Biomedical subjects

Donald J Zack

Publications and source records attributed to Donald J Zack.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Nonredundant role of Akt2 for neuroprotection of rod photoreceptor cells from light-induced cell death.

The Akt kinases mediate cell survival through phosphorylation and inactivation of apoptotic machinery components. Akt signaling provides a trophic signal for transformed retinal neurons in culture, but the in vivo role of Akt activity is unknown. In this study, we found that all three Akt isoforms were expressed in rod photoreceptor cells. We investigated the functional roles of Akt1 and Akt2, two of the isoforms of Akt, and their biological significance in light-induced retinal degeneration. Consistent with the hypothesis that Akt activity is important to circumvent stress-induced apoptosis, herein we report the novel finding that rod photoreceptor cells in Akt2 knock-out mice exhibited a significantly greater sensitivity to stress-induced cell death than rods in heterozygous or wild-type mice. Under similar conditions, Akt1 deletion had no effect on the retina. The presence of three Akt isoforms in the retina is suggestive of a functional redundancy; however, our studies clearly demonstrate that, under stress, Akt1 and Akt3 cannot complement the specific survival signals driven by Akt2. Furthermore, we show that Akt2 is specially activated is response to light stress. The results presented in this study provide the first direct evidence that Akt2 has a nonredundant neuroprotective role in photoreceptor survival and maintenance.

Animals↗

PubMed2007

Neurite outgrowth in retinal ganglion cell culture.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are the projection neurons of the eye. The RGC is the primary cell type injured in a variety of diseases of the optic nerve, including glaucoma and optic neuritis. The most well-established extrinsic signal of RGC survival and axonal outgrowth is the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor. An immunopurification system has been adapted in order to filter large enough quantities of RGCs from the mixed population of retinal neurons in order to perform high-throughput screening in a 96-well format. Using this assay, the screening of a combinatorial chemical library for compounds with a similar effect to brain-derived neurotrophic factor may be preformed. Follow-up validation studies are performed by evaluating for a dose-response relationship.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

VMD2 promoter requires two proximal E-box sites for its activity in vivo and is regulated by the MITF-TFE family.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is crucial for the function and survival of retinal photoreceptors. VMD2 encodes bestrophin, an oligomeric chloride channel that is preferentially expressed in the RPE and, when mutated, causes Best macular dystrophy. Previously, we defined the VMD2 upstream region from -253 to +38 bp as being sufficient to direct RPE-specific expression in the eye, and we suggested microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) as a possible positive regulator. Here we show that in transgenic mice the -154 to +38 bp region is sufficient for RPE expression, and mutation of two E-boxes, 1 and 2, within this region leads to loss of promoter activity. A yeast one-hybrid screen using bait containing E-box 1 identified clones encoding MITF, TFE3, and TFEB, and chromatin immunoprecipitation with antibodies against these proteins enriched the VMD2 proximal promoter. Analysis using in vivo electroporation with constructs containing mutation of each E-box indicated that expression in native RPE requires both E-boxes, yet in vitro DNA binding studies suggested that MITF binds well to E-box 1 but only minimally to E-box 2. MITF knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in cell culture revealed a strong correlation between MITF and VMD2 mRNA levels. Sequential transfection of a luciferase construct with expression vectors following MITF siRNA revealed that TFE3 and TFEB can also transactivate the VMD2 promoter. Taken together, we suggest that VMD2 is regulated by the MITF-TFE family through two E-boxes, with E-box 1 required for a direct interaction of MITF-TFE factors and E-box 2 for binding of the as yet unidentified factor(s).

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Computational analysis of tissue-specific combinatorial gene regulation: predicting interaction between transcription factors in human tissues.

