Negative and positive regulation by a short segment in the 5'-flanking region of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene

Control of Immediate Early Gene Expression for Human Cytomegalovirus Reactivation

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta herpesvirus that persists for life in the majority of the world's population. The persistence of HCMV in the human population is due to the exquisite ability of herpesviruses to establish a latent infection that evades elimination by the host immune response. How the virus moves into and out of the latent state has been an intense area of research focus and debate. The prevailing paradigm is that the major immediate early promoter (MIEP), which drives robust expression of the major immediate early (MIE) transactivators, is epigenetically silenced during the establishment of latency, and must be reactivated for the virus to exit latency and re-enter productive replication. While it is clear that the MIEP is silenced by the association of repressive chromatin remodeling factors and histone marks, the mechanisms by which HCMV de-represses MIE gene expression for reactivation are less well understood. We have identified alternative promoter elements within the MIE locus that drive a second or delayed phase of MIE gene expression during productive infection. In the context of reactivation in THP-1 macrophages and primary CD34+ human progenitor cells, MIE transcripts are predominantly derived from initiation at these alternative promoters. Here we review the mechanisms by which alternative viral promoters might tailor the control of viral gene expression and the corresponding pattern of infection to specific cell types. Alternative promoter control of the HCMV MIE locus increases versatility in the system and allows the virus to tightly repress viral gene expression for latency but retain the ability to sense and respond to cell type-specific host cues for reactivation of replication.

Bright and Early: Inhibiting Human Cytomegalovirus by Targeting Major Immediate-Early Gene Expression or Protein Function

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), one of eight human herpesviruses, establishes lifelong latent infections in most people worldwide. Primary or reactivated HCMV infections cause severe disease in immunosuppressed patients and congenital defects in children. There is no vaccine for HCMV, and the currently approved antivirals come with major limitations. Most approved HCMV antivirals target late molecular processes in the viral replication cycle including DNA replication and packaging. “Bright and early” events in HCMV infection have not been exploited for systemic prevention or treatment of disease. Initiation of HCMV replication depends on transcription from the viral major immediate-early (IE) gene. Alternative transcripts produced from this gene give rise to the IE1 and IE2 families of viral proteins, which localize to the host cell nucleus. The IE1 and IE2 proteins are believed to control all subsequent early and late events in HCMV replication, including reactivation from latency, in part by antagonizing intrinsic and innate immune responses. Here we provide an update on the regulation of major IE gene expression and the functions of IE1 and IE2 proteins. We will relate this insight to experimental approaches that target IE gene expression or protein function via molecular gene silencing and editing or small chemical inhibitors.

HCMV latency: what regulates the regulators?

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) latency and reactivation is regulated by the chromatin structure at the major immediate early promoter (MIEP) within myeloid cells. Both cellular and viral factors are known to control this promoter during latency, here we will review the known mechanisms for MIEP regulation during latency. We will then focus on the virally encoded G-protein coupled receptor, US28, which suppresses the MIEP in early myeloid lineage cells. The importance of this function is underlined by the fact that US28 is essential for HCMV latency in CD34⁺ progenitor cells and CD14⁺ monocytes. We will describe cellular signalling pathways modulated by US28 to direct MIEP suppression during latency and demonstrate how US28 is able to ‘regulate the regulators’ of HCMV latency. Finally, we will describe how cell-surface US28 can be a target for antiviral therapies directed at the latent viral reservoir.

Molecular Determinants and the Regulation of Human Cytomegalovirus Latency and Reactivation

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta herpesvirus that establishes a life-long persistence in the host, like all herpesviruses, by way of a latent infection. During latency, viral genomes are maintained in a quieted state. Virus replication can be reactivated from latency in response to changes in cellular signaling caused by stress or differentiation. The past decade has brought great insights into the molecular basis of HCMV latency. Here, we review the complex persistence of HCMV with consideration of latent reservoirs, viral determinants and their host interactions, and host signaling and the control of cellular and viral gene expression that contributes to the establishment of and reactivation from latency.

SV40 intron, a potent strong intron element that effectively increases transgene expression in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells have become the most widely utilized mammalian cell line for the production of recombinant proteins. However, the product yield and transgene instability need to be further increased and solved. In this study, we investigated the effect of five different introns on transgene expression in CHO cells. hCMV intron A, adenovirus tripartite leader sequence intron, SV40 intron, Chinese hamster EF-1alpha gene intron 1 and intervening sequence intron were cloned downstream of the eGFP expression cassette in a eukaryotic vector, which was then transfected into CHO cells. qRT-PCR and flow cytometry were used to explore eGFP expression levels. And gene copy number was also detected by qPCR, respectively. Furthermore, the erythropoietin (EPO) protein was used to test the selected more strong intron. The results showed that SV40 intron exhibited the highest transgene expression level among the five compared intron elements under transient and stable transfections. In addition, the SV40 intron element can increase the ratio of positive colonies and decrease the coefficient of variation in transgene expression level. Moreover, the transgene expression level was not related to the gene copy number in stable transfected CHO cells. Also, the SV40 intron induced higher level of EPO expression than IVS intron in transfected CHO cell. In conclusion, SV40 intron is a potent strong intron element that increases transgene expression, which can readily be used to more efficient transgenic protein production in CHO cells.

Promoter and Terminator Discovery and Engineering

Control of gene expression is crucial to optimize metabolic pathways and synthetic gene networks. Promoters and terminators are stretches of DNA upstream and downstream (respectively) of genes that control both the rate at which the gene is transcribed and the rate at which mRNA is degraded. As a result, both of these elements control net protein expression from a synthetic construct. Thus, it is highly important to discover and engineer promoters and terminators with desired characteristics. This chapter highlights various approaches taken to catalogue these important synthetic elements. Specifically, early strategies have focused largely on semi-rational techniques such as saturation mutagenesis to diversify native promoters and terminators. Next, in an effort to reduce the length of the synthetic biology design cycle, efforts in the field have turned towards the rational design of synthetic promoters and terminators. In this vein, we cover recently developed methods such as hybrid engineering, high throughput characterization, and thermodynamic modeling which allow finer control in the rational design of novel promoters and terminators. Emphasis is placed on the methodologies used and this chapter showcases the utility of these methods across multiple host organisms.

