Prolactin upstream factor I mediates cell-specific transcription

Coactivators enable glucocorticoid receptor recruitment to fine-tune estrogen receptor transcriptional responses

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are central regulators of pathophysiological processes; however, how their responses intertwine is still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether and how steroid NRs can influence each other’s activity under co-agonist treatment. We used a unique system consisting of a multicopy integration of an estrogen receptor responsive unit that allows direct visualization and quantification of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) DNA binding, co-regulator recruitment and transcriptional readout. We find that ERα DNA loading is required for other type I nuclear receptors to be co-recruited after dual agonist treatment. We focused on ERα/glucocorticoid receptor interplay and demonstrated that it requires steroid receptor coactivators (SRC-2, SRC-3) and the mediator component MED14. We then validated this cooperative interplay on endogenous target genes in breast cancer cells. Taken together, this work highlights another layer of mechanistic complexity through which NRs cross-talk with each other on chromatin under multiple hormonal stimuli.

Binding of thymic factors to the conserved decanucleotide promoter element of the T-cell receptor V beta gene is developmentally regulated and is absent in SCID mice

The gene segments encoding the beta chain of the T-cell antigen receptor undergo rearrangement in a precise developmental order: a D beta gene segment joins to a J beta gene segment prior to the rearrangement of a V beta gene segment to join the D/J beta fusion. Current evidence suggests that the rearrangement of V beta is restricted to T cells, whereas D-to-J beta rearrangements may occur in both B and T cells. Thus, the T-cell specificity seems to be regulated by the V beta coding region or its 5' flanking sequence. In support of this hypothesis, evidence is provided for thymus-specific factors that bind a highly conserved 10-base-pair (decamer) sequence that is an essential promoter element in mouse and human V beta genes. The presence of decamer-binding activities was assayed by gel mobility-shift analysis using protein extracts from thymus, spleen, and nonlymphoid organs of adult mice. Two shifted complexes, designated T2 and T3, were seen only when the decamer was incubated with extracts from thymus. When extracts from mice of various gestational ages were tested for decamer-binding activity, one of the thymus-specific complexes, T2, was first detected at day 16; this coincides with the time of initial activation of the V beta locus. No decamer-binding activity was detected in extracts prepared from the thymuses of SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice, which characteristically fail to rearrange these genes. Moreover, neither T2 nor T3 was detectable with extracts from spleen or from two T-cell lines that express the beta chain; this suggests that the presence of these two complexes is not absolutely required for transcription of the T-cell receptor beta locus. We conclude that there are tissue-specific and developmentally regulated factors that form complexes with the decamer sequence 5' of V beta; these may represent initiation factors that control the activation of germ-line T-cell receptor V beta genes for transcription and/or rearrangement.

Regulatory elements controlling pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin gene

We have performed transfection and DNase I footprinting experiments to investigate pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin (hPRL) gene. When fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene, 5,000 base pairs of the 5'-flanking sequences of the hPRL gene were able to drive high cat gene expression in prolactin-expressing GH3B6 cells specifically. Deletion analysis indicated that this pituitary-specific expression was controlled by three main positive regulatory regions. The first was located just upstream from the TATA box between coordinates -40 and -250 (proximal region). We have previously shown that three motifs of this region bind the pituitary-specific Pit-1 factor. The second positive region was located in the vicinity of coordinates -1300 to -1750 (distal region). DNase I footprinting assays revealed that eight DNA motifs of this distal region bound protein Pit-1 and that two other motifs were recognized by ubiquitous factors, one of which seems to belong to the AP-1 (jun) family. The third positive region was located further upstream, between -3500 and -5000 (superdistal region). This region appears to enhance transcription only in the presence of the distal region.

Regulatory elements controlling pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin gene

We have performed transfection and DNase I footprinting experiments to investigate pituitary-specific expression of the human prolactin (hPRL) gene. When fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene, 5,000 base pairs of the 5'-flanking sequences of the hPRL gene were able to drive high cat gene expression in prolactin-expressing GH3B6 cells specifically. Deletion analysis indicated that this pituitary-specific expression was controlled by three main positive regulatory regions. The first was located just upstream from the TATA box between coordinates -40 and -250 (proximal region). We have previously shown that three motifs of this region bind the pituitary-specific Pit-1 factor. The second positive region was located in the vicinity of coordinates -1300 to -1750 (distal region). DNase I footprinting assays revealed that eight DNA motifs of this distal region bound protein Pit-1 and that two other motifs were recognized by ubiquitous factors, one of which seems to belong to the AP-1 (jun) family. The third positive region was located further upstream, between -3500 and -5000 (superdistal region). This region appears to enhance transcription only in the presence of the distal region.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the rat prolactin gene by calcium