Tissue-specific gene expression is generally regulated by more than a single transcription factor (TF). Multiple TFs work in concert to achieve tissue specificity. In order to explore these complex TF interaction networks, we performed a large-scale analysis of TF interactions for 30 human tissues. We first identified tissue-specific genes for 30 tissues based on gene expression databases. We then evaluated the relationships between TFs using the relative position and co-occurrence of their binding sites in the promoters of tissue-specific genes. The predicted TF-TF interactions were validated by both known protein-protein interactions and co-expression of their target genes. We found that our predictions are enriched in known protein-protein interactions (>80 times that of random expectation). In addition, we found that the target genes show the highest co-expression in the tissue of interest. Our findings demonstrate that non-tissue specific TFs play a large role in regulation of tissue-specific genes. Furthermore, they show that individual TFs can contribute to tissue specificity in different tissues by interacting with distinct TF partners. Lastly, we identified several tissue-specific TF clusters that may play important roles in tissue-specific gene regulation.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2006

Genome-wide prediction and characterization of interactions between transcription factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Combinatorial regulation by transcription factor complexes is an important feature of eukaryotic gene regulation. Here, we propose a new method for identification of interactions between transcription factors (TFs) that relies on the relationship of their binding sites, and we test it using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system. The algorithm predicts interacting TF pairs based on the co-occurrence of their binding motifs and the distance between the motifs in promoter sequences. This allows investigation of interactions between TFs without known binding motifs or expression data. With this approach, 300 significant interactions involving 77 TFs were identified. These included more than 70% of the known protein-protein interactions. Approximately half of the detected interacting motif pairs showed strong preferences for particular distances and orientations in the promoter sequences. These one dimensional features may reflect constraints on allowable spatial arrangements for protein-protein interactions. Evidence for biological relevance of the observed characteristic distances is provided by the finding that target genes with the same characteristic distances show significantly higher co-expression than those without preferred distances. Furthermore, the observed interactions were dynamic: most of the TF pairs were not constitutively active, but rather showed variable activity depending on the physiological condition of the cells. Interestingly, some TF pairs active in multiple conditions showed preferences for different distances and orientations depending on the condition. Our prediction and characterization of TF interactions may help to understand the transcriptional regulatory networks in eukaryotic systems.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Characterization of binding sites of eukaryotic transcription factors.

To explore the nature of eukaryotic transcription factor (TF) binding sites and determine how they differ from surrounding DNA sequences, we examined four features associated with DNA-binding sites: G+C content, pattern complexity, palindromic structure, and Markov sequence ordering. Our analysis of the regulatory motifs obtained from the TRANSFAC database, using yeast intergenic sequences as background, revealed that these four features show variable enrichment in motif sequences. For example, motif sequences were more likely to have palindromic structure than were background sequences. In addition, these features were tightly localized to the regulatory motifs, indicating that they are a property of the motif sequences themselves and are not shared by the general promoter "environment" in which the regulatory motifs reside. By breaking down the motif sequences according to the TF classes to which they bind, more specific associations were identified. Finally, we found that some correlations, such as G+C content enrichment, were species-specific, while others, such as complexity enrichment, were universal across the species examined. The quantitative analysis provided here should increase our understanding of protein-DNA interactions and also help facilitate the discovery of regulatory motifs through bioinformatics.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The iron carrier transferrin is upregulated in retinas from patients with age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: Iron can cause oxidative stress, and elevated iron levels have been associated with several neurodegenerative diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Transferrin, an iron transport protein, is expressed at high levels in the retina. The purpose of this study was to assess transferrin involvement in AMD by determining the expression profile of transferrin in retinas with AMD compared with retinas without evidence of disease. METHODS: Postmortem retinas were obtained from AMD and non-AMD eyes. Expression of transferrin was assessed in a microarray dataset from 33 retinas of unaffected donors and 12 retinas of patients with AMD (six with neovascular AMD and six with non-neovascular AMD). Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (QPCR) was used to confirm the microarray results. Transferrin protein expression was assessed by semiquantitative Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In comparison to unaffected retinas, mean transferrin mRNA levels, as measured by microarray analysis were elevated 3.5- and 2.1-fold in non-neovascular and neovascular AMD retinas, respectively. Semiquantitative Western blot analysis demonstrated a 2.1-fold increase in transferrin protein in AMD eyes. Immunohistochemistry showed more intense and widespread transferrin label in AMD maculas, particularly in large drusen, Müller cells, and photoreceptors. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that transferrin expression is increased in the retinas of patients with AMD relative to those of healthy control patients of comparable age. Along with previous studies that have demonstrated elevated iron levels in AMD retinas, early onset drusen formation in a patient with retinal iron overload resulting from aceruloplasminemia, and retinal degeneration with some features of macular degeneration in the iron-overloaded retinas of ceruloplasmin/hephestin knockout mice, the present study suggests that altered iron homeostasis is associated with AMD.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Genomic organization of zebrafish cone-rod homeobox gene and exclusion as a candidate gene for retinal degeneration in niezerka and mikre oko.

