Biomedical subjects

R N Hines

Publications and source records attributed to R N Hines.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Differential expression and activity of flavin-containing monooxygenases in euryhaline and stenohaline flatfishes indicates potential osmoregulatory role.

N,N-Dimethylaniline (DMA) N-oxidase activity indicative of flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) was examined in four tissues (liver, gill, muscle, and kidney) of the flounder (Platichthys flesus). Gill microsomes had the highest levels of activity (456 +/- 343 pmol/min/mg), while kidney (121 +/- 109) and liver (67 +/- 26) had levels just above detection. A single faint band of a 56 kD protein was observed in liver and gill microsomes following Western blot analyses with polyclonal antibodies to FMO 1. DMA N-oxidase activity in gill and liver directly correlated with the expression of the 56 kD protein recognized by polyclonal antibodies against FMO form 1. Likewise a mRNA band of approximately 2.5 kilobases was higher in gill than a 3.0 kb band in liver following hydridization with an FMO 1 cDNA probe. Gill and liver microsomal DMA N-oxidase from the euryhaline P. flesus was compared with that of the stenohaline turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). DMA oxidase activity, FMO protein and mRNA were significantly greater in the gill of P. flesus, while S. maximus had higher levels of enzyme activity in the liver, but also significant levels in gill. Comparison of the enzymatic properties of the P. flesus gill and S. maximus liver enzymes indicated dramatic differences in Km between gill and liver, but were both inhibited by equimolar concentrations of trimethylamine (TMA). Gill microsomal activity in each species was unaffected by the mammalian FMO 2 substrate (competitive inhibitor) n-octylamine. Differential expression of FMO in tissues from stenohaline and euryhaline fish suggests a functional relationship between FMO and osmoregulation.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

In vitro binding and functional studies comparing the human CYP1A1 negative regulatory element with the orthologous sequences from rodent genes.

In previous studies, we identified a 21 bp palindrome (-794 to -774) located within the negative regulatory element of the human CYP1A1 gene consisting of an 8 bp inverted repeat and 5 bp spacer. This element specifically binds protein(s) present in HepG2 nuclear extract preparations and is capable of down-regulating heterologous promoters and enhancers in transient expression assays. Conserved guanine/cytosine-rich regions which flank the palindrome also were implicated in this activity. In the present study, we examined similar regions from the rat (-881 to -746) and mouse (-822 to -683) CYP1A1 genes for their ability to bind nuclear protein and down-regulate heterologous promoters and enhancers. These rodent DNA fragments contain the conserved guanine/cytosine-rich sequences, as well as half-sites similar to those found in the human CYP1A1 palindrome. However, each half-site is separated by approximately 40 bp. DNase I footprint analyses revealed the presence of rat and mouse nuclear proteins which gave a similar protection pattern as that observed with nuclear proteins from the human cell line, HepG2. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with the human negative regulatory element demonstrated the formation of specific DNA-protein complexes with rat and mouse nuclear protein(s). Interestingly, two specific DNA-protein complexes were observed with rodent extracts as compared to the single specific complex seen with human extract. Specific binding was not observed with either the orthologous rat or mouse fragments using human or rodent extracts. In transient expression assays, the rat and mouse fragments were unable to down-regulate enhancer/promoter activity. This absence of negative regulatory activity occurred whether transfections were performed in human, rat or mouse hepatoma cell lines. The human negative regulatory element, which was previously shown to down-regulate heterologous enhancers/promoters approximately 70% in human cells, did not exhibit this activity in rodent cell lines. UV cross-linking and southwestern blot analyses indicated a high degree of similarity between human and rodent NRE binding proteins, although some differences also were apparent. The possible implications of these findings with regards to species differences in the regulation of CYP1A1 expression are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Partial characterization of the human CYP1A1 negatively acting transcription factor and mutational analysis of its cognate DNA recognition sequence.

