected MAPK8IP1 transcripts and IBi protein in human pancreatic islets. These data establish MAPK8IP1 as a candidate gene for human diabetes. Sibpair analyses performed on i49 multiplex French families with type 2 diabetes excluded MAPK8IP1 as a major diabetogenic locus. We did, however, identify in one family a missense mutation located in the coding region of MAPK8IP1 (559N) that segregated with diabetes. In vitro, this mutation was associated with an inability of IB1 to prevent apoptosis induced by MAPK/ERK kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1) and a reduced ability to counteract the inhibitory action of the activated c-JUN amino-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway on INS transcriptional activity. Identification of this novel non-maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) form of diabetes demonstrates that IB1 is a key regulator of 3-cell function.

Pancreatic beta-cell-specific repression of insulin gene transcription by CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta. Inhibitory interactions with basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor E47

Chronic exposure of beta-cells to supraphysiologic glucose concentrations results in decreased insulin gene transcription. Here we identify the basic leucine zipper transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta), as a repressor of insulin gene transcription in conditions of supraphysiological glucose levels. C/EBPbeta is expressed in primary rat islets. Moreover, after exposure to high glucose concentrations the beta-cell lines HIT-T15 and INS-1 express increased levels of C/EBPbeta. The rat insulin I gene promoter contains a consensus binding motif for C/EBPbeta (CEB box) that binds C/EBPbeta. In non-beta-cells C/EBPbeta stimulates the activity of the rat insulin I gene promoter through the CEB box. Paradoxically, in beta-cells C/EBPbeta inhibits transcription, directed by the promoter of the rat insulin I gene by direct protein-protein interaction with a heptad leucine repeat sequence within activation domain 2 of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor E47. This interaction leads to the inhibition of both dimerization and DNA binding of E47 to the E-elements of the insulin promoter, thereby reducing functionally the transactivation potential of E47 on insulin gene transcription. We suggest that the induction of C/EBPbeta in pancreatic beta-cells by chronically elevated glucose levels may contribute to the impaired insulin secretion in severe type II diabetes mellitus.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is a negative regulator of cellular differentiation

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) has been shown to be an important mediator of intracellular signal transduction in mammalian cells. We show here, for the first time, that the blockade of PI3K activity in human fetal undifferentiated cells induced morphological and functional endocrine differentiation. This was associated with an increase in mRNA levels of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as an increase in the insulin protein content and secretion in response to secretagogues. Blockade of PI3K also increased the proportion of pluripotent precursor cells coexpressing multiple hormones and the total number of terminally differentiated cells originating from these precursor cells. We examined whether any of the recently described modulators of endocrine differentiation could participate in regulating PI3K activity in fetal islet cells. The activity of PI3K was inversely correlated with the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor-induced downregulation or nicotinamideinduced upregulation of islet-specific gene expression, giving support to the role of PI3K, as a negative regulator of endocrine differentiation. In conclusion, our results provide a mechanism for the regulation of hormone-specific gene expression during human fetal neogenesis. They also suggest a novel function for PI3K, as a negative regulator of cellular differentiation.

AP-1 cis-response elements are involved in basal expression and Vmw110 transactivation of the large subunit of herpes simplex virus type 2 ribonucleotide reductase (ICP10)

The promoter of the large subunit of herpes simplex virus type 2 ribonucleotide reductase (ICP10) has two AP-1 cis-response elements, respectively located at positions -62 and -94 relative to the transcription start site (Wymer et al., 1989. J. Virol. 63, 2773-2784). Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) analysis with hybrid constructions of the CAT structural gene and the ICP10 promoter or its mutants and gel retardation studies were used to examine the role of the AP-1 cis-response elements in expression from the ICP10 promoter. Basal expression from the wild-type promoter was significantly (75-90%) reduced by mutation of the upstream or downstream AP-1 element. Mutation in the upstream AP-1 element also caused a 60% reduction in c-Jun-mediated activation. Activation was decreased 40% by mutation in the downstream AP-1 element and it was abrogated by mutation of both elements. Similar results were obtained for ACT-deleted mutants and mutants in which CT was mutated to AG. The trans-activation by Vmw110 was also reduced by mutation of the AP-1 elements (10- and 2-fold for the upstream and downstream element, respectively) and it was abrogated by mutation of both AP-1 elements. Mutation of nucleotides adjacent to the AP-1 cis-response elements had no effect on trans-activation. Gel retardation assays with a DNA probe representing the wild-type ICP10 promoter and nuclear extracts from HSV-1-infected cells identified one complex that was not seen with mock-infected cells or with cells infected with a Vmw110-deleted mutant. The complex was not seen when HSV-1-infected cells were reacted with an AP-1-mutant DNA probe, and its formation was competed by an AP-1 but not a mutant AP-1 oligonucleotide. The migration of this complex was retarded by c-Fos antibody, suggesting that both AP-1 and Vmw110 are involved in its formation. A mutant deleted in all sequences upstream of the TATA box was also activated by Vmw110, but this activation was only 2-fold lower than that seen for the wild type and significantly higher (10-fold) than that seen for the double AP-1 mutants. The data suggest that AP-1 elements play a crucial role in ICP10 gene expression/activation.

DNA-binding domains: targets for viral and cellular regulators

Specific DNA binding by eukaryotic transcription factors is conferred by several types of sequence motif. These domains have been extensively studied with regard to their precise interaction with DNA and the basis of sequence specificity. Evidence is accumulating that DNA-binding domains serve functions in addition to binding DNA: they are also targets of viral and cellular regulatory proteins.