A liver-specific nuclear factor interacts with the promoter region of the large surface protein gene of human hepatitis B virus

Novel Genetic Rearrangements in Hepatitis B Virus: Complex Structural Variations and Structural Variation Polymorphisms

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes serious clinical problems, such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current antiviral treatments suppress HBV; however, the clinical cure rate remains low. Basic research on HBV is indispensable to eradicate and cure HBV. Genetic alterations are defined by nucleotide substitutions and canonical forms of structural variations (SVs), such as insertion, deletion and duplication. Additionally, genetic changes inconsistent with the canonical forms have been reported, and these have been termed complex SVs. Detailed analyses of HBV using bioinformatical applications have detected complex SVs in HBV genomes. Sequence gaps and low sequence similarity have been observed in the region containing complex SVs. Additionally, insertional motif sequences have been observed in HBV strains with complex SVs. Following the analyses of complex SVs in the HBV genome, the role of SVs in the genetic diversity of orthohepadnavirus has been investigated. SV polymorphisms have been detected in comparisons of several species of orthohepadnaviruses. As mentioned, complex SVs are composed of multiple SVs. On the contrary, SV polymorphisms are observed as insertions of different SVs. Up to a certain point, nucleotide substitutions cause genetic differences. However, at some point, the nucleotide sequences are split into several particular patterns. These SVs have been observed as polymorphic changes. Different species of orthohepadnaviruses possess SVs which are unique and specific to a certain host of the virus. Studies have shown that SVs play an important role in the HBV genome. Further studies are required to elucidate their virologic and clinical roles.

Characterization of hepatitis B virus with complex structural variations

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious public health issues. Recent HBV genetic research has revealed novel genetic rearrangements termed complex structural variations (SVs), which are composed of combinations of SVs such as insertions, deletions, and duplications. An extensive search was made for complex SVs of HBV and their characteristics were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-five HBV strains with complex SVs were identified by analyzing genetic sequences of HBV with bioinformatical tools. Along with 15 HBV strains with complex SVs in a previous report, a total of 70 HBV strains harboring complex SVs were analyzed. Complex SVs in the HBV genome were located frequently between nt 1500 and 2000. Insertions were observed in 65/70 (92.9%) of HBV strains with complex SVs. As insertional motif sequences, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 binding site, a sequence complementary to part of box α in enhancer II, and insertions of unknown origins were observed. The complex SVs were classified into six groups, and combination of insertion and deletion was observed more frequently than other patterns.

CONCLUSION

Through an extensive search of HBV sequences, new strains with complex SVs were identified in this study. Characteristics of HBV with complex SVs were clarified by the analysis of 70 HBV strains harboring complex SVs. Further investigation is required to elucidate its role in pathogenesis of HBV-related liver disease.

Specific expression and regulation of hepassocin in the liver and down-regulation of the correlation of HNF1alpha with decreased levels of hepassocin in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepassocin (HPS), is a liver-specific gene with mitogenic activity on isolated hepatocytes. It is up-regulated following partial hepatectomy and down-regulated frequently in heptocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, very little is known about the HPS transcription regulation mechanism. In this study, we identified HNF1alpha (hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha) as an important liver-specific cis-acting element for HPS using in vivo luciferase assays. Deletion of the HNF1 binding site not only led to a complete loss of HPS promoter activity in vivo but also abolished the induction of the HPS promoter by HNF1alpha. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that HNF1alpha interacted with the HPS gene promoter in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that HNF1alpha interacted with HMGB1 and CREB-binding protein, and all of them were recruited to the HPS promoter in vivo. Moreover, HNF1alpha expression was lower in HCC cell lines and tissues and correlated significantly with the down-regulation of HPS expression. Re-expression of HNF1alpha in human hepatoma HepG2 cells reinduced HPS expression. In contrast, knockdown of endogenous HNF1alpha expression by small interfering RNA resulted in a significant reduction of HPS expression. Furthermore, we found that partial hepatectomy and IL-6 significantly induced promoter activity of HPS, depending on STAT3 and HNF1 binding sites in the HPS promoter. These results demonstrate that the HNF1 binding site and HNF1alpha are critical to liver-specific expression of HPS, and down-regulation or loss of HNF1alpha causes, at least in part, the transcriptional down-regulation of HPS in HCC.