PURPOSE: To determine the genomic organization of the zebrafish crx gene and to evaluate if mutations in crx are responsible for the retinal degeneration phenotype in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) mutants niezerka (nie(m743)) and mikre oko (mok(m632)). METHODS: Overlapping fragments were PCR amplified from genomic DNA isolated from homozygous mutant embryos and wild-type siblings (sibs). Amplicons were sequenced and sequence data assembled into contigs. Genomic organization was determined by alignment of contigs with published cDNA sequences and zebrafish genomic sequence from Sanger and Ensembl databases. Linkage analysis used DNA from mapping panels of single homozygous mutant animals with mixed genetic backgrounds. RESULTS: The analysis indicated that the zebrafish crx gene consisted of three exons and 2 introns, and spans 3.8 kb of genomic DNA. The splice junctions were all located within the coding region. Highly repetitive sequences present in non-coding regions of crx and extended tetra-nucleotide repeats in intronic regions were associated with sequence variation between different strains. Homozygous mok(m632) or nie(m743) mutants and their respective wild-type sibs, showed identical patterns of heterozygosity and sequence variations within each line. No mutation in crx were identified in homozygous mok(m632) or nie(m743). Consistent with the absence of identified mutations, linkage analysis excluded linkage of the mutant phenotypes to crx. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the presence of sequence variations in their respective genetic backgrounds, within each line the sequence of crx was identical. Consistent with the absence of mutations, further analysis excluded linkage of the mutant phenotypes to crx. Analysis is in progress to map these loci and identify the genes responsible for the retinal degeneration phenotype in these mutant lines.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Roles of cell-intrinsic and microenvironmental factors in photoreceptor cell differentiation.

Photoreceptor differentiation requires the coordinated expression of numerous genes. It is unknown whether those genes share common regulatory mechanisms or are independently regulated by distinct mechanisms. To distinguish between these scenarios, we have used in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and real-time PCR to analyze the expression of visual pigments and other photoreceptor-specific genes during chick embryo retinal development in ovo, as well as in retinal cell cultures treated with molecules that regulate the expression of particular visual pigments. In ovo, onset of gene expression was asynchronous, becoming detectable at the time of photoreceptor generation (ED 5-8) for some photoreceptor genes, but only around the time of outer segment formation (ED 14-16) for others. Treatment of retinal cell cultures with activin, staurosporine, or CNTF selectively induced or down-regulated specific visual pigment genes, but many cognate rod- or cone-specific genes were not affected by the treatments. These results indicate that many photoreceptor genes are independently regulated during development, are consistent with the existence of at least two distinct stages of gene expression during photoreceptor differentiation, suggest that intrinsic, coordinated regulation of a cascade of gene expression triggered by a commitment to the photoreceptor fate is not a general mechanism of photoreceptor differentiation, and imply that using a single photoreceptor-specific "marker" as a proxy to identify photoreceptor cell fate is problematic.

Activins↗

PubMed2005

Identification of regulatory targets of tissue-specific transcription factors: application to retina-specific gene regulation.

Identification of tissue-specific gene regulatory networks can yield insights into the molecular basis of a tissue's development, function and pathology. Here, we present a computational approach designed to identify potential regulatory target genes of photoreceptor cell-specific transcription factors (TFs). The approach is based on the hypothesis that genes related to the retina in terms of expression, disease and/or function are more likely to be the targets of retina-specific TFs than other genes. A list of genes that are preferentially expressed in retina was obtained by integrating expressed sequence tag, SAGE and microarray datasets. The regulatory targets of retina-specific TFs are enriched in this set of retina-related genes. A Bayesian approach was employed to integrate information about binding site location relative to a gene's transcription start site. Our method was applied to three retina-specific TFs, CRX, NRL and NR2E3, and a number of potential targets were predicted. To experimentally assess the validity of the bioinformatic predictions, mobility shift, transient transfection and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed with five predicted CRX targets, and the results were suggestive of CRX regulation in 5/5, 3/5 and 4/5 cases, respectively. Together, these experiments strongly suggest that RP1, GUCY2D, ABCA4 are novel targets of CRX.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Zinc-finger domains of the transcriptional repressor KLF15 bind multiple sites in rhodopsin and IRBP promoters including the CRS-1 and G-rich repressor elements.