Methods to examine the impact of nonsynonymous SNPs on protein degradation and function of human ABC transporter

Clinical studies have strongly suggested that genetic polymorphisms and/or mutations of certain ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes might be regarded as significant factors affecting patients' responses to medication and/or the risk of diseases. In the case of ABCG2, certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the encoding gene alter the substrate specificity and/or enhance endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) of the de novo synthesized ABCG2 protein via the ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal proteolysis pathway. Hitherto accumulated clinical data imply that several nonsynonymous SNPs affect the ABCG2-mediated clearance of drugs or cellular metabolites, although some controversies still exist. Therefore, we recently developed high-speed functional screening and ERAD of ABC transporters so as to evaluate the effect of genetic polymorphisms on their function and protein expression levels in vitro. In this chapter we present in vitro experimental methods to elucidate the impact of nonsynonymous SNPs on protein degradation of ABCG2 as well as on its transport function.

A versatile microsatellite instability reporter system in human cells

Here, we report the investigation of microsatellite instability (MSI) in human cells with a newly developed reporter system based on fluorescence. We composed a vector into which microsatellites of different lengths and nucleotide composition can be introduced between a functional copy of the fluorescent protein mCherry and an out-of-frame copy of EGFP; in vivo frameshifting will lead to EGFP expression, which can be quantified by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Via targeted recombineering, single copy reporters were introduced in HEK293 and MCF-7 cells. We found predominantly -1 and +1 base pair frameshifts, the levels of which are kept in tune by mismatch repair. We show that tract length and composition greatly influences MSI. In contrast, a tracts' potential to form a G-quadruplex structure, its strand orientation or its transcriptional status is not affecting MSI. We further validated the functionality of the reporter system for screening microsatellite mutagenicity of compounds and for identifying modifiers of MSI: using a retroviral miRNA expression library, we identified miR-21, which targets MSH2, as a miRNA that induces MSI when overexpressed. Our data also provide proof of principle for the strategy of combining fluorescent reporters with next-generation sequencing technology to identify genetic factors in specific pathways.

Tissue and cell-specific transcriptional activity of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene promoter (UL123) in zebrafish

The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpesvirus superfamily and causes different diseases including encephalitis, gastrointestinal diseases, pneumonitis, hepatitis, and retinitis. The immediate early (IE) gene of the human cytomegalovirus is essential to the viral replication. The proximal promoter region of this gene behaves as a strong enhancer and was commonly used to overexpress genes in vitro and in vivo in numerous cell types and species. However, there was no detailed report on the spatial and temporal transcriptional activity of the human CMV-IE gene promoter in zebrafish. In the present study, we generated stable transgenic zebrafish lines carrying the eGFP reporter gene under the control of the human CMV-IE gene promoter (-602/-14). We demonstrated that the hCMV-IE:eGFP transgene was expressed in numerous tissues but transgene expression was either regionalized or restricted to specific cell types as embryo and larval development progressed. In adult, the global expression pattern was similar but not identical to that described for the simian CMV-IE gene promoter in stable zebrafish with high transgene expression in the spinal cord, olfactory organs, central nervous system, neuromasts, retina, and skeletal muscles. However, we describe additional major expression sites in the hepatocytes, the epithelial cells of the intestine, the epithelial cells of the renal tubules, and the oocytes. Interestingly, our study shows that the tissue and cell specific expression pattern of the human CMV-IE gene promoter is rather well conserved in stable transgenic zebrafish compared to that observed in mouse. The major expression sites described in zebrafish are in agreement with the targeted cells and symptoms resulting from CMV infections in human. Finally, the hCMV:eGFP transgenic lines described in the present study will be valuable tools to trace specific cell lineages in adult zebrafish.

Evaluating regulatory elements of human cytomegalovirus major immediate early gene for enhancing transgene expression levels in CHO K1 and HEK293 cells

The upstream regulatory sequence (URS), NF1 region, enhancer, promoter, 1st exon, and intron A of human cytomegalovirus major immediate early gene (hCMV MIE) are evaluated for enhancing transient and stable gene expression levels in two industrial cell lines, CHO K1 and HEK293 using firefly luciferase (Fluc) and erythropoietin (EPO). As compared to the control vector which only contains the enhancer and promoter (EP), vectors containing the 1st exon (EPE) and intron A (EPEI) enhance transient expression levels of the two proteins by approximately 2.5- to 4.3-fold in the two cell lines. Addition of NF1 and URS to EP (NEP and UNEP) or EPEI (NEPEI and UNEPEI) results in a lesser effect on the expression. In stable transfections, UNEPEI provides the highest expression level in CHO K1 cells, yielding approximately 4.0-fold increase in Fluc expression and 2.5-fold increase in EPO expression. In HEK293 cells, EPE is the best and enhances Fluc and EPO expression by more than 2.0-fold. Such information is valuable for the development of optimal vectors to enhance transient and stable production of recombinant proteins in CHO K1 and HEK293 cells.