Enhancer I predominance in hepatitis B virus gene expression

Previous studies of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcription revealed the requirement of two enhancer elements. Enhancer I (EnhI) is located upstream of the X promoter and is targeted by multiple activators, including basic leucine zipper proteins, and enhancer II (EnhII) is located upstream to the PreCore promoter and is targeted mainly by nuclear receptors (NRs). The mode of interplay between these enhancers and their unique contributions in regulating HBV transcription remained obscure. By using time course analysis we revealed that the HBV transcripts are categorized into early and late groups. Chang (CCL-13) cells are impaired in expression of the late transcripts. This could be corrected by overexpressing EnhII activators, such as hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha, the retinoid X receptor alpha, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, suggesting that in Chang cells EnhI but not EnhII is active. Replacing the 5'-end EnhI sequence with a synthetic Gal4 response (UAS) DNA fragment ceased the production of the early transcripts. Under this condition NR overexpression poorly activated EnhII. However, activation of the UAS by Gal4-p53 restored both the expression of the early transcripts and the EnhII response to NRs. Thus, a functional EnhI is required for activation of EnhII. We found a major difference between Gal4-p53 and Gal4-VP16 behavior. Gal4-p53 activated the early transcripts, while Gal4-VP16 inhibited the early transcripts but activated the late transcripts. These findings indicate that the composition of the EnhI binding proteins may play a role in early to late switching. Our data provides strong evidence for the role of EnhI in regulating global and temporal HBV gene expression.

Transcriptional repression of human hepatitis B virus genes by a bZIP family member, E4BP4

Box alpha is an essential element of both the upstream regulatory sequence of the core promoter and the second enhancer, which positively regulate the transcription of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) genes. In this paper, we describe the cloning and characterization of a box alpha binding protein, E4BP4. E4BP4 is a bZIP type of transcription factor. Overexpression of E4BP4 represses the stimulating activity of box alpha in the upstream regulatory sequence of the core promoter and the second enhancer in differentiated human hepatoma cell lines. E4BP4 can also suppress the transcription of HBV genes and the production of HBV virions in a transient-transfection system that mimics the viral infection in vivo. Expression of an E4BP4 antisense transcript can, instead, elevate the transcription of the core promoter. A low abundance of E4BP4 protein and mRNA in differentiated human hepatoma cell lines is detected, and E4BP4 is not a major component of box alpha binding proteins in untransfected differentiated human hepatoma cell lines. C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta, in contrast, are major components of the box alpha binding activity present in nuclear extracts. E4BP4 has a stronger binding affinity towards box alpha than the endogenous box alpha binding activity present in nuclear extracts. Structure and function analysis of E4BP4 reveals that DNA binding activity is sufficient to confer the negative regulatory function of E4BP4. These results indicate that binding site occlusion is the mechanism whereby E4BP4 suppresses transcription in HBV.

Liver enriched transcription factors and differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma

The development of a complex organism relies on the precise temporal and spacial expression of its genome in many different cell types. The unique phenotype of hepatocytes arises from the expression of genes in a liver specific fashion, which is controlled primarily at the level of mRNA synthesis. By analysing DNA sequences implicated in liver specific transcription, it has been possible to identify members of the nuclear proteins, such as the liver enriched transactivating factors, hepatic nuclear factor 1(HNF-1), HNF-3, HNF-4, HNF-6, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), and D binding protein (DBP), which are key elements in the liver specific transcriptional regulation of genes. Each of these factors is characterised by DNA binding domains that bind to unique DNA sequences (cis-acting factors) in the promoter and enhancer regions of genes expressed in terminally differentiated hepatocytes (such as, albumin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, transthyretin, alpha-fetoprotein). The determination of the tissue distribution of these factors and analysis of their hierarchical relations has led to the hypothesis that the cooperation of liver enriched transcription factors with the ubiquitous transactivating factors is necessary, and possibly even sufficient, for the maintenance of liver specific gene transcription. With the increase in information about transcriptional regulation, it should be possible to evaluate fully the clinicopathological usefulness of transcription factors in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Members of the nuclear receptor superfamily regulate transcription from the hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid promoter

