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D Ron

Publications and source records attributed to D Ron.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Expression cDNA cloning of the KGF receptor by creation of a transforming autocrine loop.

An expression cloning strategy was devised to isolate the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) receptor complementary DNA. NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, which secrete this epithelial cell-specific mitogen, were transfected with a keratinocyte expression complementary DNA library. Among several transformed foci identified, one demonstrated the acquisition of specific high-affinity KGF binding sites. The pattern of binding competition by related fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) indicated that this receptor had high affinity for acidic FGF as well as KGF. The rescued 4.2-kilobase complementary DNA was shown to encode a predicted membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase related to but distinct from the basic FGF receptor. This expression cloning approach may be generally applicable to the isolation of genes that constitute limiting steps in mitogenic signaling pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Angiotensinogen gene-inducible enhancer-binding protein 1, a member of a new family of large nuclear proteins that recognize nuclear factor kappa B-binding sites through a zinc finger motif.

Transcriptional activation of the rat angiotensinogen gene during the acute-phase response is dependent on a previously characterized acute-phase response element (APRE) that binds at least two types of nuclear proteins: a cytokine-inducible activity indistinguishable from nuclear factor kappa-B (NF kappa B) and a family of C/EBP-like proteins. We screened a rat liver cDNA expression library with a labeled APRE DNA probe and isolated a single clone that encodes a sequence-specific APRE-binding protein. This new protein, the angiotensinogen gene-inducible enhancer-binding protein 1 (AGIE-BP1), is encoded by a large continuous open reading frame and contains a zinc finger motif virtually identical to the DNA-binding domain of a recently described human protein, MBP-1/PRDII-BF1, and a homologous mouse protein, alpha A-CRYBP1. Outside the binding domain, the sequences diverged considerably. Southern blot analysis indicated that AGIE-BP1 and alpha A-CRYBP1 are encoded by separate genes, thus defining a new family of DNA-binding proteins. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays, methylation interference, and DNase I footprint protection assays with the bacterially expressed DNA-binding domain of AGIE-BP1 demonstrated a binding specificity indistinguishable from that of purified NF kappa B. Antiserum raised against the bacterially expressed DNA-binding domain of AGIE-BP1 detected on immunoblots of cellular proteins a large (greater than 250-kDa) nuclear protein. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of RNAs from different rat tissues and cell lines indicated different levels of expression of the large (greater than 10-kb) AGIE-BP1 transcript in different tissues. The potential role of AGIE-BP1 in the regulation of gene expression is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Alternative splicing generates at least five different isoforms of the human basic-FGF receptor.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are polypeptide mitogens that induce the proliferation of a wide variety of cell types. Of the seven family members, the best characterized are basic and acidic FGF. In addition to their mitogenic effects, they participate in angiogenesis, differentiation and maintenance of survival of neurons, cell migration and embryonal development. Of all family members, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is unique in that it is a specific mitogen for epithelial cells and does not interact with the FGF receptor of fibroblasts. To study the interactions between KGF and its receptor, we isolated KGF and FGF receptors from keratinocytes and fibroblasts, respectively. In the course of this study, we isolated five different variants of the FGF receptor from human fibroblasts and showed that all were derived from a single genetic locus. Four of these variants encode transmembrane receptors and can be divided into two subgroups that differ from one another with respect to the number (two or three) of immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains. Within each subgroup, one receptor differed from the other by the presence of a two-codon insertion. Thus, all the variations among the four isoforms are localized to their ligand binding domains. The fifth isoform encodes a molecule truncated just 3' to the first Ig-like domain and thus could be secreted from the cell. The transcripts encoding the long and short isoforms were found to be expressed in many cell types, but their relative levels of expression varied greatly depending on the cell type. These findings indicate that alternative splicing generates diverse FGF receptor isoforms in human cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Arg encodes a widely expressed 145 kDa protein-tyrosine kinase.