Production of cells with targeted integration of gene variants of human ABC transporter for stable and regulated expression using the Flp recombinase system

The vector-mediated introduction of cDNA into mammalian cells by calcium phosphate co-precipitation or permeation with lipofectamine is widely used for the integration of cDNA into genomic DNA. Such integration, however, of cDNA occurs randomly at unpredictable sites in the host's chromosomal DNA, and the number of integrated recombinant DNAs is not controllable. To overcome this problem, we developed the Flp-In method to integrate one single copy of cDNA encoding the human ABC transporter ABCG2 into FRT-tagged genomic DNA. Examination of more than 20 metaphase spreads for both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping and multicolor-FISH analysis revealed that ABCG2 cDNA was incorporated into the telomeric region of the short arm on one of chromosomes 12 in Flp-In-293 cells. By using those cells, we investigated the effect of genetic polymorphisms and post-translational modifications of human ABC transporter ABCG2 on the protein expression and degradation. On the basis of our experience, it has been concluded that the Flp recombinase system provides a useful tool to quantitatively analyze the protein stability and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation of proteins like the ABC transporter. This system is also applicable for similar studies of the biogenesis of other proteins using the secretory pathway as well as proteins with other cellular localizations.

In vitro correction of ARSA deficiency in human skin fibroblasts from metachromatic leukodystrophy patients after treatment with microencapsulated recombinant cells

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive disorder due to arylsulfatase A (ARSA) deficiency that affects primarily the central nervous system. Ongoing treatments include enzyme replacement therapy and bone marrow transplantation, both limited in their effects due to the blood-brain barrier. An alternative approach would be the in situ implantation of encapsulated cells over expressing ARSA. Based on that, we tested the ability of encapsulated BHK cells over expressing ARSA to correct the enzyme deficiency in MLD patients' fibroblasts. Three groups were analyzed: fibroblasts treated with ARSA-over expressing BHK cells (rBHK) trapped in alginate capsules (capsules group), fibroblasts treated with supernatant of non-encapsulated rBHK (uptake control) and fibroblasts treated with empty capsules (empty group). Untreated and normal fibroblasts were used as controls. rBHK obtained by clone selection after non-viral transfection with pTARSA-CMV2. ARSA activity was measured after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment and beta-gal was used as reference enzyme. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey's test. Normal fibroblasts showed ARSA activity of 23.9 + /- 2.01 nmol/h/mg of protein, whereas untreated MLD fibroblasts had the low ARSA activity (2.22 + /- 0.17). In the empty group, ARSA activity was equal to that of untreated fibroblasts (2.71 + /- 0.34). Capsules and uptake control groups showed higher enzymatic activity levels, compared to MLD untreated, 23.42 + /- 6.39 and 42.35 + /- 5.20, respectively (p < 0.01 for all groups). Encapsulated rBHK clones show potential as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MLD, reaching normal enzyme levels in human MLD fibroblasts.

Hexamethylene bisacetamide can convert nonpermissive human cells to a permissive state for expressing the major immediate-early genes of human cytomegalovirus by up-regulating NF-kappaB activity

Expression of the major immediate-early (MIE) genes of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the human thyroid papillary carcinoma cell line TPC-1 is repressed at the transcriptional level. However, treatment of these cells with hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA), a chemical inducer of differentiation, for 12 to 24 h before infection enabled the cells to support IE1 and IE2 gene expression and consequently HCMV replication. In HMBA-treated cells the transcription factor NF-kappaB was induced and the MIE promoter (MIEP) was activated. The presence of a NF-kappaB inhibitory peptide SN-50 or expression of a dominant negative IkappaBalpha protein during the HMBA pretreatment period efficiently prevented the HMBA-induced MIEP activation and MIE protein synthesis. Moreover, introduction of mutations into the NF-kappaB binding sites in the MIEP in a plasmid expressing the IE1 protein diminished its ability to express the protein in HMBA-treated cells. Therefore, the NF-kappaB activity previously induced in HMBA-treated cells and the NF-kappaB sites in the MIEP were shown to be essential for HCMV to respond to HMBA action and to express the MIE genes. Investigation of the mechanisms by which HMBA activates NF-kappaB revealed that degradation of IkappaBalpha and translocation of the phosphorylated NF-kappaB p65 subunit to the nucleus, both of which are known to be critical steps in NF-kappaB activation, are stimulated in the HMBA-treated cells. These results indicate that treatment of nonpermissive TPC-1 cells with HMBA induces MIE gene permissiveness by up-regulating NF-kappaB activity.

Role of the cytomegalovirus major immediate early enhancer in acute infection and reactivation from latency

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) major immediate early (MIE) enhancer-containing promoter regulates the expression of the downstream MIE genes, which have critical roles in reactivation from latency and acute infection. The enhancer consists of binding sites for cellular transcription factors that are repeated multiple times. The primate and nonprimate CMV enhancers can substitute for one another. The enhancers are not functionally equivalent, but they do have overlapping activities. The CMV MIE enhancers are located between divergent promoters where the leftward genes are critical and essential for reactivation from latency and acute infection and the rightward gene is nonessential. The rightward transcription unit is controlled by an enhancer for murine CMV. In contrast, human CMV has a set of repressor elements that prevents enhancer effects on the rightward viral promoter. The human CMV enhancer that controls the leftward transcription unit has a distal component that is nonessential at high multiplicity of infection (MOI), but has a significant impact on the MIE gene expression at low MOI. The proximal enhancer influences directly the level of transcription of the MIE genes and contains an essential Sp-1 site. The MIE promoter has a site adjacent to the transcription start site that is essential at the earliest stage of infection. The MIE enhancer-containing promoter responds to signal transduction events and to cellular differentiation. The role of the CMV MIE enhancer-containing promoter in acute infection and reactivation from latency are reviewed.