The role of members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors in regulating hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcription was investigated. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4), the retinoid X receptor (RXR), and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) were examined for their capacity to modulate the level of transcriptional activity from the four HBV promoters by transient-transfection analysis in the dedifferentiated hepatoma cell line, HepG2.1. It was found that the nucleocapsid and large surface antigen promoters were transactivated in the presence of HNF4 whereas the enhancer I/X gene, nucleocapsid, and large surface antigen promoters were transactivated in the presence of RXR and PPAR. Characterization of the nuclear receptors interacting with the nucleocapsid promoter region demonstrated that HNF4 is the primary transcription factor binding to the regulatory region spanning nucleotides -127 to -102 whereas HNF4, RXR-PPAR heterodimers, COUPTF1, and ARP1 bind the regulatory region spanning nucleotides -34 to -7. Transcriptional transactivation from the nucleocapsid promoter by HNF4 appears to be mediated through the two HNF4 binding sites in the promoter, whereas modulation of the level of transcription from the nucleocapsid promoter by RXR-PPAR appears to be regulated by the regulatory sequence element spanning nucleotides -34 to -7 and the HBV enhancer 1 region. These observations indicate that HBV transcription, and pregenomic RNA synthesis in particular, is regulated by ligand-dependent nuclear receptors. Agonists and antagonists capable of regulating the activity of these nuclear receptors may permit the modulation of HBV transcription and consequently replication during viral infection.

A functional hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 binding site is a critical component of the duck hepatitis B virus major surface antigen promoter

The gene coding for the S protein, the smaller of the two envelope antigens of the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), is transcribed from a TATA-less promoter. In this study, we localized the promoter to a 245-bp segment of the genome that was capable of efficiently driving expression of a linked reporter gene upon transient transfection into the differentiated hepatoma cell lines LMH and HepG2. However, no measurable activity from this construct could be detected in similar assays with the dedifferentiated cell line HepG2.1 or the nonhepatic cell line HeLa. Located at position -25 relative to the transcriptional start site was a sequence conforming to the consensus binding site for hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF3). Deletion of this region reduced activity of the reporter gene to barely detectable levels in LMH cells. The results of electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA) demonstrated that a double-stranded oligonucleotide containing this sequence formed a specific complex with DNA-binding proteins from LMH and HepG2 cells but not with nuclear extracts obtained from HepG2.1 or HeLa cells. Cotransfection of HepG2.1 cells with DHBV S promoter constructs and a rat HNF3beta expression plasmid resulted in transactivation of only those constructs in which the candidate HNF3 site was present. Furthermore, EMSA using HepG2.1 nuclear extracts containing exogenously expressed HNF3 formed complexes with the same migration and competition properties as those in which the proteins were derived from the differentiated hepatoma cells. Thus, several lines of evidence suggest a critical role for HNF3 in activity from the DHBV S promoter.

Type, prevalence, and significance of core promoter/enhancer II mutations in hepatitis B viruses from immunosuppressed patients with severe liver disease