Arg encodes a protein highly related to the c-abl gene product with regard to overall structural architecture as well as the amino acid sequences of their tyrosine kinase, and src-homologous 2 and 3 domains. The two genes form a distinct subfamily of non-receptor tyrosine kinases and share a common homolog in Drosophila. In this study we characterized the arg protein product by expression of its coding sequence in bacteria. The recombinant arg protein was detected in bacterial lysates by immunoblotting and exhibited a molecular mass of 145 kDa. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the arg gene product following an immune complex autokinase reaction revealed tyrosine phosphorylation and established that it possesses tyrosine kinase activity. High-titer antibody capable of detecting the cellular arg gene product was generated by expressing a carboxy-terminal segment of arg in bacteria and using the recombinant protein as an immunogen. The arg gene product was identified in cultured human cells as a 145 kDa protein that exhibited autokinase activity. Analysis of arg expression in murine tissues revealed that arg, like c-abl, is widely expressed, further extending the similarities between the two genes, and suggesting that arg probably functions in signaling pathways fundamental to many cell types.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗
PubMed1991

Expression of the human dbl-oncogene and proto-oncogene products in insect cells using a baculovirus vector.

Among the expression vectors, the baculovirus system has been successfully developed and it has been shown to be suitable as a helper-independent viral expression vector for high level of production of recombinant proteins in cultured insect cells. The high efficiency of this system derives from the viral strong promoter of the polyhedrin gene. Recombinant viruses containing foreign DNA inserted into the polyhedrin gene, will no longer produce polyhedrin and will form plaques morphologically different from the plaques produced by the wild type virus. We have expressed, at high level, the dbl and proto-dbl proteins using the baculovirus system. dbl and proto-dbl gene products produced in insect cells resulted to have the same post-translational modifications and subcellular localization observed in dbl and proto-dbl transfectants.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1991

A region of proto-dbl essential for its transforming activity shows sequence similarity to a yeast cell cycle gene, CDC24, and the human breakpoint cluster gene, bcr.

Proto-dbl is a human proto-oncogene, whose oncogenic activation was initially detected by DNA transfection. We report significant sequence similarity between the predicted proto-dbl product and the products of CDC24, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell division cycle gene required for correct budding and establishment of cell polarity, and bcr, a gene implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Of 925 residues of the predicted proto-dbl protein, a stretch of 238 residues showed 29% and 22% identity over a region of similar length of the CDC24 and bcr proteins, respectively. When evolutionarily conservative substitutions were taken into account, the similarities were 68.8% and 71.6% for proto-dbl/CDC24 and proto-dbl/bcr gene products, respectively. Moreover, all three sequences were predicted to be markedly hydrophilic over this region. Very small deletions within the conserved region completely abolished transforming activity of dbl, while extensive deletion outside of this region had no effect. Even substitutions over a small stretch of close similarity with the other proteins substantially impaired transforming activity. Cells transformed by the dbl oncogene, like cdc24 mutants arrested at the nonpermissive temperature, form multinucleate cells. Thus, our findings indicate that the conserved region is an essential domain that may reflect important functional similarities among these otherwise highly divergent molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Transcriptional regulation of hepatic angiotensinogen gene expression by the acute-phase response.

The acute-phase response is a protective physiological reaction to tissue injury manifested by the immediate increase in production and secretion of liver proteins the function of which is to re-establish the homeostasis altered by injury. Such proteins include blood coagulation factors, opsonins, protease-inhibitors and angiotensinogen, a precursor of the potent vasopressor peptide angiotensin II. The angiotensinogen gene is typical of genes regulated during the acute-phase response inasmuch as the promoter regulating its transcription rate is acutely responsive to three known mediators of the acute-phase response: glucocorticoids, and the cytokines interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. We present a model, based on experimental evidence, for the mechanism by which angiotensinogen gene transcription is regulated in a graded fashion by the interplay of several hormonally-inducible transcription factors that bind a hormonally-inducible enhancer unit of the angiotensinogen promoter. These factors include the glucocorticoid receptor, nuclear factor kappa B and members of the CAAT/viral enhancer (C/EBP) family of DNA-binding proteins.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of the receptor for keratinocyte growth factor. Evidence for multiple fibroblast growth factor receptors.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. KGF exhibits potent mitogenic activity for a variety of epithelial cell types but is distinct from other known FGFs in that it is not mitogenic for fibroblasts or endothelial cells. We report saturable specific binding of 125I-KGF to surface receptors on intact Balb/MK mouse epidermal keratinocytes. 125I-KGF binding was completed efficiently by acidic FGF (aFGF) but with 20-fold lower efficiency by basic FGF (bFGF). The pattern of 125I-acidic FGF binding and competition on Balb/MK keratinocytes and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts suggests that these cell types possess related but distinct FGF receptors. Scatchard analysis of 125I-KGF binding suggested major and minor high affinity receptor components (KD = 400 and 25 pM, respectively) as well as a third high capacity/low affinity heparin-like component. Covalent affinity cross-linking of 125I-KGF to its receptor on Balb/MK cells revealed two species of 115 and 140 kDa. KGF also stimulated the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a 90-kDa protein in Balb/MK cells but not in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Together these results indicate that Balb/MK keratinocytes possess high affinity KGF receptors to which the FGFs may also bind. However, these receptors are distinct from the receptor(s) for aFGF and bFGF on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, which fail to interact with KGF.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A family of constitutive C/EBP-like DNA binding proteins attenuate the IL-1 alpha induced, NF kappa B mediated trans-activation of the angiotensinogen gene acute-phase response element.