Previous studies in our laboratory identified a negative regulatory domain in the 5'-flanking region of the human CYP1A1 gene containing two negative regulatory elements (NRE). Characterization of one of these elements revealed three nuclear protein binding regions: a 21-bp palindrome with a point of symmetry at -784 and two guanine- and cytosine-rich elements that flank the palindrome. Functional studies suggested the palindrome is critical for transcriptional repression, whereas the guanine- and cytosine-rich sequences play a secondary role. In this study, the interaction between nuclear proteins and the CYP1A1 NRE was further defined. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) indicated that the NRE -784 palindrome alone, but not the guanine- and cytosine-rich sequences minus the palindrome, was capable of specific nuclear protein binding. Competitive cotransfection experiments confirmed this observation in intact cells. Specific residues important for DNA-protein interactions were identified by site-directed mutagenesis and competitive EMSA. The loss of specific protein binding was also correlated with the loss of negative regulatory activity in a transient-expression assay. Finally, competitive EMSA was performed with consensus oligonucleotides for known transcription factors. An NF-Y consensus sequence efficiently competed with the NRE probe for specific nuclear protein binding. EMSA supershift analyses indicate that a protein immunologically related to NF-YB is part of the specific nuclear protein complex binding the human CYP1A1 NRE. These studies have refined our understanding of the sequences critical for the transcriptional repression of human CYP1A1. To our knowledge, this is also the first report implicating a member of the NF-Y transcription factor family in negative gene regulation.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Characterization of hepatic flavin monooxygenase from the marine teleost turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.).

1. The presence and properties of flavin monooxygenase (FMO) in liver of the marine teleost, turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were examined in relation to organic xenobiotic metabolism and osmoregulation. 2. Hepatic microsomes of sexually mature fish contained NADPH-dependent FMO as evidenced by the conversion of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) to DMA-N-oxide, and immunorecognition of single bands (approximate apparent molecular weight of 55 kDa) by antibodies to mammalian FMO 1 and FMO 2. Additionally, Northern analysis using a full-length cDNA probe to mammalian FMO 1 revealed a single hybridizing band of approximately 2.5 kb. 3. No significant differences were seen between male and female turbot FMO with respect to DMA N-oxidase activity, levels of immunoreactive protein (with anti-FMO 1 or anti-FMO 2) and gene expression (hybridizing mRNA). 4. Hepatic microsomal DMA N-oxidase activity was inhibited by methimazole (an FMO substrate) and trimethylamine (TMA), but not by piperonyl butoxide (a P450 inhibitor). Inhibition by TMA is indicative of a role for FMO in osmoregulation, catalysing the conversion of TMA to TMA N-oxide. DMA N-oxidase activity was optimal at pH 8.8 and 25 degrees C, and displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to DMA (apparent Km = 88 microM).

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Tissue-specific expression of flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) forms 1 and 2 in the rabbit.

The microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO) represent a family of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes with distinct tissue- and species-specific patterns of expression. Expression for two FMO isoforms (FMO1 and FMO2) in rabbit was characterized by determining mRNA levels, protein levels and catalytic activity in male and female liver, lung, kidney, esophagus, intestine, nasal mucosa (maxilloturbinates and ethmoturbinates) and gonadal tissue. Northern blot hybridization analyses performed with cDNA probes for each isoform showed marked differences in mRNA expression between tissues: FMO1 expression was highest in liver and intestine, followed by ethmoturbinates, maxilloturbinates and low but detectable levels in female kidney; FMO2 expression was highest in lung, followed by maxilloturbinates, ethmoturbinates, esophagus and kidney. More sex-related differences were observed for FMO2, with higher levels of mRNA in female esophagus, nasal mucosa and kidney. Western blot analyses showed similar patterns of expression at the protein level. Microsomal catalytic activities determined by [14C]-DMA N-oxide formation also indicated tissue- and sex-related differences in substrate metabolism by FMO. Analysis of tissue-specific FMO catalytic activity was also performed using thiocarbamides as isoform-specific probes. Microsomes from those tissues containing FMO2, but not FMO1, failed to catalyze oxidation of the larger (van der Waals surface area greater than 178 A) FMO1-specific thiocarbamides. The results of this study demonstrate that tissue-specific control mechanisms play a more dominant role in the overall constitutive regulation of FMO than other potential factors, such as hormonal influences. Elucidation of the mechanisms controlling FMO tissue-specific expression will lead to a better understanding of target organ specificity for xenobiotic detoxication or bioactivation.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

A nomenclature for the mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenase gene family based on amino acid sequence identities.