Little is known about the functional significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequence heterogeneity. Here we analyzed the type, frequency, and function of mutations in the core promoter/enhancer II region of HBV in immunosuppressed patients. The major HBV population in immunosuppressed patients with severe liver disease had deletions, insertions, and/or base changes in this region. Such mutations were not found in immunosuppressed patients with mild disease. Except for two mutations, all created a hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) binding site or a potential HNF3 binding site. Occasionally, known binding sites for C/EBP and HNF4 were additionally duplicated. Eleven mutated core promoter prototype sequences were functionally tested in the context of a wild-type genome by transfection in Huh7 cells. Despite the diversity of mutations tested, all decreased steady-state levels of pre-C mRNA drastically and increased those of the C mRNA/ pregenomic RNA. This correlated with reduced levels of secreted hepatitis B e antigen and increased intracellular levels of core and Pol proteins and replicative HBV DNA intermediates. The levels of secreted HBV DNA-containing particles were also increased although most of the mutations reduced the levels of pre-S/S mRNA and pre-S1, and pre-S2 proteins as well as secretion of hepatitis B surface antigen. These data reveal a novel class of HBV variants with HNF1 binding sites in the core promoter which are characterized by a defect in hepatitis B e antigen expression, enhanced replication, and altered protein levels, all probably mediated by altered transcription factor binding. The phenotype of these variants and their prevalence only in immunosuppressed patients with severe liver disease may indicate that they play a role in pathogenesis.

Repression of enhancer II activity by a negative regulatory element in the hepatitis B virus genome

Enhancer II of human hepatitis B virus has dual functions in vivo. Located at nucleotides (nt) 1646 to 1741, it can stimulate the surface and X promoters from a downstream position. Moreover, the same sequence can also function as upstream regulatory element that activates the core promoter in a position- and orientation-dependent manner. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of a negative regulatory element (NRE) upstream of enhancer II (nt 1613 to 1636) which can repress both the enhancer and upstream stimulatory function of the enhancer II sequence in differentiated liver cells. This NRE has marginal inhibitory effect by itself but a strong repressive function in the presence of a functional enhancer II. Mutational analysis reveals that sequence from nt 1616 to 1621 is required for repression of enhancer activity by the NRE. Gel shift analysis reveals that this negative regulatory region can be recognized by a specific protein factor(s) present at the 0.4 M NaCl fraction of HepG2 nuclear extracts. The discovery of the NRE indicates that HBV gene transcription is controlled by combined effects of both positive and negative regulation. It also provides a unique system with which to study the mechanism of negative regulation of gene expression.

Binding of nuclear factors to functional domains of the duck hepatitis B virus enhancer

We have analyzed the structures, relative organization, and activities of binding sites for nuclear factors in the duck hepatitis B virus (duck HBV) enhancer. DNase I footprinting analysis and mobility shift assays demonstrate that this enhancer of 192 bp contains at least three binding sites for transcription factors: one for hepatocyte-adipocyte C/EBP, a second for the liver-specific transactivator hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 HNF-1, and a third for a factor, called F3, which binds to a DNA sequence bearing some resemblance to that for the ubiquitous factor EF-C. Analysis of transcriptional activity reveals that oligonucleotides corresponding to the individual binding sites, inserted upstream from a heterologous promoter, display very weak enhancer activity, whereas the enhancer encompassing these three sites displays very high activity. Analysis of duck HBV enhancer mutants indicates that the deletion of any of these sites leads to a modification of transcriptional enhancer activity. The hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 binding site is crucial, since an internal deletion of 14 bp abolishes the activity. The C/EBP site can act as repressor, and the F3 site is required for full activity. Comparative analysis reveals that the nuclear factors are similar to those bound to the human HBV enhancer but that the organization of their binding sites in the duck HBV enhancer is different.

Regulation of transcription from the hepatitis B virus major surface antigen promoter by the Sp1 transcription factor