Latency and reactivation of human cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) persists as a subclinical, lifelong infection in the normal human host, maintained at least in part by its carriage in the absence of detectable infectious virus – the hallmark of latent infection. Reactivation from latency in immunocompromised individuals, in contrast, often results in serious disease. Latency and reactivation are defining characteristics of the herpesviruses and key to understanding their biology. However, the precise cellular sites in which HCMV is carried and the mechanisms regulating its latency and reactivation during natural infection remain poorly understood. This review will detail our current knowledge of where HCMV is carried in healthy individuals, which viral genes are expressed upon carriage of the virus and what effect this has on cellular gene expression. It will also address the accumulating evidence suggesting that reactivation of HCMV from latency appears to be linked intrinsically to the differentiation status of the myeloid cell, and how the cellular mechanisms that normally control host gene expression play a critical role in the differential regulation of viral gene expression during latency and reactivation.

Human cytomegalovirus latency is associated with the state of differentiation of the host cells: an in vitro model in teratocarcinoma cells

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) major immediate-early (MIE) gene is not transcribed in undifferentiated NTera-2 embryonal carcinoma cells, but is transcribed in their differentiated derivatives, offering a model with which to study the developmental regulation of the activity of a viral gene during the differentiation of these cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in the blockade of the MIE gene expression in undifferentiated NTera2 cells include covalent closure of the circular conformation of the viral genome, silencing of the viral MIE promoter by histone deacetylation, and increases in the expression of negatively regulating transcription factors responsible for the recruitment of the histone deacytylases around the viral MIE promoter (MIEP), resulting in repression of the MIEP in undifferentiated cells. The treatment of NTera2 cells with retinoic acid induces the differentiation of these cells. In HCMV-infected differentiated NTera2 cells, the MIEP becomes associated with hyperacetylated histones, which results in an open structure of chromatin, enhancing the access of DNA-binding factors which positively regulate MIE gene expression and viral replication. This model system contributes to an understanding of HCMV latency and reactivation in vivo in the cells of the myeloid lineage.

Mechanisms of the interaction between twoADAMTS13 gene mutations leading to severe deficiency of enzymatic activity

The inherited deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease ADAMTS13 is associated with rare forms of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). We investigated a woman with a family history of chronic recurrent TTP and undetectable plasma levels of ADAMTS13 activity. Genetic analysis revealed two missense mutations in the heterozygous state: p.Val88Met substitution in the metalloprotease domain and p.Gly1239Val substitution in the first CUB domain of ADAMTS13. To explore the mechanism of ADAMTS13 deficiency in this patient, the wild type (WT; ADAMT13(WT)) and each mutant construct (ADAMTS13(Val88Met), ADAMTS13(Gly1239Val)) were transiently expressed in HEK 293 and COS-7 cells. To recapitulate the compound heterozygous state of the patient, both mutant ADAMTS13 proteins were also expressed together. The p.Val88Met mutation led to a defect of secretion of the protease associated with a reduction of enzymatic activity, the p.Gly1239Val mutation led to a secretion defect causing intracellular accumulation of the protease. The mechanistic effects of the mutations were further explored by means of differential immunofluorescence, that demonstrated an homogeneous distribution of ADAMTS13(WT) in the Cis-Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compartments, a reduction of ADAMTS13(Val88Met) in both compartments, while ADAMTS13(Gly1239Val) failed to reach the Cis-Golgi compartment and remained in the ER.

NF-kappaB- and c-Jun-dependent regulation of human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene enhancer/promoter in response to lipopolysaccharide and bacterial CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides in macrophage cell line RAW 264.7

The cytomegalovirus immediate-early (CMV IE) gene enhancer/promoter regulates the expression of immediate-early gene products and initiation of CMV replication. TNF-alpha and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) strongly activate the promoter, possibly involving NF-kappaB. CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs), which contain unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in the context of particular base sequences, have gained attention because of their stimulating effects, via NF-kappaB, which have a strong innate immune response. To study the effects of LPS and CpG-ODNs, as well as the mechanisms of their actions regarding CMV IE enhancer/promoter activation, we used a macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. Stimulation of the cells with LPS or CpG-ODNs resulted in the activation of the CMV IE enhancer/promoter. We examined the involvement of NF-kappaB and c-Jun transcription factors by promoter deletion/site-specific mutation analysis and ectopic expression, and found them to have additive effects. Involvement of myeloid differentiation protein, an upstream regulator of NF-kappaB and c-Jun, was also investigated. Experimental results indicate that both LPS-induced and CpG-ODN-induced activations of CMV IE enhancer/promoter are mediated by Toll-like receptor signaling molecules. Several lines of evidence suggest the potential contribution of bacterial infection in CMV reactivation along with the potential application of CpG-ODNs in gene therapy as a stimulator for the optimal expression of target genes under the control of the CMV IE enhancer/promoter.

Ets-2 Repressor Factor (ERF) mediates repression of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early promoter in undifferentiated non-permissive cells

The repression of human cytomegalovirus immediate-early (IE) lytic gene expression is crucial for the maintenance of the latent viral state. By using conditionally permissive cell lines, which provide a good model for the differentiation state-dependent repression of IE gene expression, we have identified several cellular factors that bind to the major immediate-early promoter (MIEP) and whose expression is down-regulated after differentiation to a permissive phenotype. Here we show that the cellular protein Ets-2 Repressor Factor (ERF) physically interacts with the MIEP and represses MIEP activity in undifferentiated non-permissive T2 embryonal carcinoma cells. This factor binds to the dyad element and the 21 bp repeats within the MIEP - regions known to be important for the negative regulation of MIEP activity. Finally, we show that following differentiation to a permissive phenotype ERF's repressive effects are severely abrogated.

