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Biomedical subjects

M Groudine

Publications and source records attributed to M Groudine.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Expression of bcr and bcr-abl fusion transcripts in normal and leukemic cells.

The translocation of the c-abl oncogene from chromosome 9 to the bcr gene on chromosome 22 in cases of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) generates an aberrant bcr-abl fusion transcript which may be intimately related to the pathogenesis of CML. Because factors controlling normal bcr expression might also be involved in the expression of this aberrant bcr-abl transcript, we studied the patterns of expression of the normal bcr gene in different cell types. We found that the normal bcr gene was expressed in many different types of human cells. Moreover, the bcr gene was evolutionarily conserved, and homologous bcr genomic sequences and RNA transcripts were readily detected in chick tissue. The highest level of bcr expression in chick tissue was in brain tissue, the lowest level was in liver tissue, and a truncated bcr mRNA was noted in chick testes. Normal bcr transcripts, in addition to the aberrant bcr-abl hybrid transcripts, have been found in all Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML cells studied to date. Within a given CML sample, the relative amounts of normal bcr RNA and aberrant bcr-abl RNA were similar. In addition, the normal bcr and the aberrant bcr-abl hybrid transcripts demonstrated similarly prolonged half-lives compared with that of the normal abl-related transcripts in CML cells. These findings suggest that in CML cells, similar cellular mechanisms control the steady-state levels of both the normal bcr and the bcr-abl fusion RNAs.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1986

The modulation of Hb F synthesis in adult erythroid progenitor (burst-forming unit) cultures reflects changes in gamma-globin gene transcription and chromatin structure.

Fetal hemoglobin production can be reactivated in vivo in adult persons with various hemoglobinopathies and other hemopoietic disorders, and in cultures of adult erythroid progenitors. We show that the activation of Hb F in adult cells is transcriptional in nature and is accompanied by the appearance of DNase I-hypersensitive sites and undermethylation of Hpa II sites 5' to the gamma-globin genes. Production of Hb F in culture is strongly modulated by the environment, and the repression of Hb F synthesis by specific culture conditions has been reported. By nuclear runoff, chromatin, and methylation analyses, we show that this inhibition of Hb F production in vitro is at the level of transcription with the concomitant loss of characteristic gamma hypersensitive sites and methylation of gamma Hpa II sites. These data indicate, first, that the organization of globin chromatin of adult cells that produce fetal hemoglobin resembles that of fetal erythroid cells and, second, that this organization switches from a fetal to an adult pattern in response to changes in the environment of the erythroid cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1986

A developmentally stable chromatin structure in the human beta-globin gene cluster.

The DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the human embryonic beta-globin gene region have been mapped in erythroid-enriched fractions of disaggregated fetal livers, in adult nucleated red blood cells, and in fetal brain tissue. Our analysis of a region extending 11 kilobases (kb) 5' of the epsilon-globin gene reveals many minor nuclease-hypersensitive sites and one major site located 6.1 kb upstream of the epsilon-globin gene. All of these hypersensitive sites are erythroid-specific, and the major site is stable throughout erythroid development. As assayed by nuclear runoff transcription, little or no epsilon-globin gene expression is detectable in fetal or adult erythroid cells. Thus, the presence of the major hypersensitive site 5' of the epsilon-globin gene in both fetal and adult erythroid cells demonstrates that this site is not specifically correlated with transcription of the gene or with a particular stage of development. Rather, this site may reflect an early event in erythroid differentiation. In addition, DNase I has been used to probe the overall sensitivity of epsilon-globin chromatin in fetal erythroid cells. Our findings indicate that the epsilon-globin gene as well as the other genes in the beta-globin cluster reside within the chromatin domain that is more DNase I-sensitive than "bulk" chromatin.

Brain↗
PubMed1986

Novel promoter upstream of the human c-myc gene and regulation of c-myc expression in B-cell lymphomas.

A new promoter of the human c-myc gene called P0, with multiple RNA start sites, was mapped over 500 bases upstream of the two previously identified promoters, P1 and P2. Sequencing full-length cDNA clones of P0 RNAs revealed two open reading frames upstream of that for the P64c-myc protein. P0 RNA is located on polyribosomes and released by puromycin, indicating that it functions as an mRNA. In vitro translation of RNA synthesized from the cloned cDNAs predicts that P0 transcripts are translated into a novel 12.5-kilodalton protein corresponding to the first open reading frame. The regulation of P0 RNA was studied in the B-cell lymphoma cell line Manca, in which only the translocated c-myc allele lacking exon 1 was thought to be active. However, we found that P0 transcription and the DNase I-hypersensitive site associated with this promoter persist on the untranslocated allele, even though P1/P2 transcription as measured by a nuclear runoff assay was repressed. These results suggest that allelic exclusion of c-myc expression in this B-cell lymphoma is caused by a repression of transcription which is specific to the P1/P2 promoters. We previously reported a block to elongation of transcription near the 3' end of exon 1 in the wild-type c-myc gene, which results in an excess of exon 1 over exon 2 transcription (5a). In contrast, we found that in the Daudi B-cell lymphoma, which retains exon 1 in the active allele, equimolar transcription of exons 1 and 2 occurs. This result suggests a model for the activation of c-myc in B-cell lymphomas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Varied interactions between proviruses and adjacent host chromatin.