The DNA-binding proteins which recognize the regulatory sequence elements of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) major surface antigen promoter were examined by gel retardation analysis, using nuclear extracts from the human hepatoma cell line Huh7. Using this assay, we identified four regions (B, D, E, and F) of the promoter that interact with the same or similar transcription factor(s). In addition, the recognition sequence for the Sp1 transcription factor bound the same or similar transcription factor(s) present in Huh7 cell nuclear extracts, and this binding was inhibited by the four major surface antigen promoter elements, B, D, E, and F. Purified Sp1 transcription factor was shown to bind to three (B, D, and F) of the major surface antigen promoter regulatory sequence elements by DNase I footprinting. Using transient transfection assays with Drosophila Schneider line 2 cells, we found that transcription from the major surface antigen promoter was transactivated by exogenously expressed Sp1, whereas transcription from the other three HBV promoters was not. Deletion analysis of the major surface antigen promoter demonstrated that the promoter region between -35 and +157 was sufficient to confer Sp1 responsiveness. This promoter region includes one of the regulatory elements footprinted by the purified Sp1 transcription factor. The function of the B, D, E, and F promoter elements was further examined by using these binding sites cloned into a minimal promoter element. Each of these regulatory regions transactivated transcription from the minimal promoter element in response to exogenously expressed Sp1. This finding demonstrates that the HBV major surface antigen promoter contains four functional Sp1 binding sites which probably contribute to the level of expression from this promoter during viral infection.

Transcriptional regulation of precore and pregenomic RNAs of hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, either acute or chronic, has been one of the leading health problems in the world. To understand the HBV life cycle and disease process, we set out to study the regulation of viral gene expression. In this paper, we report the characterization of the HBV core promoter: two 3.5-kb transcripts, precore and pregenomic, are made from it. The latter is itself a template for viral genome replication and also encodes viral proteins essential for both viral replication and virion assembly. We identify a short sequence (from nucleotides [nt] 1744 to 1851, referred to as the basic core promoter [BCP]) that is sufficient to direct correct initiation of both precore and pregenomic messages. In addition, the two appear to be regulated in a coordinate manner. Sequences upstream of the BCP (from nt 1636 to 1744, referred to as the core upstream regulatory sequence [CURS]), have a strong stimulating effect on the BCP. Addition of the CURS to the BCP leads to a dramatic increase in both the transcription of two 3.5-kb messages and the production of 42-nm virions from transiently transfected hepatoma cells. The CURS stimulates the BCP in a position- and orientation-dependent manner. Therefore, it is unlikely that the effect is mediated through enhancer II, which has been localized to the same sequence. Deletion analysis of the CURS suggests that it contains multiple regulatory elements that control the BCP in an interactive manner. In accord with this hypothesis, the CURS is found to be bound with many distinct protein factors in footprinting experiments. Among these elements, box alpha (from nt 1646 to 1668) and box gamma delta (from nt 1671 to 1703) are two regulatory elements which individually stimulate promoter activity more than 100-fold.

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

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

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

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

C/EBP-like proteins binding to the functional box-alpha and box-beta of the second enhancer of hepatitis B virus

The second enhancer (enhancer II) of hepatitis B virus is functionally liver specific. Located within an open reading frame of the virus and immediately upstream of the initiation sites of viral major transcripts, enhancer II furnishes a unique model for use in investigating the structure and function of an enhancer. In this study, two functional constituents, a 23-bp box-alpha and a 12-bp box-beta, are identified as being both necessary and sufficient for enhancer II function. Examination of the box-alpha and box-beta sequences reveals a weak homology to the extended consensus for a C/EBP binding site. Gel shift and footprinting analyses indicate that multiple proteins bind to these sequences and thus are candidate transcription factors that mediate the enhancer function. One heat-resistant protein, protein a, and one heat-sensitive protein, protein b, bind to box-alpha. Protein a, which binds to box-alpha in a way indistinguishable from that seen with a recombinant C/EBP, appears not to be identical to C/EBP in that the binding of protein a requires a minimal sequence larger than the canonical C/EBP sites. Two box-beta-binding proteins, c and d, show greater affinity for the C/EBP consensus than for box-beta. However, both proteins c and d are relatively heat sensitive and display a distinct sequence preference from the recombinant C/EBP protein. Since the function of enhancer II is strictly dependent on a bipartite architecture, this system provides a unique model for studies of how the interactions of its binding proteins lead to the enhancer function.