The gene encoding angiotensinogen, the glycoprotein precursor of the potent vasopressor peptide angiotensin II, is transcriptionally activated in hepatocytes during the acute-phase response through interactions of mutually cooperative glucocorticoid receptors and proteins that bind to an acute-phase response element (APRE) 5'-AGTTGGGATTTCCCAACC-3'. The APRE binds a family of constitutive proteins (BPcs) and a cytokine inducible protein (BPi) that is indistinguishable from nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B). The interactions of purified proteins with the APRE were studied by in vitro binding and in vivo transcriptional trans-activation assays. BPc is a family of heat-stable DNA binding proteins, the different sized members of which are capable of forming heterodimers. BPcs are recognized by anti-C/EBP antiserum and produce a footprint similar to bacterially expressed C/EBP on the APRE. BPi has a 4- to 5-fold greater affinity for the APRE than the BPcs, and contacts guanosine residues distinct from those contacted by the BPcs, demonstrating that these two classes of proteins contain functionally distinct DNA binding domains. Assays of APRE-luciferase reporter plasmids transfected into HepG2 cells show that a mutated APRE that binds only BPi functions as an IL-1 alpha inducible enhancer, whereas a mutated APRE that binds only BPc does not. The APRE mutant that binds the C/EBP-like BPcs to the exclusion of BPi functions as an uninducible basal enhancer both in the native context of the angiotensinogen gene and when multimerized and placed upstream of a minimal angiotensinogen promoter. The wild-type APRE that binds both BPi and BPc is less inducible by IL-1 alpha than the mutated APRE that binds only BPi. Gel shift competition assays demonstrate in vitro that the mechanism of transcriptional regulation by the APRE involves a competition between BPc and the inducible BPi for binding to the APRE. IL-1 alpha stimulation of hepatocytes leads to nuclear translocation of the NF kappa B-like BPi which competes with the constitutive C/EBP-like BPcs for overlapping binding sites on the APRE and thereby replaces weak transcriptional activators with a stronger one.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1990

Human keratinocyte growth factor activity on proliferation and differentiation of human keratinocytes: differentiation response distinguishes KGF from EGF family.

Human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is an epithelial cell specific mitogen which is secreted by normal stromal fibroblasts. In the present studies, we demonstrate that KGF is as potent as EGF in stimulating proliferation of primary or secondary human keratinocytes in tissue culture. Exposure of KGF- or EGF-stimulated keratinocytes to 1.0 mM calcium, an inducer of differentiation, led to cessation of cell growth. However, immunologic analysis of early and late markers of terminal differentiation, K1 and filaggrin, respectively, revealed striking differences in keratinocytes propagated in the presence of these growth factors. With KGF, the differentiation response was associated with expression of both markers whereas their appearance was retarded or blocked by EGF. TGF alpha, which also interacts with the EGF receptor, gave a similar response to that observed with EGF. These findings functionally distinguish KGF from the EGF family and support the role of KGF in the normal proliferation and differentiation of human epithelial cells.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1990

An inducible 50-kilodalton NF kappa B-like protein and a constitutive protein both bind the acute-phase response element of the angiotensinogen gene.