A nomenclature based on comparisons of amino acid sequences is proposed for the members of the mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) gene family. This nomenclature is based on evidence of a single gene family composed of five genes. The percentage identities of the amino acid sequences of the five known forms of mammalian FMO are between 52 and 57% in rabbit and between 50 and 58% across species lines. The identities of all orthologs are greater than 82%. There is no evidence for multiple, highly related forms of the enzyme or for more than one mammalian FMO gene family. In the proposed system, the mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenase gene family is designated as "FMO" and the individual genes are distinguished by an Arabic numeral. The FMOs known as the "liver" and "lung" enzymes become FMO1 and FMO2, and the more recently described forms of the enzymes become FMO3, FMO4, and FMO5. Human FMO gene designations, FMO1 and FMO3, remain unchanged, but the gene designated FMO2 becomes FMO4. Following convention, the genes and cDNA designations will be italicized and the mRNA and protein designations will be nonitalicized. The purpose of the proposed nomenclature is to provide for the unambiguous identification of orthologous forms of mammalian FMOs, regardless of the species or tissue in question. The proposed classification considers only members of the mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenase gene family and has no bearing on the generally accepted definition of a multisubstrate flavin-containing monooxygenase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

The mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenases: molecular characterization and regulation of expression.

The flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) has been characterized in several mammalian species, including human. The FMO forms a stable NADP(H)- and oxygen-dependent 4 alpha-hydroperoxy flavin enzyme intermediate in the absence of an oxygenatable substrate. As such, substrate specificity appears to be controlled by access to this stabilized intermediate, resulting in this enzyme's ability to metabolize a wide variety of xenobiotics. These include tertiary and secondary alkyl- and arylamines, many hydrazines, thiocarbamides, thioamides, sulfides, disulfides, thiols, and other soft nucleophiles. Although some of these compounds are oxidized to less active derivatives, several examples of metabolic activation to potentially toxic intermediates also exist. Mercapto-pyrimidines and thiocarbamides, for example, appear to be activated predominantly by FMO. Thus, this enzyme system may play an important role in the early steps of chemical toxicity. Often, the contribution of FMO to the metabolism of a given compound can be assessed by its unique stereoselectivity relative to other oxygenases. For example, the cytochromes P450 oxidize (S)-nicotine to a mixture of cis- and trans-N-1'-oxides. In contrast, (S)-nicotine is oxidized by human FMO3 exclusively to the trans-N-1'-oxide. With the purification and cloning of FMO from multiple tissues and species it became apparent that more than one FMO exists. Further, there are considerable tissue- and species-specific differences in FMO expression that likely contribute to observed differences in detoxication competency and toxicant susceptibility.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Restoration of aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) responsiveness in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells by transient expression of the estrogen receptor.

MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells express the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor; however, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) does not induce CYP1A1 gene expression or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity in cells transiently transfected with pRNH11c, and Ah-responsive plasmid derived from the 5'-flanking region of the human CYP1A1 gene. However, when MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 10 nM TCDD and co-transfected with pRHN11c and a human estrogen receptor (hER) expression plasmid (delta hER), there was approximately a 10-fold increase in CAT activity. The restoration of Ah-responsiveness in MDA-MB-231 cells by expression of nuclear hER was highly specific since parallel studies in which plasmids that express the progesterone receptor and Jun nuclear proteins did not restore Ah-responsiveness to this cell line. Moreover, in cells transiently transfected with the pRNH11c and delta hER plasmids and 10 nM TCDD, overexpression of the Jun protein inhibited the effects of the hER on Ah-responsiveness. Plasmids that express truncated forms of the hER were also active in MDA-MB-231 cells but were not as effective as the complete hER. These studies reveal a unique function for the ER in MDA-MB-231 cells in which expression of this protein results in restoration of Ah-responsiveness.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1994

Oligonucleotide design and optimized protocol for site-directed mutagenesis.