C/EBP-like proteins binding to the functional box-alpha and box-beta of the second enhancer of hepatitis B virus

The second enhancer (enhancer II) of hepatitis B virus is functionally liver specific. Located within an open reading frame of the virus and immediately upstream of the initiation sites of viral major transcripts, enhancer II furnishes a unique model for use in investigating the structure and function of an enhancer. In this study, two functional constituents, a 23-bp box-alpha and a 12-bp box-beta, are identified as being both necessary and sufficient for enhancer II function. Examination of the box-alpha and box-beta sequences reveals a weak homology to the extended consensus for a C/EBP binding site. Gel shift and footprinting analyses indicate that multiple proteins bind to these sequences and thus are candidate transcription factors that mediate the enhancer function. One heat-resistant protein, protein a, and one heat-sensitive protein, protein b, bind to box-alpha. Protein a, which binds to box-alpha in a way indistinguishable from that seen with a recombinant C/EBP, appears not to be identical to C/EBP in that the binding of protein a requires a minimal sequence larger than the canonical C/EBP sites. Two box-beta-binding proteins, c and d, show greater affinity for the C/EBP consensus than for box-beta. However, both proteins c and d are relatively heat sensitive and display a distinct sequence preference from the recombinant C/EBP protein. Since the function of enhancer II is strictly dependent on a bipartite architecture, this system provides a unique model for studies of how the interactions of its binding proteins lead to the enhancer function.

The ubiquitous transcription factor Oct-1 and the liver-specific factor HNF-1 are both required to activate transcription of a hepatitis B virus promoter

The liver-specific transcription factor HNF-1 activates transcription of several mammalian hepatocyte-specific genes. The hepatitis B virus preS1 promoter shows hepatocyte specificity, which has been ascribed to binding of HNF-1 to a cognate DNA sequence upstream of the TATA box. We show here that there is an adjacent site that binds the ubiquitous transcription factor Oct-1. Both the Oct-1 and HNF-1 sites are necessary for liver-specific transcription of the preS1 promoter, but neither site alone activates transcription. The Oct-1 site is also necessary for activation of the preS1 promoter in HeLa cells, expressing transfected HNF-1. Our results show that while Oct-1 is not restricted to hepatocytes, it nevertheless can play a critical role in the expression of a liver-specific gene.

The ubiquitous transcription factor Oct-1 and the liver-specific factor HNF-1 are both required to activate transcription of a hepatitis B virus promoter

The liver-specific transcription factor HNF-1 activates transcription of several mammalian hepatocyte-specific genes. The hepatitis B virus preS1 promoter shows hepatocyte specificity, which has been ascribed to binding of HNF-1 to a cognate DNA sequence upstream of the TATA box. We show here that there is an adjacent site that binds the ubiquitous transcription factor Oct-1. Both the Oct-1 and HNF-1 sites are necessary for liver-specific transcription of the preS1 promoter, but neither site alone activates transcription. The Oct-1 site is also necessary for activation of the preS1 promoter in HeLa cells, expressing transfected HNF-1. Our results show that while Oct-1 is not restricted to hepatocytes, it nevertheless can play a critical role in the expression of a liver-specific gene.

Liver-specific gene expression: A-activator-binding site, a promoter module present in vitellogenin and acute-phase genes

The A2 vitellogenin gene of Xenopus laevis, which is expressed liver specifically, contains an A-activator-binding site (AABS) that mediates high in vitro transcriptional activity in rat liver nuclear extracts. Footprint experiments with DNase I and gel retardation assays revealed the binding of several proteins to AABS. Using binding sites of known DNA-binding proteins as competitors in the gel retardation assay, we found that the transcription factor C/EBP and/or one of its "iso-binders" as well as LFB1/HNF1 bound AABS. These interactions were confirmed by in vitro transcription experiments using various oligonucleotides as competitors. However, saturating amounts of C/EBP- and LFB1/HNF1-binding sites as competitors only partially blocked AABS-mediated transcriptional activity. This finding implies that at least a third distinct transcription factor interacts with AABS. In vitro transcription experiments revealed that AABS was present not only in the closely related Xenopus A1 vitellogenin gene but also in acute-phase genes as a liver-specific regulatory element known to confer the interleukin-6 response. Both AABS and the interleukin-6 response element are promoter modules interacting with at least three distinct transcription factors, including C/EBP and LFB1/HNF1.