Retroviruses integrated at unique locations in the host genome can be expressed at different levels. We have analyzed the preintegration sites of three transcriptionally competent avian endogenous proviruses (evs) to determine whether the various levels of provirus expression correlate with their location in active or inactive regions of chromatin. Our results show that in three of four cell types, the chromatin conformation (as defined by relative nuclease sensitivity) of virus preintegration sites correlates with the level of expression of the resident provirus in ev+ cells: two inactive proviruses (ev-1 and ev-2) reside in nuclease-resistant chromatin domains and one active provirus (ev-3) resides in a nuclease-sensitive domain. Nuclear runoff transcription assays reveal that the preintegration sites of the active and inactive viruses are not transcribed. However, in erythrocytes of 15-day-old chicken embryos (15d RBCs), the structure and activity of the ev-3 provirus is independent of the conformation of its preintegration site. In this cell type, the ev-3 preintegration site is organized in a nuclease-resistant conformation, while the ev-3 provirus is in a nuclease-sensitive conformation and is transcribed. In addition, the nuclease sensitivity of host sequences adjacent to ev-3 is altered in ev-3+ 15d RBCs relative to that found in 15d RBCs that lack ev-3. These data suggest that the relationship between preintegration site structure and retrovirus expression is more complex than previously described.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Transcriptional regulation of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene is associated with induction of DNase I-hypersensitive sites.

Human teratocarcinoma cells were used to examine structural features associated with expression of the major immediate-early (IE) gene of human cytomegalovirus. By immunofluorescence, comparison of RNA levels, and in vitro transcription of nuclei, we showed that the major IE gene is inactive in undifferentiated but active in differentiated cells. Therefore, the block in human cytomegalovirus replication in teratocarcinoma cells appears to be at the transcriptional level, in one of the initial genes transcribed. In addition, the in vitro transcription experiments demonstrated that in permissive infections the gene was transcriptionally inactive late in infection. A comparison of the structural features of the promoter region with the active and inactive IE genes showed the presence of constitutive and inducible DNase I-hypersensitive sites. The majority of the constitutive sites existed at -175, -275, -375, -425, and -525 relative to the cap site in an area which has been shown to be capable of simian virus 40 enhancer function. In contrast, the inducible DNase I sites were located outside this region at -650, -775, -875, and -975.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1986

Chromatin structure and developmental expression of the human alpha-globin cluster.

The human alpha-like globins undergo a switch from the embryonic zeta-chain to the alpha-chain early in human development, at approximately the same time as the beta-like globins switch from the embryonic epsilon-to the fetal gamma-chains. We investigated the chromatin structure of the human alpha-globin gene cluster in fetal and adult erythroid cells. Our results indicate that DNase I-hypersensitive sites exist at the 5' ends of the alpha 1- and alpha 2-globin genes as well as at several other sites in the cluster in all erythroid cells examined. In addition, early and late fetal liver erythroid cells and adult bone marrow cells contain hypersensitive sites at the 5' end of the zeta gene, and in a purified population of 130-day-old fetal erythroid cells, the entire zeta-to alpha-globin region is sensitive to DNase I digestion. The presence of features of active chromatin in the zeta-globin region in fetal liver and adult bone marrow cells led us to investigate the transcription of zeta in these cells. By nuclear runoff transcription studies, we showed that initiated polymerases are present on the zeta-globin gene in these normal erythroid cells. Immunofluorescence with anti-zeta-globin antibodies also showed that late fetal liver cells contain zeta-globin. These findings demonstrate that expression of the embryonic zeta-globin continues at a low level in normal cells beyond the embryonic to fetal globin switch.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Enhanced transcription of c-myc in bursal lymphoma cells requires continuous protein synthesis.

In several bursal lymphoma cell lines in which c-myc transcription is regulated by avian leukosis virus (ALV) long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences, protein synthesis inhibition decreases the transcriptional activity of c-myc as well as other LTR driven viral genes. This decrease in transcription is associated with a change in the chromatin structure of c-myc, as measured by deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) hypersensitivity, and a shift of transcription from the LTR to the normal c-myc promoter. In contrast, cycloheximide had little or no effect on the transcription of LTR driven genes in infected chicken embryo fibroblasts treated with the drug. These results suggest that a labile, cell type-specific protein may interact with the retroviral LTR and regulate transcription of genes under LTR control. Further, the results demonstrate that the increase in intracellular concentration of c-myc RNA induced by cycloheximide treatment of normal cells is the result of stabilization of this message.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Chromatin structure and de novo methylation of sperm DNA: implications for activation of the paternal genome.