We have optimized conditions for the successful execution of site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) in systems that utilize mutagenic oligonucleotide primers to direct the synthesis of mutant plasmids. In this report, we describe strategies for the design of single-strand DNA templates for SDM, mutagenic oligonucleotide primers, as well as conditions for the annealing, synthesis and propagation of mutant plasmids. The primary focus of the report details the technical aspects of computer-assisted mutagenic oligonucleotide design. Important features include oligonucleotide length, number of matched bases flanking the point(s) of mutation(s), melting temperature, internal stability of the 5' and 3' ends, hairpin and dimer formation, and potential false-priming sites. Largely through a retrospective analysis of our successes and failures, we describe features of the mutagenic oligonucleotide primer that appear critical in this mutagenesis system. Specific examples of efficient and inefficient oligonucleotides are discussed. These characteristics and guidelines should be applicable for SDM of a broad range of target sequences of varying composition, complexity and secondary structure.

Computers↗

PubMed1993

Specific nuclear protein binding to a negative regulatory element on the human CYP1A1 gene.

Employing reporter gene/CYP1A1 chimeric plasmids, we previously identified a 275-base pair (bp) cis-element (-833 to -558; NRE275) that down-regulated the CYP1A1 promoter. In the present study, this negative regulatory activity was further localized to two subfragments of 105 bp (-833 to -728; NRE105) and 170 bp (-728 to -558; NRE170), each of which exhibited activity with a heterologous promoter/enhancer. Co-transfection studies demonstrated a dependence on cellular trans-acting factors present at limiting concentrations. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed the presence of protein(s) that specifically bound to NRE275, NRE105, and NRE170. Based upon competition studies, the protein(s) that bound to NRE105 appeared to recognize sites similar to those recognized by the NRE170-binding proteins. DNase I footprint analysis of NRE105 demonstrated nuclear protein binding to a 21-bp palindrome (-794 to -774). Protection was also observed along conserved guanine/cytosine-rich sequences that flank the palindrome, but in a strand-specific manner. Guanine residues involved in protein binding were identified by methylation interference experiments. Based on transient expression assays with each of the three NRE105 components, all three appear to be necessary for complete negative regulatory activity. However, it is clear the palindrome is the most important sequence with the guanine/cytosine-rich elements playing an ancillary role.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Expression of human cytochrome P450 1A1 in DNA repair deficient and proficient human fibroblasts stably transformed with an inducible expression vector.

Cytochromes P450 catalyze the bioactivation of many carcinogens. In particular, cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) catalyzes the conversion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo[a]pyrene, into potent mutagenic agents. Human skin fibroblasts, both DNA repair deficient (xeroderma pigmentosum group A: XPA) and DNA repair normal have been co-transformed with a chimeric gene construct containing human CYP1A1 coding sequences controlled by the cadmium (Cd) ion inducible mouse metallothionein-I promoter and pRSV-NEO, a dominant selectable marker for G418 resistance. Individual G418 resistant colonies were cloned and analyzed for Cd inducible CYP1A1 activity. Six clones of DNA repair deficient cells and five clones of DNA repair proficient cells have been isolated which express Cd inducible CYP1A1. Benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-diol (BPD) is cytotoxic in Cd induced CYP1A1 expressing cells. The cytotoxicity can be inhibited by 10 microM alpha-napthoflavone. Differential cytotoxicity between the DNA repair deficient and proficient CYP1A1 expressing transformants is observed. BPD is cytotoxic to Cd induced CYP1A1 expressing XPA cells at > 10-fold lower doses than it is to Cd induced CYP1A1 expressing DNA repair normal cells. These data indicate that BPD is metabolized to a DNA damaging agent by induced CYP1A1. In contrast, benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide added to the media is only slightly more cytotoxic to DNA repair deficient than to proficient cells regardless of CYP1A1 expression. These studies demonstrate the usefulness of the CYP1A1 transformed fibroblasts in examining the cytotoxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites and suggest the future usefulness in examining the toxic effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other xenobiotics bioactivated by CYP1A1.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1992

Large-scale purification of plasmid DNA by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography.