The rat prolactin gene is expressed at a high basal level in the pituitary tumor GH3 cell line. Culturing GH3 cells in a low-Ca2+, serum-free medium (SFM) depresses prolactin mRNA levels, and subsequent addition of Ca2+ to the SFM results in a specific, gradual, and sustained increase in prolactin mRNA levels. We have now examined whether the observed increase in prolactin mRNA levels can be attributed solely to an increase in the transcriptional rate of the prolactin gene. Treatment of GH3 cells in SFM with 0.4 mM CaCl2 for 24 to 48 h increased cytoplasmic prolactin mRNA levels by 5- to 10-fold, whereas the transcriptional rate of the prolactin gene was increased by less than twofold over values for SFM controls. Prolactin mRNA levels increased progressively during the 24-h period after Ca2+ addition, whereas prolactin gene transcription never exceeded a twofold increase over values for SFM controls. The activities of nuclear extracts from control and Ca2(+)-induced cells were examined in an in vitro transcription assay. The two extracts directed transcription from the prolactin promoter and the adenovirus major late promoter equally well. Cycloheximide had no effect on the ability of Ca2+ to increase or maintain prolactin mRNA levels. In dactinomycin mRNA clearance experiments, prolactin mRNA was cleared at the same rate in the absence and presence of Ca2+. These results demonstrate that although Ca2+ has a small effect on the transcriptional rate of the prolactin gene, Ca2+ produces a significant increase in prolactin mRNA levels by acting at a posttranscriptional site(s). Furthermore, Ca(2+) appears to increase prolactin mRNA levels by posttranslational modification of a stable protein, probably at a nuclear site.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of the rat prolactin gene by calcium

The rat prolactin gene is expressed at a high basal level in the pituitary tumor GH3 cell line. Culturing GH3 cells in a low-Ca2+, serum-free medium (SFM) depresses prolactin mRNA levels, and subsequent addition of Ca2+ to the SFM results in a specific, gradual, and sustained increase in prolactin mRNA levels. We have now examined whether the observed increase in prolactin mRNA levels can be attributed solely to an increase in the transcriptional rate of the prolactin gene. Treatment of GH3 cells in SFM with 0.4 mM CaCl2 for 24 to 48 h increased cytoplasmic prolactin mRNA levels by 5- to 10-fold, whereas the transcriptional rate of the prolactin gene was increased by less than twofold over values for SFM controls. Prolactin mRNA levels increased progressively during the 24-h period after Ca2+ addition, whereas prolactin gene transcription never exceeded a twofold increase over values for SFM controls. The activities of nuclear extracts from control and Ca2(+)-induced cells were examined in an in vitro transcription assay. The two extracts directed transcription from the prolactin promoter and the adenovirus major late promoter equally well. Cycloheximide had no effect on the ability of Ca2+ to increase or maintain prolactin mRNA levels. In dactinomycin mRNA clearance experiments, prolactin mRNA was cleared at the same rate in the absence and presence of Ca2+. These results demonstrate that although Ca2+ has a small effect on the transcriptional rate of the prolactin gene, Ca2+ produces a significant increase in prolactin mRNA levels by acting at a posttranscriptional site(s). Furthermore, Ca(2+) appears to increase prolactin mRNA levels by posttranslational modification of a stable protein, probably at a nuclear site.

Dual functions of a cis-acting element within the rat prolactin gene promoter

Within the promoter region of the rat prolactin gene lies a TA-rich imperfect palindrome. The possible functions of the 18-base-pair symmetrical sequence were investigated by using an in vitro transcription system. Prolactin templates with and without the palindrome were transcriptionally assayed in both pituitary and nonpituitary extracts. Our results indicated that the palindromic sequence has at least two functions in the regulation of prolactin transcription.

Dual functions of a cis-acting element within the rat prolactin gene promoter

Within the promoter region of the rat prolactin gene lies a TA-rich imperfect palindrome. The possible functions of the 18-base-pair symmetrical sequence were investigated by using an in vitro transcription system. Prolactin templates with and without the palindrome were transcriptionally assayed in both pituitary and nonpituitary extracts. Our results indicated that the palindromic sequence has at least two functions in the regulation of prolactin transcription.