BACKGROUND: In the retina, many of the genes that encode components of the visual transduction cascade and retinoid recycling are exclusively expressed in photoreceptor cells and show highly stereotyped temporal and spatial expression patterns. Multiple transcriptional activators of photoreceptor-specific genes have been identified, but little is known about negative regulation of gene expression in the retina. We recently identified KLF15, a member of the Sp/Krüppel-like Factor family of zinc-finger containing transcription factors, as an in vitro repressor of the promoters of the photoreceptor-specific genes rhodopsin and IRBP/Rbp3. To gain further insight into the mechanism of KLF15-mediated regulation of gene expression, we have characterized the binding characteristics and specificity of KLF15's DNA binding domains and defined the KLF15 binding sites in the rhodopsin and IRBP promoters. RESULTS: In EMSA and DNAseI footprinting assays, a KLF15-GST fusion protein containing the C-terminal zinc-finger domains (123 amino acids) showed zinc-dependent and sequence-specific binding to a 9 bp consensus sequence containing a core CG/TCCCC. Both the bovine rhodopsin and IRBP promoters contained multiple KLF15 binding sites that included the previously identified CRS-1 and G-rich repressor elements. KLF15 binding sites were highly conserved between the bovine, human, chimp and dog rhodopsin promoters, but less conserved in rodents. KLF15 reduced luciferase expression by bRho130-luc (containing 4 KLF15 sites) and repressed promoter activation by CRX (cone rod homeobox) and/or NRL (neural retina leucine zipper), although the magnitude of the reduction was smaller than previously reported for a longer bRho225-luc (containing 6 KFL15 sites). CONCLUSION: KLF15 binds to multiple 9 bp consensus sites in the Rhodospin and IRBP promoters including the CRS-1 and G-rich repressor elements. Based on the known expression pattern of KLF15 in non-photoreceptor cells, we hypothesize an in vivo role for KLF15 in repressing photoreceptor-specific gene expression in the inner retina.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Different effects of angiopoietin-2 in different vascular beds: new vessels are most sensitive.

In this study, we used double transgenic mice with inducible expression of angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) to investigate the role of Ang2 in the retinal and choroidal circulations and in three models of ocular neovascularization (NV). Mice with induced expression of Ang2 ubiquitously, or specifically in the retina, survived and appeared grossly normal. They also had normal-appearing retinal and choroidal circulations, demonstrating that high levels of Ang2 did not induce regression of mature retinal or choroidal vessels. When Ang2 expression was induced soon after birth, there was increased density of the deep capillary bed on postnatal day (P) 11 that returned to normal by P18, the time that retinal vascular development is usually completed. In mice with ischemic retinopathy, induction of Ang2 during the ischemic period resulted in a significant increase in retinal NV, but induction of Ang2 at a later time point when ischemia (and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) was less, hastened regression of NV. In triple transgenic mice that coexpressed VEGF and Ang2, the increased expression of Ang2 inhibited VEGF-induced NV in the retina. Increased expression of Ang2 also resulted in regression of choroidal neovascularization. These data suggest that ocular neovascularization, but not mature retinal or choroidal vessels, is sensitive to Ang2; a high Ang2/VEGF ratio promotes regression, while high Ang2 in the setting of hypoxia and/or concomitantly high Ang2 and VEGF stimulate neovascularization.