The chromatin structure characteristic of constitutively expressed genes, tissue-specific genes, and inactive genes is absent in chicken sperm chromatin. However, point sites of undermethylation in sperm DNA within constitutively expressed genes, but not within globin genes or an inactive gene, correspond to the location of regions of altered chromatin structure (hypersensitive sites) in somatic tissue and spermatogonial cells. A de novo methylation process whereby regions within and flanking these genes become methylated, but which excludes the methylation of sequences within hypersensitive sites, occurs between the spermatogonial stage and the first meiotic prophase. These undermethylated regions may play a role in the activation of the paternal genome during embryogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Transcription of three c-myc exons is enhanced in chicken bursal lymphoma cell lines.

The chicken c-myc gene, as defined by its homology to the v-myc gene of MC29 virus, is comprised of two exons. Using the techniques of runoff transcription, primer extension, and S1 nuclease protection, we demonstrate that there is a third c-myc exon of approximately equal to 345 base pairs (bp) located 0.7 kbp upstream of the 5' end of the v-myc homology. This first exon is transcribed and present in myc mRNA in normal chicken cells. We also examined RNA from five cell lines derived from avian leukosis virus-induced bursal lymphomas. In all these lines, the level of transcription of the 2.2- to 2.5-kbp myc mRNA is increased 30- to 60-fold over normal cells. The myc mRNA in four of these lines also contains increased levels of the first noncoding exon, and evidence is presented that the long terminal repeat (LTR) in the vicinity of c-myc is functioning as an enhancer of c-myc transcription rather than as a promoter in several of these cell lines. In two cell lines in which the viral LTR has integrated between the first and second exons in the proper orientation for downstream promotion of myc, the LTR does not exhibit promoter function. The pattern of c-myc transcription observed by others in a vast majority of avian leukosis virus-induced neoplasms is not observed in any of the five cell lines examined.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Post-transcriptional regulation of the chicken thymidine kinase gene.

In attempting to understand the molecular basis of the control of chicken thymidine kinase (cTK) gene expression, we have examined the steady state cTK RNA content, and the patterns of DNA methylation, chromatin structure and endogenous nuclear runoff transcription of this gene in dividing and non-dividing cells. Our results reveal that the steady state level of cTK poly A+ RNA is correlated with the divisional activity of normal avian cells and tissues. However, no differences in the pattern of Hpa II site methylation or chromatin structure are found among cells containing high or undetectable levels of steady state cTK RNA. In addition, no differences in cTK transcription as assayed by nuclear runoff experiments are detectable in isolated nuclei derived from dividing or non-dividing cells containing high or low levels of steady state cTK RNA. These results suggest that the principal control of chicken thymidine kinase gene expression is post-transcriptional in nature.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Genetic and physical analysis of the chicken tk gene.

Several aspects of the structure of the chicken thymidine kinase gene (tk) have been resolved as a result of genetic experiments and nucleotide sequencing. Deletion mapping established the locations of two functional boundaries in a region thought to correspond to the 5' terminus of the gene. One such boundary coincides with a transcriptional promoter, and the other coincides with the translation start codon of the chicken tk polypeptide. Similar deletion mapping assays identified a functional boundary at the 3' terminus of the gene. DNA sequence analysis confirms the prediction that this 3' region encodes the carboxyl terminus of the tk polypeptide. A recombinant cDNA clone complementary to genomic tk sequences was isolated. A comparison between genomic and cDNA sequences reveals the locations of six intervening sequences and allows prediction of the complete amino acid sequence of the chicken tk polypeptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Human fetal to adult hemoglobin switching: changes in chromatin structure of the beta-globin gene locus.

We have investigated the chromatin structure of the chromosomal DNA regions containing the human G gamma-, A gamma-, delta-, and beta-globin structural genes in both fetal and adult erythropoietic tissues and in two human erythroleukemia cells lines before and after induction. Our results indicate that DNase I introduces specific cuts into the beta-globin gene cluster in erythroid cells but not in leukocytes. The predominant sites are located at the 5' sides of the G gamma-, A gamma-, delta-, and beta-globin genes, within 200 base pairs of the respective cap sites. Examination of fetal liver cells has revealed the presence of hypersensitive sites at the 5' side of all four genes, whereas analysis of adult bone marrow has revealed the characteristic sites near the delta- and beta-globin genes but no hypersensitive sites at the 5' termini of the G gamma- or A gamma-globin genes. The presence of delta and beta hypersensitive sites in fetal cells suggests that the increment in expression of the delta and beta genes during development most likely involves the modulation of another pathway to gene expression. Using isolated nuclei from HEL and K562 cells, we have found that the G gamma, A gamma, delta, and beta genes are preferentially sensitive [relative to the pro-alpha2(I) collagen gene] to mild digestion with DNase I, whereas these genes are as resistant as collagen genes in cells that do not express globin. These findings are discussed within the context of chromatin structural correlates of hemoglobin switching.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Developmental aspects of chromatin structure and gene expression.