The rat angiotensinogen gene is induced in the course of the hepatic acute-phase response. We demonstrate that monocyte conditioned medium can stimulate transcription of a stably introduced reporter construct driven by 615 base pairs of the angiotensinogen 5'-flanking sequence, as well as the endogenous gene, in Reuber H35 cells. Point mutations of a cis-acting element, located 545 base pairs from the transcription start site and sharing sequence identity with known nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B)-binding sites, led to loss of cytokine inducibility. When cloned upstream of a minimal promoter, this cis-acting element imparted transcriptional inducibility by monocyte conditioned medium, interleukin-1, and tumor necrosis factor on a luciferase reporter gene in HepG2 cells. Two distinct proteins bound this element in vitro: a heat-stable, constitutively present, hepatic nuclear protein that gave rise to a DNase I-protected footprint covering the functionally defined element; and a binding protein of different mobility, induced by monocyte conditioned medium, which also recognized the NF kappa B-binding site of the murine kappa light-chain enhancer. UV cross-linking showed this inducible protein to have an apparent molecular mass of 50 kilodaltons, similar to that described for NF kappa B and distinct from the constitutively present protein that was shown by Southwestern (DNA-protein) blot to have a molecular mass of 32 kilodaltons. Methylation interference analysis showed that the induced species made contact points with guanine residues in the NF kappa B consensus sequence typical of NF kappa B. Induction of this binding activity did not require new protein synthesis, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate could mimic the induction by cytokines. We thus provide direct evidence for involvement of NF kappa B or a similar factor in the hepatic acute-phase response and discuss the potential role of the presence of a constitutive nuclear factor binding the same cis element.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1990

The permissive role of glucocorticoids on interleukin-1 stimulation of angiotensinogen gene transcription is mediated by an interaction between inducible enhancers.

The acute-phase activation of the rat angiotensinogen (rAT) gene in liver cells is a transcriptional event mediated through an interleukin-1-inducible, NF kappa B-binding, cis-acting element (the acute-phase response element [APRE]). Using a cell culture model for the acute-phase response, we showed that the increase in angiotensionogen mRNA in H35 rat hepatoma cells requires costimulation with glucocorticoids and cytokines. Stably transfected rAT promoter-luciferase reporter genes were also activated by cytokines only in the presence of glucocorticoids. This permissive role of glucocorticoids is dependent on the expression of functional glucocorticoid receptors, because in HepG2 cells naturally deficient in such receptors, rAT gene-luciferase reporter constructs responded to interleukin-1 only when cotransfected with an expression vector for the glucocorticoid receptor. Point mutations in the two rAT gene glucocorticoid response elements located adjacent to the APRE led to loss of interleukin-1 inducibility. Induction of luciferase activity in transfected cells occurred even in the presence of cycloheximide, demonstrating that this synergistic response did not depend on new protein synthesis. Thus, a direct interaction between the interleukin-1-inducible NF kappa B-binding APRE and glucocorticoid response elements, located in cis, underlies the acute-phase activation of the rAT gene.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1990

Synergistic enhansons located within an acute phase responsive enhancer modulate glucocorticoid induction of angiotensinogen gene transcription.

The hepatic transcription of the angiotensinogen gene is regulated by both glucocorticoids and cytokines generated as products of the acute phase reaction. We have identified a multimodular enhancer in the 5'-flanking region of the rat angiotensinogen gene that mediates these responses and consists of an acute phase response element (APRE) flanked on both sides by adjacent glucocorticoid response element consensus motifs (GREs). Induction of transcription by the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) is glucocorticoid dependent and mediated through the APRE. The APRE binds in a mutually exclusive manner a cytokine/phorbol ester-inducible protein (BPi), indistinguishable from nuclear factor kB, and a family of constitutive liver proteins (BPcs) related to the heat-stable transcription factor C/EBP. Using mutated 5'-flanking sequences of the angiotensinogen gene fused to a firefly luciferase reporter gene transfected into hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells, we have mapped enhanson sequences required for the transcriptional response to glucocorticoids. Two functionally distinct GREs are identified by deletion and site-directed mutagenesis, both of which mediate glucocorticoid-stimulated transcription in vivo. Glucocorticoid-induced transcription mediated by the angiotensinogen gene enhancer is, furthermore, dependent on the occupancy of the APRE by either the BPi or a member of the BPc family because a mutant APRE that binds neither BPi nor BPc exhibits an attenuated glucocorticoid responsiveness. Mutant APREs that permit exclusive binding of either BPi or BPc synergistically transmit the glucocorticoid response mediated by one or the other of the adjacent GREs. Thus, the induction of angiotensinogen gene transcription involves interaction between the glucocorticoid receptor and either one of the APRE-binding proteins: either the cytokine-inducible NFkB or the constitutive family of C/EBP-like proteins, bound to adjacent enhansons in a mutually synergistic enhancer complex.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Human KGF is FGF-related with properties of a paracrine effector of epithelial cell growth.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a human mitogen that is specific for epithelial cells. The complementary DNA sequence of KGF demonstrates that it is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family. The KGF transcript was present in stromal cells derived from epithelial tissues. By comparison with the expression of other epithelial cell mitogens, only KGF, among known human growth factors, has the properties of a stromal mediator of epithelial cell proliferation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Increased insulin-like growth factor II production and consequent suppression of growth hormone secretion: a dual mechanism for tumor-induced hypoglycemia.