Latency and reactivation of human cytomegalovirus

The sequence analysis of herpesviruses suggests they have been evolving with their individual vertebrate hosts for millions of years, and their divergence parallels that of the hosts they infect. Given this time they have been learning to live with their individual hosts, it is not surprising that they have become extremely well adapted to doing so without causing much in the way of obvious disease. A key feature of their strategy for persisting in the host is the ability of all herpesviruses to establish latent infection-a state in which no, or only a very limited set of, viral genes are expressed in cells in which viral DNA persists. The alpha herpesviruses (herpes simplex and varicella zoster virus) establish latency in neuronal cells in sensory ganglia: these are long lived non-dividing cells and the alpha herpesviruses persist in these with expression of only the latency associated transcripts-although the function of these RNA transcripts remains incompletely understood. The principal gamma herpesvirus of humans, Epstein Barr virus (EBV), is latent mainly in B lymphocytes: EBV persistence in B cells is associated with expression of a limited set of viral genes encoding functions necessary for the maintenance of the episomal viral DNA as B cells divide.The mechanism by which the principal beta herpesvirus of humans-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) persists, is also incompletely understood and the subject of this review. Understanding how HCMV persists has clinical relevance in that its transmission to seronegative recipients might be more easily prevented, and the mechanisms by which it produces disease in the neonate and immunocompromised hosts more easily understood, if we knew more about the cells in which the virus is latent and the way in which it reactivates.

Nuclear cathepsin B-like protease cleaves transcription factor YY1 in differentiated cells

Differentiation of pluripotent cells into differentiated cell types involves changes in many aspects of cellular biochemistry. Many of these changes result in alterations of gene expression, which may occur by changing the activity of transcription factors. The cell line NTERA-2 (NT2) can be differentiated into various cell types by incubation with retinoic acid. The differentiated cell type is also permissive for infection with the human herpesvirus cytomegalovirus (CMV). The transcription factor YY1 has been shown to regulate the immediate-early promoter of CMV in a differentiation specific manner by binding to one site at -958 to -950 and to at least two sites in the enhancer. It is demonstrated here that there is a second YY1 site in the modulator between -995 and -987. Levels of YY1 DNA binding activity and protein decrease in NT2 cells as they are differentiated with retinoic acid. This decrease in protein is due to the degradation of YY1 by a cathepsin B-like activity found in nuclear extracts. The cleavage products of YY1 include the intact C-terminal half of the protein, which contains the zinc fingers and the DNA binding activity. This suggests a mechanism that allows expression of the CMV immediate-early promoter in differentiated cells.

High-throughput expression of fusion proteins

The expression of putative ORFs as fusion proteins can accelerate research greatly. The availability of an epitope tag allows the use of Western blotting as an efficient means to identify useful recombinant plasmids, which can then be used to study protein function. In addition, the epitope tag can be extremely useful in downstream applications such as protein purification, immunolocalization, and immunoprecipitation experiments. The preceding protocols should be applicable to a variety of expression vectors, and should be useful in the identification of functional plasmids. The protocols require no exotic equipment and can be adapted for use in high-throughput transfection assays, protein purification protocols, and immunolocalization studies.

Effect of a modulator deletion on transcription of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early genes in infected undifferentiated and differentiated cells

Differentiation-dependent expression of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) major immediate-early (MIE) genes, encoding IE1 and IE2, may partly govern virus replication in monocytic THP-1 and embryonal carcinoma (Tera-2) cells. The modulator of the MIE promoter was shown previously in transient transfection assays to repress transcription from promoter segments in undifferentiated THP-1 and Tera-2 cells but not in differentiated cells. To determine the biological importance of these findings, we constructed a recombinant HCMV (r delta MSVgpt) without a modulator. In comparison to wild-type (WT) virus, r delta MSVgpt exhibits a slight delay in growth in human fibroblasts, but there is no appreciable change in IE1 and IE2 transcription. Moreover, there is no appreciable change in the early/late kinetics of transcription of RNAs colinear with the predicted UL128 coding region, which is adjacent to the modulator, although the size distribution and abundance of these RNAs are altered. In infected undifferentiated THP-1 and Tera-2 cells, WT and r alpha MSVgpt viruses produce minimal but comparable amounts of IE1 RNAs. The genomes of both viruses are detectable in similar amounts within these undifferentiated cells. Induction of cellular differentiation before infection overcomes the block in MIE gene transcription. WT and r alpha MSVgpt infections of differentiated THP-1 cells produce similar levels of IE1 and IE2 RNAs. Thus, differentiation-dependent control of MIE gene transcription involves regulatory mechanisms other than the modulator. Possible alternative functions of the modulator are discussed.

Repression by a differentiation-specific factor of the human cytomegalovirus enhancer

We detected a novel nuclear protein, MRF, that binds to multiple sites on the modulator which is located upstream of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate early gene enhancer. The expression of MRF is differentiation specific; the DNA binding activity is present in nuclear extracts from undifferentiated Tera-2 and THP-1 cells, but significantly reduced after these cells are induced to differentiate. In undifferentiated cells the enhancer activity is repressed by the modulator and upon differentiation the enhancer becomes active. Competitive binding assays demonstrate that MRF requires the presence of multiple A+T stretches for binding to DNA, rather than binding to a specific DNA sequence. Mutations of these stretches in the modulator reduce the binding activity of MRF, as well as the repressing activity on the enhancer. These results suggest that MRF may act as a repressor of enhancer function. We propose that MRF binds over the entire modulator and exerts repressor activity.

The enhancer domain of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early promoter determines cell type-specific expression in transgenic mice

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) major immediate-early promoter (MIEP) is one of the first promoters to activate upon infection. To examine HCMV MIEP tissue-specific expression, transgenic mice were established containing the lacZ gene regulated by the MIEP (nucleotides -670 to +54). In the transgenic mice, lacZ expression was demonstrated in 19 of 29 tissues tested by histochemical and immunochemical analyses. These tissues included brain, eye, spinal cord, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, testis, ovary, spleen, salivary gland, thymus, bone marrow, skin, cartilage, and cardiac, striated and smooth muscles. Although expression was observed in multiple organs, promoter activity was restricted to specific cell types. The cell types which demonstrated HCMV MIEP expression included retinal cells of the eye, ductile cells of the salivary gland, exocrine cells of the pancreas, mucosal cells of the stomach and intestine, neuronal cells of the brain, muscle fibers, thecal cells of the corpus luteum, and Leydig and sperm cells of the testis. These observations indicate that the HCMV MIEP is not a pan-specific promoter and that the majority of expressing tissues correlate with tissues naturally infected by the virus in the human host.

