Cloning of capsulin, a basic helix-loop-helix factor expressed in progenitor cells of the pericardium and the coronary arteries

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) class of transcription factors have been linked to a variety of cellular differentiation processes, including myogenesis, neurogenesis and hematopoiesis. Here we report the cloning of a new member of this family of factors, capsulin. Capsulin was shown to be expressed as early as 9.5 days of mouse development, with expression in mesodermal cells that are progenitors of the epicardium and the coronary arteries. At later stages of development, expression is seen in mesenchymal cells that are closely associated with the epithelium of the developing lung, gut and kidney. In the proepicardial organ, and in the organs where it is expressed in later development, capsulin is expressed in cells that give will give rise to smooth muscle. Given the likely expression of capsulin in smooth muscle cell progenitors, and significant sequence similarity through the bHLH domain, capsulin may be a functional ortholog of a Drosophila gene that is expressed in cells that give rise to the longitudinal visceral muscle. Capsulin alone or in combination with other bHLH proteins, was shown to function as a transcription factor by its ability to transactivate both a synthetic and a native promoter, each of which contains multiple E-boxes. These studies extend the growing family of bHLH factors that are expressed in the early mesoderm, and suggest that capsulin may have a functional role in development of the coronary vasculature and organs containing epithelial lined tubular structures.

Cloning and characterization of developmental endothelial locus-1: an embryonic endothelial cell protein that binds the alphavbeta3 integrin receptor

We have taken advantage of an enhancer trap event in a line of transgenic mice to identify a unique developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus (Del1). The protein encoded in this locus contains three EGF-like repeats homologous to those in Notch and related proteins, including an EGF-like repeat that contains an RGD motif, and two discoidin I-like domains. Del1 is shown to be a matrix protein and to promote adhesion of endothelial cells through interaction with the alphavbeta3 integrin receptor. Embryonic endothelial-like yolk sac cells expressing recombinant Del1 protein, or grown on an extracellular matrix containing Del1 protein, are inhibited from forming vascular-like structures. Expression of Del1 protein in the chick chorioallantoic membrane leads to loss of vascular integrity and promotes vessel remodeling. Del1 is thus a new ligand for the alphavbeta3 integrin receptor and may function to regulate vascular morphogenesis or remodeling in embryonic development.

Genomic organization and chromosomal localization of the gene TCF15 encoding the early mesodermal basic helix-loop-helix factor bHLH-EC2

bHLH-EC2 is a recently characterized member of a growing family of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. This family includes bHLH factors such as twist, which appear to be primarily involved in early mesodermal differentiation, and bHLH factors such as TAL-1, which have been characterized through their association with chromosomal breakpoints associated with T-cell leukemias. To provide for studies aimed at understanding the genetic regulation of bHLH-EC2, we have characterized the organization of this gene and conducted preliminary studies of the transcriptional activity of the upstream promoter region. The mouse bHLH-EC2 gene was found to consist of two exons separated by a 5-kb intron, an organization pattern similar to the mouse twist gene. The transcription initiation site was identified by RNase protection assay and primer extension analysis. Linked promoter-reporter gene transfection experiments in cultured cells indicated that while the identified upstream sequence can function to promote transcription, it does not function in a cell-specific fashion. To investigate the possible association of bHLH-EC2 with hematological malignancy, the chromosomal location of this gene in the human was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization and assigned to chromosome band 20p13.

Cooperative interaction of GATA-2 and AP1 regulates transcription of the endothelin-1 gene

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21-amino-acid vasoactive peptide initially characterized as a product of endothelial cells. Reporter gene transfection experiments have indicated that a GATA site and an AP1 site are essential for ET-1 promoter function in endothelial cells, and GATA-2 appears to be the active GATA factor which regulates ET-1 expression. To look for interactions between AP1 and GATA-2, transactivation experiments were performed with expression vectors encoding c-Jun, c-Fos, and GATA-2. Cooperativity between the AP1 complex and GATA-2 was observed as a synergistic increase in transcriptional activity of the ET-1 reporter plasmid. In addition, AP1 was able to potentiate the action of GATA-2 on reporter constructs lacking a functional AP1 site. In a similar fashion, GATA-2 was able to potentiate the action of AP1 despite deletion of the GATA site. Experiments with GATA-1 and GATA-3 expression vectors provided evidence that this capacity to interact with AP1 may be a characteristic of all GATA family members. Biochemical evidence for AP1-GATA interaction was provided by immunoprecipitation experiments. A GATA-2-specific antiserum was shown to immunoprecipitate in vitro-synthesized Jun and Fos protein from reticulocyte lysate. Also, antisera directed against Jun and Fos were able to immunoprecipitate from nuclear extracts a GATA-binding protein, indicating the association of AP1 and GATA proteins in vivo.

Cloning and characterization of a basic helix-loop-helix protein expressed in early mesoderm and the developing somites

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) heterodimer protein complexes regulate transcription of genes during the processes of differentiation and development. To study the molecular basis of early mesodermal differentiation, we sought to identify bHLH proteins from cells of mesodermal origin. By using an interaction cloning strategy with a radiolabled recombinant bHLH protein, E12, a clone encoding a potential heterodimer partner was isolated from an endothelial cell library. This gene (bHLH-EC2) is most homologous to Twist but shares similarity within the bHLH domain with TAL1 and other members of this family. bHLH-EC2 is expressed in cultured endothelial cells and in embryonic stem cell, erythroleukemia, and muscle cell lines in a differentiation-dependent manner. In situ hybridization studies of mouse embryos reveal that bHLH-EC2 is expressed throughout the primitive mesoderm as early as 7.5 days postcoitum. Expression then becomes restricted to the paraxial mesoderm and to the dermamyotome of the developing somite. Expression of bHLH-EC2 in cells destined to become myoblasts thus predates expression of myogenic bHLH factors. bHLH-EC2 is expressed in early endothelial and hematopoietic cells in vivo, as shown by RNA studies of embryonic yolk sac and cultured cells derived from yolk sac explants. These findings suggest that bHLH-EC2 plays a role in the development of multiple cell types derived from the primitive mesoderm.