We investigated the pathophysiology of fasting hypoglycemia associated with large tumors of mesenchymal origin. We studied two patients with symptomatic fasting hypoglycemia (plasma glucose, 1.92 and 2.03 mmol/L) and a large mesenchymal neoplasm. Before therapy, the plasma insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) level measured by RIA was elevated (1879 and 1084 micrograms/L; normal range, 358-854 micrograms/L), the serum GH response to hypoglycemia was impaired, and the plasma IGF-I level was low in both patients. After treatment of the tumor, all of these abnormalities resolved in both patients. Northern blot analysis of tumor RNA revealed extremely high levels of IGF-II mRNA (greater than 100-fold higher than those in normal adult liver). Tumor fragments released IGF-II into tissue culture medium (2.1 and 7.2 micrograms IGF-II/g tissue.24 h). These findings indicate that secretion of IGF-II into the circulation by the tumor was the likely source of the elevated plasma IGF-II levels. We suggest that the primary event in tumor-induced hypoglycemia is overproduction of IGF-II by the tumor, which gives rise to hypoglycemia by a dual mechanism: increased glucose utilization mediated by the insulin-like actions of IGF-II and inhibition of GH secretion.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Multiple cis-acting DNA regulatory elements mediate hepatic angiotensinogen gene expression.

Angiotensinogen is the glycoprotein precursor of angiotensin II, an octapeptide hormone important for the regulation of blood pressure and volume homeostasis. The gene encoding angiotensinogen is expressed in liver and several other tissues, providing a model gene for understanding the role of cis-acting DNA control elements and trans-acting factors in tissue-type specific gene expression. To identify DNA control elements in the rat angiotensinogen gene we prepared an array of fusion genes consisting of either 5' or 3'-deleted sequences of the 5'-flanking region of the gene linked to a firefly luciferase reporter gene and analyzed the relative cellular specificity of expression of these genes after their introduction into hepato-carcinoma cells (Hep G2) that do express and placental cells (JEG-3) that do not express the endogenous angiotensinogen gene. Six transcriptionally active elements were found within 688 base pairs of 5'-flanking DNA. The interactions of DNA binding proteins with these elements was demonstrated by their specific protection to digestion with DNase I in the presence of liver cell extracts. The orientation and spatial requirements for transcription of two of the elements were analyzed further by the construction and expression of synthetic oligonucleotide cassettes incorporating the sequences of these elements when linked to a homologous (angiotensinogen) or a heterologous Simian virus 40 promoter and enhancer. One element located between 60 and 108 base pairs from the start of gene transcription functioned either as a silencer or an enhancer of transcription (SOAP box element), depending upon the distance from the angiotensinogen and viral gene promoters. Moreover, the SOAP box element demonstrated enhancer activity in JEG-3 cells when linked to the Simian virus 40 early promoter. An oligonucleotide mutation of the SOAP box element interfered with protein binding in a gel mobility shift assay and this mutant was transcriptionally inactive in both homologous and heterologous promoters. These observations indicate that expression of the angiotensinogen gene in liver cells is coordinately regulated by multiple cis-acting elements that interact with DNA binding proteins.

Angiotensinogen↗