Cell types involved in replication and distribution of human cytomegalovirus

As the number of patients suffering from severe HCMV infections has steadily increased, there is a growing need to understand the molecular mechanisms by which the virus causes disease. The factors that control infection at one time and the events leading to virus multiplication at another time are only beginning to be understood. The interaction of HCMV with different host cells is one key for elucidating these processes. Through modern techniques, much has been learned about the biology of HCMV infections in culture systems. In addition to endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts are one cell population preferentially infected in solid tissues in vivo. From these sites of multiplication, the virus may be carried by peripheral monocytes and circulating endothelial cells to reach distant sites of the body. This would explain the multiorgan involvement in acute HCMV infection and the modes of viral transmission. From what has been learned mainly from human fibroblast culture systems, future studies will focus on how HCMV regulates the expression of its putative 200 genes in different host cells at different stages of cell differentiation and activation to result in viral latency and pathogenesis.

Regulation of human cytomegalovirus US3 gene transcription by a cis-repressive sequence

Regulation of immediate-early gene expression in human cytomegalovirus is subject to complex controls. The major immediate-early (mIE) gene is regulated by both positive and negative regulatory signals, including autoregulation mediated by a cis-repressive sequence. A second immediate-early gene, the US3 gene, is transcribed with kinetic similar to those of the mIE gene. I have identified an element present in the US3 gene located from -1 to -13 (relative to the start site of transcription) that mediates a decrease in US3 transcription. The US3 element resembles the cis-repressive element of the mIE gene in sequence, position, and function. The common theme of negative regulation of immediate-early genes shortly after infection suggests that a decrease in the level of immediate-early proteins may be critical for viral replication.

Developmental disorders of the mouse brain induced by murine cytomegalovirus: animal models for congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Developmental disorders induced by congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection mainly involve the central nervous system. The type and degree of the brain disorders seems to depend on infection time during gestation, virulence, route of infection and viral susceptible cells in each embryonal stage. Since transplacental transmission has been reported not to occur with murine CMV (MCMV), we developed mouse models for congenital CMV infection by surgical injection of MCMV into the mouse conceptus or embryo at different gestational stages. For the early stage, the mouse embryos were not infected with MCMV even after injecting the virus into the blastocysts, which were developed in the pseudo-pregnant mothers or cultured in vitro. Isolated whole mouse embryos of day 7.5 of gestation (E7.5), adsorbed with a high titer of MCMV and cultured for 3 days, were susceptible to MCMV infection. Therefore, the mouse embryo acquires the susceptibility around this period. Microphthalmia and cerebral atrophy were induced in mouse embryos after injection of MCMV into the conceptus on E8.5. Viral antigen-positive cells were widely distributed in the mesenchyme around the oral and nasal cavities and in the mesenchyme around the brain, especially the endothelial cells of vessels and the perivascular mesodermal cells, then infection extends to the eyes, brain or choroid plexus. This finding suggests that mesenchymal infection may be the critical step in disrupting organogenesis, resulting in brain disorders. For the late stage, mouse embryos were infected with MCMV by injecting the virus into the cerebral ventricles on E15.5. Brains of the offspring showed massive necrosis with gliomesodermal proliferation in the cerebral cortex. Viral antigen-positive cells were observed in laminar array in the lesion-free cortex and the hippocampus, suggesting that the infected cells migrate in association with the lamina formation. Immunohistochemical double-staining showed that brain cells susceptible to MCMV infection may be mainly neuronal and endothelial cells, resulting in cerebral atrophy with reduction of neuronal cells and cystic lesions, presumably due to ischemic vascular changes.

DNA-binding proteins that interact with the 19-base pair (CRE-like) element from the HCMV major immediate early promoter in differentiating human embryonal carcinoma cells

The pluripotent human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line NTERA-2 provides a useful tool for investigating cell differentiation in a way that is pertinent to the development of the early human embryo. The major immediate early (MIE) gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which is not transcribed in undifferentiated NTERA-2 EC cells but is transcribed in their differentiated derivatives, offers a model with which to study the developmental regulation of gene activity during the differentiation of these cells. We have investigated the regulatory activity of the cAMP response elements (CRE) and the activation protein (AP1) site found within several repeated 19-base-pair (bp) elements from the HCMV MIE promoter, and the developmental regulation of nuclear DNA-binding factors that interact with these sites. The 19-bp CRE but not the AP1 site is responsive to cAMP in undifferentiated NTERA-2 EC and its activity is enhanced upon differentiation. Nuclear proteins of the CREB, Fos, and Jun families bind to these sites, but, surprisingly, their levels only show limited regulation during NTERA-2 differentiation. This contrasts with results obtained with murine EC cells. However, additional and apparently novel proteins with molecular weights between 80,000 and 90,000, and binding specificities for both CRE and AP1 sites, were detected in undifferentiated EC cells. The activity of these proteins decreased markedly after differentiation, indicating their involvement in negative regulation of the CRE/AP1-like site in undifferentiated EC cells. This suggests novel members able to interact via leucine zippers with other members of the Jun-Fos-CREB family of DNA binding proteins that are also involved in this regulation.