Liver-specific gene expression: A-activator-binding site, a promoter module present in vitellogenin and acute-phase genes

The A2 vitellogenin gene of Xenopus laevis, which is expressed liver specifically, contains an A-activator-binding site (AABS) that mediates high in vitro transcriptional activity in rat liver nuclear extracts. Footprint experiments with DNase I and gel retardation assays revealed the binding of several proteins to AABS. Using binding sites of known DNA-binding proteins as competitors in the gel retardation assay, we found that the transcription factor C/EBP and/or one of its "iso-binders" as well as LFB1/HNF1 bound AABS. These interactions were confirmed by in vitro transcription experiments using various oligonucleotides as competitors. However, saturating amounts of C/EBP- and LFB1/HNF1-binding sites as competitors only partially blocked AABS-mediated transcriptional activity. This finding implies that at least a third distinct transcription factor interacts with AABS. In vitro transcription experiments revealed that AABS was present not only in the closely related Xenopus A1 vitellogenin gene but also in acute-phase genes as a liver-specific regulatory element known to confer the interleukin-6 response. Both AABS and the interleukin-6 response element are promoter modules interacting with at least three distinct transcription factors, including C/EBP and LFB1/HNF1.

The genome of hepatitis B virus contains a second enhancer: cooperation of two elements within this enhancer is required for its function

Previous studies have identified an enhancer (enhancer I) at nucleotides (nt) 1074 to 1234 in the genome of the human hepatitis B virus (HBV), which locates immediately upstream from the X gene. By analysis of the expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene driven by a heterologous simian virus 40 early promoter, we describe the identification of a second enhancer (enhancer II) at nt 1636 to 1741, which locates downstream of enhancer I and immediately upstream of the core gene. With various deletions at the 5' end of enhancer II, a positive regulatory element was identified at nt 1636 to 1690 (the II-A element), with the 5' boundary between nt 1636 and 1671. The II-A element alone did not have an enhancer function, but the enhancer activity was achieved by the concomitant presence of the sequence from nt 1704 to 1741 (the II-B element). The II-B element alone did not have enhancer activity. These results indicate that cooperation between the II-A and II-B elements is required to exhibit the enhancer activity of enhancer II. We also show that enhancer II stimulates the transcriptional activity of both the SPI and SPII promoters of the surface gene. Therefore, the SPI promoter activity is regulated by the proximal HNF-1 binding element and the distal enhancers I and II. These results indicate that multiple regulatory elements scattered over the whole viral genome are involved in the regulation of expression of each individual HBV gene and that the same regulatory element controls the expression of different HBV genes. The relative positions of these regulatory elements in the HBV genome suggest that they may control the expression of HBV genes in a coordinate and cooperative manner.

Malignant transformation of immortalized transgenic hepatocytes after transfection with hepatitis B virus DNA

Persistent infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is epidemiologically correlated with the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma, but its role in tumor development is not yet understood. To study the putative oncogenic potential of HBV, a non-malignant immortal mouse hepatocyte line FMH202 harboring metallothionein promoter-driven simian virus 40 large tumor antigen was transfected with HBV DNA. All stably transfected clones which replicated HBV displayed malignant growth characteristics in soft agar and were tumorigenic upon inoculation in nude mice. The nude mice tumors were histologically classified as differentiated or anaplastic hepatocellular carcinomas. As with human liver carcinomas, rearrangements of in vitro integrated HBV sequences were observed in the nude mouse tumors, and in tumor-derived cell lines. In one case, expression of viral core and surface antigens was blocked in the tumors, correlating with hypermethylation of the HBV genome. However, the expression of X gene was maintained in most tumors and tumor-derived cell lines. X protein was detected in nuclei by immune fluorescence and by immune blot. These results provide the first demonstration that HBV displays oncogenic potential in an experimental system. This system could be useful to functionally identify HBV genes which convey a tumorigenic phenotype.