Angiopoietin-2↗

PubMed2005

Bone morphogenetic proteins promote neurite outgrowth in retinal ganglion cells.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to test the ability of members of the transforming growth factor/bone morphogenetic protein family to influence retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and neurite outgrowth in primary cell culture using a high throughput analysis. METHODS: Primary cell cultures were generated using immunoselection of Thy-1 positive cells from dissociated postnatal rat retina and grown on poly-L-lysine/laminin coated 96 well culture dishes in the presence or absence of members of the transforming growth factor/bone morphogenetic protein family. High throughput analysis was performed following fluorescence staining with Hoechst, Calcein AM, and TOTO-3. Outcomes included overall cell survival, survival of cells with neurite outgrowth, and a variety of parameters of neurite outgrowth. RESULTS: Immunomagnetic selection led to an enrichment of cell cultures for RGCs (79%+/-6.8%). While no significant effect on overall survival was observed with any of the factors tested, members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMPs) family (BMP2, BMP13, and GDF8 (growth differentiation factor 8)) and BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) increased the number of surviving RGCs with neurite extension in a dose dependent manner. As a group, BMPs increased the number of neurites, length of neurites, and the number of branch points, while BDNF primarily increased neurite length and branch points. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed an efficient system that allows for high throughput analysis of cultures enriched for RGCs. Using this assay system, we found that BMPs promote the survival of outgrowth neurons and neurite development in RGC culture.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A system for inducible gene expression in retinal ganglion cells.

PURPOSE: To develop a system for inducible gene expression in retinal ganglion cells, Thy1 and ckit promoters were used to direct expression of a second-generation reverse tetracycline transactivator (rtTA2S-M2). METHODS: Transgenic mice were generated that harbor rtTA2S-M2 under the control of either the Thy1 or ckit promoter. These animals were crossed with mice transgenic for the LacZ gene downstream of a cassette of tet operator (TRE) binding sites. Induction of the LacZ reporter gene in vivo after either oral or subcutaneous doxycycline administration and in vitro in cultured retinal cells was assessed. To examine induction of a secreted protein, expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in mice harboring Thy1-rtTA and TRE-PEDF constructs was quantified. RESULTS: Five of seven Thy1-rtTA lines showed induction with subcutaneous doxycycline: maximum induction in one line (Thy1-C), moderate in one line (Thy1-F), and minimal in three lines. There was no detectable retinal LacZ expression in the ckit-rtTA lines, despite expression of the ckit-rtTA transgene at the RNA level. In Thy1-rtTA lines, LacZ reporter expression as measured by X-gal staining was evenly dispersed throughout all quadrants of the retina, present in a subpopulation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) bodies, RGC axons projecting through the retina and optic nerve, and some cells in the inner nuclear layer. Immunostaining for beta-galactosidase demonstrated more uniform expression in RGCs and cells of the inner aspect of the inner nuclear layer, which, by double staining with anti-beta-galactosidase and anti-calretinin antibodies, were consistent with amacrine cells. More than 95% of Thy-1 antigen-positive cells in the retina expressed the induced transgene. Subcutaneous doxycycline resulted in a more robust induction of LacZ than did oral administration. In vitro, the number of cells induced in culture increased in a dose-dependent manner, with maximum expression at 10 microg/mL at a level 3.4-fold over background. Thy1-rtTA/TRE-PEDF mice treated with doxycycline had 1000-fold induction in their retinal PEDF expression in comparison with nontransgenic mice and 600-fold induction over noninduced Thy1-rtTA/TRE-PEDF mice. CONCLUSIONS: A transgenic system for inducible RGC expression has been developed that demonstrates minimal leakiness and significant induction with doxycycline. This system will be useful for several applications.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Comparative gene expression analysis of murine retina and brain.

PURPOSE: Several high-throughput studies have described gene expression in the central nervous system (CNS), and recently there has been increasing interest in analyzing how gene expression compares in different regions of the CNS. As the retina is often used as a model system to study CNS development and function, we compared retina and brain gene expression using microarray analyses. METHODS: Mouse retina, brain and liver RNA was hybridized to a custom cDNA microarray containing 5,376 genes and ESTs, and the data from the quantified scanned images were analyzed using Bioconductor and SAM. Preferential retina expression was confirmed by real-time PCR. The cellular distribution of genes newly identified as retina enriched genes was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Using stringent statistical analyses we identified 733 genes that were preferentially expressed in retina and 389 in brain. The retina-liver hybridizations identified an additional 837 retina enriched genes. The cellular distribution in the retina was determined for two genes that had not previously been reported to be expressed in the retina, the transcription regulatory proteins EWS and PCPB1. Both proteins were found primarily in the inner nuclear layer. Finally, a comparison of the microarray data to publicly available SAGE and EST library databases demonstrated only limited overlap of the sets of retina enriched genes identified by the different methodologies. The preferential retinal expression of a subset of genes from the microarray, which were not identified as differentially expressed by other methods, was confirmed by quantitative PCR. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of differences in the groups of identified retina enriched genes from the various profiling techniques supports the use of multiple approaches to obtain a more complete description of retinal gene expression. Characterization of gene expression profiles of retina and brain may facilitate the understanding of the processes that underlie differences between the retina and other parts of the central nervous system.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A method for analysis of gene expression in isolated mouse photoreceptor and Müller cells.