An isoform variant of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early auto repressor functions as a transcriptional activator

The major immediate-early promoter (MIEP) of human cytomegalovirus directs the expression of several differentially spliced and polyadenylated mRNAs. These mRNAs encode nuclear phosphorproteins (IE55, IE72, and IE86), which consist of common and unique amino acid sequences. To date, very little is known of the functional role of the 55-kDa (IE55) protein. Here we present evidence that the IE55 protein is a positive activator of the MIEP. In human fibroblast cells IE55 protein activated the MIEP between 10- and 30-fold. Fusion of IE55 to the GAL4 DNA binding domain resulted in a chimeric protein capable of trans-activating a reporter with GAL4 recognition sequences. These results strongly suggest that IE55 is a bona fide transcriptional activator protein. In addition, the IE55 protein was found not to act synergistically with the IE72 activator protein. The IE55 protein shares the same amino acid sequence as IE86 except for a 154-amino-acid deletion at the C-terminal end of the protein. These proteins were functionally antagonistic; IE55 relieved repression by IE86 and, conversely, IE86 negated IE55 activation. Mutagenesis of the MIEP revealed that the target sequence for activation by IE55 is different from the IE86 autorepressive response element. These experiments suggest that the mechanism of action of the IE55 and IE86 isoforms is distinct. Moreover, from these results it is apparent that the interplay of these factors might be critical in determining the level of HCMV replication in the host.

Susceptibility of mouse embryo to murine cytomegalovirus infection in early and mid-gestation stages

The susceptibility of mouse embryonic cells to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection was studied by injecting the virus in the early and mid-gestation stages. For the early stage, blastocysts from BDF1 mice were injected with MCMV or minimal essential medium (MEM) by micromanipulator and returned to the uteri of pseudopregnant ICR mice. On day 11 of gestation, the embryos were examined immunohistochemically, using antibody specific to the early antigen of MCMV, and the placentae were examined by plaque assay. No infection was detected by either method. Furthermore, no infection was detected in MCMV-infected blastocysts that were cultured and examined for infection by immunofluorescence. For mid-gestation embryos, the conceptus was injected with MCMV on day 8.5 of gestation and was subjected to immunohistochemical analysis from day 10.5 to 12.5 of gestation. Viral antigen-positive cells were first observed in the placentae, then antigen-positive cells appeared among the blood cells, endothelial and mesodermal cells of the embryos. On day 12.5 of gestation, clusters of viral antigen-positive cells were sometimes observed in the hearts and livers. Although the incidence was lower, viral antigen-positive cells were also observed in the neuroectoderm and the eyes. These results suggest that MCMV does not infect early embryos and that infection first occurs in the placenta of postimplantation embryos, whence it extends through the blood cells to the endothelial and mesodermal cells of different embryonic regions, eventually extending to the neuroectoderm.

Sodium butyrate-inducible replication of human cytomegalovirus in a human epithelial cell line

Replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in a human epithelial thyroid papillary carcinoma cell line (TPC-1) was restricted. However, pretreatment of these cells with 5 mM sodium butyrate (NaB) for 24 hr before infection enhanced both HCMV yield and infectious center titer to a similar level of that seen in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells. Immunofluorescence staining, gel electrophoresis, and Northern blot analysis revealed that TPC-1 cells are nonpermissive for expression of HCMV major immediate early (IE1) functions, but many of the cells become permissive after being treated with NaB. The presence of cycloheximide during NaB pretreatment of the cells efficiently diminished the stimulatory effect of NaB on expression of the IE1 gene. Therefore, it appeared that NaB induces the synthesis of a cellular protein(s) which apparently plays an important role in the conversion of nonpermissive cells to a permissive state for expression of this critical viral gene. Transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay experiments indicated that in TPC-1 cells the HCMV-CAT construct which contains the complete IE1 promoter regulatory region was expressed poorly, whereas a high level of CAT activity was detectable in the NaB-treated cells. Therefore, these results suggest that the enhancing effect of NaB on HCMV replication is expressed through some host cellular factor(s), and the HCMV IE1 promoter regulatory region is most likely to be the primary target of NaB action.

Unusual cell specific expression of a major human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene promoter-lacZ hybrid gene in transgenic mouse embryos

Transgenic mice carrying the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene promoter driving the E. coli lacZ gene displayed an unusual cell specific expression of beta-galactosidase during development. LacZ expression was first detected in cells lining the apex of the neural fold of day 8.5 embryos. By day 10 of gestation, expression was prominent in the spinal ganglia, the ganglia of cranial nerves V, VII, VIII, IX, and X, in a line of cells marking the ventrolateral pathway adjacent to the dermamyotome, and in a column of differentiated cells in the entire ventrolateral neural tube posterior to the mesencephalon. Expression was also found in the myotomes. Neural tube explants from day 8.5 embryos cultured in vitro showed lacZ expression in cells migrating away from the explant. We conclude that the HCMV-IEP-lacZ transgene is expressed in a subpopulation of neural crest cells and its early derivatives.

Elements in the transcriptional regulatory region flanking herpes simplex virus type 1 oriS stimulate origin function

Like other DNA-containing viruses, the three origins of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA replication are flanked by sequences containing transcriptional regulatory elements. In a transient plasmid replication assay, deletion of sequences comprising the transcriptional regulatory elements of ICP4 and ICP22/47, which flank oriS, resulted in a greater than 80-fold decrease in origin function compared with a plasmid, pOS-822, which retains these sequences. In an effort to identify specific cis-acting elements responsible for this effect, we conducted systematic deletion analysis of the flanking region with plasmid pOS-822 and tested the resulting mutant plasmids for origin function. Stimulation by cis-acting elements was shown to be both distance and orientation dependent, as changes in either parameter resulted in a decrease in oriS function. Additional evidence for the stimulatory effect of flanking sequences on origin function was demonstrated by replacement of these sequences with the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter, resulting in nearly wild-type levels of oriS function. In competition experiments, cotransfection of cells with the test plasmid, pOS-822, and increasing molar concentrations of a competitor plasmid which contained the ICP4 and ICP22/47 transcriptional regulatory regions but lacked core origin sequences resulted in a significant reduction in the replication efficiency of pOS-822, demonstrating that factors which bind specifically to the oriS-flanking sequences are likely involved as auxiliary proteins in oriS function. Together, these studies demonstrate that trans-acting factors and the sites to which they bind play a critical role in the efficiency of HSV-1 DNA replication from oriS in transient-replication assays.

