Activation of silent replication origins at autonomously replicating sequence elements near the HML locus in budding yeast

In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, replicators can function outside the chromosome as autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) elements; however, within chromosome III, certain ARSs near the transcriptionally silent HML locus show no replication origin activity. Two of these ARSs comprise the transcriptional silencers E (ARS301) and I (ARS302). Another, ARS303, resides between HML and the CHA1 gene, and its function is not known. Here we further localized and characterized ARS303 and in the process discovered a new ARS, ARS320. Both ARS303 and ARS320 are competent as chromosomal replication origins since origin activity was seen when they were inserted at a different position in chromosome III. However, at their native locations, where the two ARSs are in a cluster with ARS302, the I silencer, no replication origin activity was detected regardless of yeast mating type, special growth conditions that induce the transcriptionally repressed CHA1 gene, trans-acting mutations that abrogate transcriptional silencing at HML (sir3, orc5), or cis-acting mutations that delete the E and I silencers containing ARS elements. These results suggest that, for the HML ARS cluster (ARS303, ARS320, and ARS302), inactivity of origins is independent of local transcriptional silencing, even though origins and silencers share key cis- and trans-acting components. Surprisingly, deletion of active replication origins located 25 kb (ORI305) and 59 kb (ORI306) away led to detection of replication origin function at the HML ARS cluster, as well as at ARS301, the E silencer. Thus, replication origin silencing at HML ARSs is mediated by active replication origins residing at long distances from HML in the chromosome. The distal active origins are known to fire early in S phase, and we propose that their inactivation delays replication fork arrival at HML, providing additional time for HML ARSs to fire as origins.

Analysis of exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus casei CG11, isolated from cheese

Exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus casei CG11 was isolated from soft, white, homemade cheese. In basal minimal medium, it produces a neutral heteropolysaccharide consisting predominantly of glucose (about 75%) and rhamnose (about 15%). Plasmid curing experiments revealed that exopolysaccharide production by strain CG11 is linked to a plasmid approximately 30 kb in size.

Molecular analysis of the rolling-circle replicating plasmid pA1 of Lactobacillus plantarum A112

Lactobacillus plantarum A112 has four different plasmids. Plus-origin-specific probes were used to determine that the smallest, cryptic plasmid, pA1 (2,820 bp), showed homology to the pE194 plasmid family. This subclass of plasmids uses the rolling-circle mode of replication. Subsequent analysis of plasmid pA1 demonstrated that it generates single-stranded DNA intermediates, and sequence analysis revealed that it contains three putative open reading frames (ORFs): ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3, which could encode proteins designated RepA (47 amino acids [aa]) and RepB (196 aa) and a protein of 103 aa, respectively. Two of these proteins, RepA (5.6 kDa) and RepB (26 kDa), were identified in in vitro transcription translation assays. The RepA protein contains a characteristic alpha-helix-turn-alpha-helix motif typical of DNA-binding proteins that act as DNA-binding repressors. The RepB protein shows a significant similarity with replication initiation proteins of the pE194 family of plasmids that use the rolling-circle mode of replication. Plasmid pA1 is able to replicate in Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus lactis subsp. lactis as well as in other L. plantarum strains.

DNA replication forks pause at silent origins near the HML locus in budding yeast