PURPOSE: Molecular analysis of complex phenomena, such as selective death of photoreceptors and their rescue by neuro-protective agents, has been hindered by limitations of techniques for investigating gene expression in individual cells within a heterogeneous tissue such as the retina. The purpose of this study was to develop methods to assess gene expression in single retinal cells. METHODS: Individual cells from papain-dissociated mouse retinae were captured with micropipettes and identified by morphology and by immunocytochemistry. Single cell cDNA libraries were generated by poly-d(T)-primed reverse transcription, poly-d(A) tailing of first strand cDNA, and en masse PCR-amplification using a custom made oligo-d(T). PCR was used to investigate gene expression in cDNAs from individual cells. RESULTS: Dissociated rod and Müller glia cells maintained their morphology, which correlated with their immunocytochemical properties. RPE cells were recognized by their pigmentation. With the exception of bipolar cells, non-photoreceptor neurons were only identifiable by immunocytochemistry. Abundant cDNA could be synthesized from each individual cell. Cell-specific "markers" were detected by PCR almost exclusively in the predicted cell types. The expression of neurotrophic factor receptors was consistent with previous biological studies. CONCLUSIONS: These studies establish a method to compare, investigate, and analyze gene expression in individual cells of the retina.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

QRX, a novel homeobox gene, modulates photoreceptor gene expression.

A novel paired-like homeobox gene, designated as Qrx, was identified by a yeast one-hybrid screen using the bovine Rhodopsin promoter Ret-1 DNA regulatory element as bait. Qrx is preferentially expressed in both the outer and inner nuclear layers of the retina. Its homeodomain is nearly identical to that of Rx/Rax, a transcription factor that is essential for eye development, but it shares only limited homology elsewhere. Although Qrx and Rx/Rax show similar DNA binding properties in vitro, the two proteins demonstrate distinct target selectivity and functional behavior in promoter activity assays. QRX synergistically increases the transactivating function of the photoreceptor transcription factors Crx and NRL and it physically interacts with CRX. Qrx is present in the bovine and human genomes, but appears to be absent from the mouse genome. Nonetheless, a 5.8 kb upstream region of human QRX is capable of directing expression in presumptive photoreceptor precursor cells in transgenic mice. These results indicate that Qrx may be involved in modulating photoreceptor gene expression. In addition, the finding of rare heterozygous QRX sequence changes in three individuals with retinal degeneration raises the possibility that QRX may be involved in disease pathogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Functional analysis of the rod photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase alpha-subunit gene promoter: Nrl and Crx are required for full transcriptional activity.

To understand the factors controlling expression of the cGMP phosphodiesterase type 6 (PDE6) genes, we have characterized the promoter of the human PDE6A gene that encodes the catalytic alpha-subunit. In vivo DNase I hypersensitivity assays revealed two sites immediately upstream of the PDE6A core promoter region. Transient transfection assay in Y79 cells of constructs containing varying lengths of the promoter region showed a decrease in promoter activity with increasing length. The most active segment contained a 177-bp upstream sequence including apparent Crx and Nrl transcription factor binding sites. Both Crx and Nrl transactivated the PDE6A promoter in HEK293 cells and showed a >100-fold increase when coexpressed. Coexpression of a dominant negative inhibitor of Nrl abolished Nrl transactivation but had no effect on Crx. DNase I footprinting assays identified three potential Crx binding sites within a 55-bp segment beginning 29 bp upstream of the transcription start point. Mutation of two of these sites reduced reporter gene activity by as much as 69%. Gel shifts showed that all three Crx sites required a TAAT sequence for efficient binding. Consistent with a requirement for Crx and Nrl in Pde6a promoter activity, Pde6a mRNA is reduced by 87% in the retina of Crx(-/-) mice and is undetectable in Nrl(-/-) mice at postnatal day 10. These results establish that both Nrl and Crx are required for full transcriptional activity of the PDE6A gene.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