The human cytomegalovirus immediate early enhancer-promoter is responsive to activation by the adenovirus-5 13S E1A gene

The stimulatory effects of the 13S adenovirus E1A gene product on the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) major immediate early (IE) enhancer were examined. Chimeric plasmids containing cloned portions of the HCMV major IE enhancer-promoter positioned upstream of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (cat) were cotransfected into HeLa cells with the plasmid p13S-wt which contained a cDNA encoding the adenovirus 13S E1A gene product. CAT expression from chimeric plasmids containing at least one copy of the HCMV 19 base pair (bp) repetitive motif was stimulated 10-fold in the presence of p13S-wt. The 19-bp motif contains a potential binding site for the cellular transcription factor ATF/CREB. Deletion analysis indicated that the ATF/CREB site was crucial for E1A-mediated stimulation. Insertion of a synthetic oligonucleotide homologous to a 19-bp motif and containing an ATF/CREB binding site into an HCMV chimera lacking ATF/CREB motifs conferred E1A responsivity on HCMV promoter-mediated CAT expression whereas insertion of a similar oligonucleotide containing a change of two bases in the sequence of the ATF/CREB site did not. Measurement of CAT-specific RNA verified the results of the CAT enzyme experiments. The ATF/CREB motif may be a target for stimulation of HCMV gene expression through either viral or cellular transcription factors.

Interactions between cellular regulatory proteins and a unique sequence region in the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early promoter

Transcription from the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early promoter is dependent on host-cell regulatory proteins. The interactions between cellular nuclear proteins and a unique sequence located from nucleotide position -660 to -540 was investigated. The unique region presents a defined target for multiple distinct DNA-binding proteins which appear, in part, to have overlapping binding sites. A minimum of five sequence-specific DNA-binding activities that interact with sequences between -632 and -602, -602 and -557, -602 and -590, -563 and -540, and -602 and -582 were detected. Evidence is presented to suggest that the -632 to -602 site, a previously characterized nuclear factor 1 binding site, does not bind NF1 but strongly interacts with a distinct cellular factor. The binding of cellular proteins to the unique sequence region was shown to be important in directing transcription from the major immediate-early promoter.

Expression of the acidic nuclear immediate-early protein (IE1) of human cytomegalovirus in stable cell lines and its preferential association with metaphase chromosomes

Stable DNA-transfected Vero cell lines that express the major immediate-early nuclear antigen (IE68) of HCMV-(Towne) have been established. Immunofluorescence staining with monoclonal antibodies revealed that the protein was distributed either in a uniform diffuse nuclear pattern or as punctate nuclear granules in up to 80% of the cells in these cultures. In addition, 1 to 2% of the positive nuclei gave a distinctive staining pattern suggesting an association with the chromosomes of mitotic cells. Colcemid-blocking studies confirmed that most of the IE antigen was localized in the vicinity of condensed chromosomes in all metaphase cells after methanol fixation. In contrast, the SV40 large T-antigen protein was found to be preferentially excluded from metaphase chromosomes in a similar colcemid-treated human cell line. In transient expression assays, 1 to 2% of IE antigen-positive Vero, 293, or Balb/c3T3 cells also displayed a metaphase chromosome association pattern. Mapping studies using deletion and truncation mutants revealed that the monoclonal antibodies recognized epitopes encoded within the small NH2-terminal exons that are common to both the IE1 and IE2 gene products. However, an intact exon-4 (IE1) region, but not the exon-5 (IE2) region of the HCMV IE gene complex, was required for conferring both the normal diffuse nuclear localization pattern and the chromosome-association properties. Furthermore, removal of the glutamic acid-rich COOH-terminal coding portions of exon-4 resulted in aberrant staining patterns with production of large, phase-dense nuclear globules in all positive cells. An association between the IE68 IE1 protein and metaphase chromosomes was also detected after HCMV-(Towne) infection in a small proportion of both nonpermissive Balb/c3T3 cells and permissive HF cells. We conclude that the IE1 acidic nuclear phosphoprotein displays some properties similar to those of the EBNA-1 protein of Epstein-Barr virus and suggest that it may potentially play a role in maintenance of the latent state of HCMV DNA.

The chemical carcinogen, chloroacetaldehyde, modifies a specific site within the regulatory sequence of human cytomegalovirus major immediate early gene in vivo

The reaction of chemical carcinogens with DNA is well documented, but whether this interaction occurs at specific sites in chromatin is unknown. We have examined in vivo the reaction of a known carcinogen, chloroacetaldehyde, with the active and inactive major immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus. We found that during active transcription of the gene, this chemical carcinogen reacts with a unique DNA site in the 5' flanking sequence of the major immediate early gene. However, no reaction was detected in infected nonpermissive cells in which the gene was inactive. The chloroacetaldehyde-reactive site is located at -836 +/- 10 bp from the mRNA cap site in the part of the regulatory region that can both negatively and positively affect promoter activity [Nelson et al., Mol Cell Biol 7:4125-4129, 1987]. These results suggest, at least in the case of chloroacetaldehyde, the possibility that the molecular mechanism of chemical carcinogenesis involves a chemical reaction at specific sites in chromatin within the sequences responsible for regulation of gene expression. Such carcinogen-DNA interaction occurs as a consequence of a non-B DNA structure that contains unpaired DNA bases existing at specific sites in chromatin.