Chromosomal replicators in budding yeast contain an autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) that functions in a plasmid, but certain ARSs are silent as replication origins in their natural chromosomal context. In chromosome III, the HML ARS cluster (ARS302-ARS303-ARS320) and ARS301 flank the transcriptionally silent mating-type locus HML, and all of these ARSs are silent as replication origins. ARS301 and ARS302 function in transcriptional silencing mediated by the origin recognition complex (ORC) and a heterochromatin structure, while the functions of ARS303 and ARS320 are not known. In this work, we discovered replication fork pause sites at the HML ARS cluster and ARS301 by analyzing DNA replication intermediates from the chromosome via two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The replication fork pause at the HML ARS cluster was independent of cis- and trans-acting mutations that abrogate transcriptional silencing at HML. Deletion of the HML ARS cluster led to loss of the pause site. Insertion of a single, heterologous ARS (ARS305) in place of the HML ARS cluster reconstituted the pause site, as did multiple copies of DNA elements (A and B1) that bind ORC. The orc2-1 mutation, known to alter replication timing at origins, did not detectably affect the pause but activated the silent origin at the HML ARS cluster in a minority of cells. Delaying the time of fork arrival at HML led to the elimination of the pause sites at the HML ARS cluster and at the copy of ARS305 inserted in place of the cluster. Loss of the pause sites was accompanied by activation of the silent origins in the majority of cells. Thus, replication fork movement near HML pauses at a silent origin which is competent for replication initiation but kept silent through Orc2p, a component of the replication initiator. Possible functions for replication fork pause sites in checkpoints, S-phase regulation, mating-type switching, and transcriptionally silent heterochromatin are discussed.

Effects of age and dexamethasone treatment on glucocorticoid response element and activating protein-1 binding activity in rat brain

The effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated gene expression was examined in the brain of young and aged rats. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that DEX treatment led to an increase of glucocorticoid response element (GRE) binding activity in aged rats, whereas in young animals GRE binding activity was decreased. Western blot analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed that, in aged animals, the GR mRNA and the GR protein levels were increased on DEX treatment. The binding activity of GRE activating protein-1 (AP-1) site and cross-competition analysis demonstrated specific pattern of expression during the ageing and DEX treatment, suggesting that GR modulates the activity of transcription factors AP-1 (Fos/Jun proteins) through protein-protein interaction. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that the composition of transcriptional complexes that bind to GRE and AP-1 regulatory elements changes upon DEX treatment in an age-specific manner.

Evaluation of antitumor potential of Cu(II) complex with hydrazone of 2-acetylthiazole and Girard’s t reagent

In this paper, the previously synthesized Cu(II) complex ([CuL1(N3) (CH3OH)]BF4) with N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxo-2-(2-(1-(thiazol-2-yl)ethylidene)- hydrazinyl)ethan-1-aminium chloride, has been characterized and its biological activity has been studied in detail. The Cu(II) complex consists of ligand coordinated in a deprotonated, formally neutral zwitter-ionic form, via NNO atoms, one azido ligand and one methanol molecule. The Cu(II) complex was selected due to results of the cytotoxic activity, the brine shrimp test and DPPH radical scavenging activity, which were previously performed. The effects of Cu(II) complex on cell cycle phase distribution of cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells were investigated in order to examine the mechanisms of its anticancer activity. The measurement of intracellular ROS levels in HeLa and HaCaT cell lines were evaluated in order to explore their possible generation and the role in cytotoxic activity. The possible anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic properties of Cu(II) complex were evaluated. DNA binding experiments, including fluorescence displacement study and DNA cleavage experiments, were performed in order to obtain information on the type of DNA-metal complex interactions.

Identification and characterization of glucocorticoid receptors in B16 mouse melanoma cells

OBJECTIVE

To gain better insight into the role of glucocorticoids as modulators of cell growth, as well as to investigate the presence and characteristics of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in mouse melanoma cells.

METHODS

In two different B16 mouse melanoma cell clones (B16/F10 and B16/C3) the role of synthetic glucocorticoids (triamcinolone acetonide, TA) as cell growth modulators was investigated.

RESULTS

The inhibitory effect of TA on B16/F10 cell growth after 8 days in culture was observed. The same hormonal treatment applied on B16/C3 melanoma cells also provoked changes in the cell growth. Dot blot analysis, using monoclonal antirodent glucocorticoid receptor antibodies showed the presence of receptor protein in both cell clones. The analysis of glucocorticoid receptors in B16/F10 and B16/C3 cell cytosol by Scatchard assay and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 minicolumn indicated that the changes in melanoma cell growth may be mediated by glucocorticoid receptors and may relieve changes in the GR itself.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that B16/C3 melanoma cells exhibited different growth pattern under TA treatment when compared to the results obtained with B16/F10 cells. Such differences may be mediated by glucocorticoid receptors.