We have attempted to investigate the conformational basis and developmental relevance of globin-associated hypersensitive sites in avian and human cells. Our results indicate that once formed, DNaseI-hypersensitive sites have the capacity to propagate their own structure to daughter cells in the absence of the original events that have led to their formation. We postulate that the single-stranded character (as revealed by S1 nuclease) of these DNaseI-hypersensitivity sites could explain these results. In addition, we show that the locations of hypersensitive sites in an active avian endogenous retrovirus remain unmethylated in mature sperm and suggest that this phenomenon could lead to the propagation of structural information from germ line to fertilized egg. We have also investigated the chromatin structure of the chromosomal DNA regions containing the human G gamma-, A gamma-, delta-, and beta-globin structural genes in both fetal and adult erythropoietic tissues. Our results indicate that DNaseI introduces specific cuts into the beta-globin gene cluster in erythroid cells, but not in white blood cells. The predominant sites are located at the 5' sides of the G gamma-, A gamma-, delta-, and beta-globin genes, within 200 bp of the respective CAP sites. Examination of fetal liver cells has revealed the presence of hypersensitive sites at the 5' side of all four genes, whereas analysis of adult bone marrow has revealed the characteristic sites near the delta- and beta-globin genes but no hypersensitive sites at the 5' termini of the G gamma- or A gamma-globin genes. The presence of delta- and beta-hypersensitive sites in fetal cells suggests that the increment in expression of the delta and beta genes during development most likely involves the modulation of another pathway to gene expression.

Chromatin↗
PubMed1982

Propagation of globin DNAase I-hypersensitive sites in absence of factors required for induction: a possible mechanism for determination.

We tested whether DNAase I-hypersensitive sites, once induced, can be propagated to daughter cells in the absence of the original inducer. Chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with a temperature-sensitive Rous sarcoma virus at 41 degrees C and then shifted to 36 degrees C become transformed and begin to transcribe globin RNA. DNAase I-hypersensitive sites appear in the alpha- and beta-globin chromatin domains. Neither transcription nor hypersensitive sites are detected in cells infected and maintained at 41 degrees C. Activation of the globin hypersensitive sites occurs within 30 min of a temperature shift to 36 degrees C and does not require new protein synthesis. To test for the self-propagation of these hypersensitive structures, we inactivated the v-src gene product by a shift back up to 41 degrees C, and allowed the cells to divide 20 times at 41 degrees C. Although transcription of the globin genes was minimal after this treatment, the DNAase I-hypersensitive sites remained. The same sites can be induced by NaCl shock of cells. After the cells are returned to normal medium and allowed to grow for 20 doublings, the hypersensitive sites remain. This suggests that once formed, DNAase I-hypersensitive sites have the capacity to template their own structure independent of the initial "inductive" event. The single-stranded character of these DNAase I-hypersensitive sites could explain these results.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Temperature-sensitive changes in the structure of globin chromatin in lines of red cell precursors transformed by ts-AEV.

Chicken bone marrow cells infected in vitro with a temperature-sensitive avian erythroblastosis virus fall to produce hemoglobin at 36 degrees C. When the product or products of the transforming gene (erb) are inactivated by a temperature shift to 42 degrees C in culture, several different cloned lines of cells infected with the temperature-sensitive avian erythroblastosis virus begin to make hemoglobin. This shift in phenotype correlates with an increase in hemoglobin mRNA specific to both adult and embryonic alpha and beta globin. The switch is accompanied by the acquisition of DNAase I-hypersensitive sites in one cell line (clone 2); however, a hypothetically more mature line (clone 3) has already acquired globin DNAase-hypersensitive sites but does not express hemoglobin until the temperature shift. Several (but not all) specific restriction sites associated with both the alpha and beta domains become unmethylated after the switch from 36 degrees C to 42 degrees C. The magnitude of these methylation switches is small compared with changes that occur in these genes during normal avian erythropoiesis. The results suggest that changes in chromosomal structure precede transcription and are not a consequence of transcription. Since (presumptive) precursor cloned lines can be established with some, but not all, of the structural properties of active globin chromatin, it is likely that many of these properties can be independently established and are not obligatorily related.

Alpharetrovirus↗