Numerous methods have previously been reported for the final steps in the large-scale purification of plasmid DNA. Although gel permeation and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography have been utilized for this procedure in the past, the limited capacity of these systems often necessitated multiple rounds of chromatography, especially with the high copy number plasmids commonly in use today. In this paper, the use of the high-capacity, high-resolution Protein-Pak DEAE 8HR column is presented for the large-scale isolation of highly purified plasmid DNA from crude E. coli cell lysates. Up to 5 mg of plasmid DNA have been purified in a single 50-minute chromatography run. The purified DNA demonstrated excellent biological activity as demonstrated by restriction endonuclease digestion, E. coli transformation and DNA-mediated gene transfection of eukaryotic cells.

Biotechnology↗

PubMed1991

Differences in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-inducible CYP1A1 expression in human breast carcinoma cell lines involve altered trans-acting factors.

Differences in expression of the CYP1A1 gene have previously been observed in human breast carcinoma cell lines exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Using an expression vector containing the functional 5'-regulatory region of human CYP1A1 (up to -1140) fused to the reporter gene CAT (for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase), the breast carcinoma cell lines, MCF-7, T47-D and ZR-75-1, classified as highly responsive to TCDD, were highly responsive to TCDD in the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay as well. Gel mobility shift assays have shown that these cell lines express a nuclear protein that binds the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor responsive element. The low or non-responsive cell lines, AL-1, BT-20 and CAMA-1, were low or non-responsive to TCDD in the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay, suggesting that the low-responsive phenotype is caused by altered trans-acting factors. However, the mechanism appears to differ among the cell lines. Whereas no induction was observed in AL-1, a fivefold induction in activity was observed in BT-20 and CAMA-1. The TCDD concentration giving half-maximum induction differed greatly between CAMA-1 and BT-20. The gel mobility shift assay showed the presence of a protein that bound specifically to the Ah responsive element in the non-responsive cell line AL-1, as well as the low-responsive cell lines, BT-20 and CAMA-1. The high basal activity but low induction observed in CAMA-1 may be due to an Ah receptor constitutively bound to the Ah responsive element.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

PubMed1989

Altered regulation of the cytochrome P4501A1 gene: novel inducer-independent gene expression in pulmonary carcinoma cell lines.

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) systems catalyze the metabolic transformation of a wide variety of xenobiotics including procarcinogens present in cigarette smoke condensate as well as atmospheric pollutants. The CYP1A1 isoenzyme is of particular interest because it has been implicated as a risk factor in the etiology of lung cancer in heavy cigarette smokers. The identification and expression of the structural CYP1A1 gene in either normal human lung or lung cancer cells has not been reported. Because of its potential significance in human lung cancer, we investigated the expression of the CYP1A1 structural gene in 24 established human lung cancer cell lines including 15 non-small cell (eight adenocarcinomas, three large cell undifferentiated carcinomas, two bronchioloalveolar cell carcinomas, and two squamous cell carcinomas) and nine small cell lung carcinomas. CYP1A1 mRNA was detected in 14 of 15 (93%) of the non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines examined following 24-hour treatment with benz[a]anthracene (BA) and in nine of 15 (60%) of the non-small cell lines cultured without an inducer in the medium. When the small cell lung cancer lines were evaluated for CYP1A1 gene expression, two of nine (22%) expressed detectable CYP1A1 mRNA in both BA-induced cell cultures and constitutive (control) cultures. A positive correlation was noted between BA-induced CYP1A1 mRNA levels and the corresponding aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity expressed as absolute BA-induced enzyme activity (r = 0.74; P less than .01; n = 24), which further demonstrated that CYP1A1 mRNA expression reflects CYP1A1 enzyme activity in the individual cell lines. These observations represent the first known demonstration of constitutive (non-induced) CYP1A1 gene expression in human cells and suggest altered regulation of the CYP1A1 gene in selected lung cancer cell lines. These human pulmonary carcinoma cell lines, which have documented regulatory defects, could be useful for further identification of the mechanisms associated with CYP1A1 gene regulation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1989

Glucocorticoid regulation of the rat cytochrome P450c (P450IA1) gene: receptor binding within intron I.

The actions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and glucocorticoids to regulate the expression of cytochrome P450c were investigated using cultured fetal rat hepatocytes. Cytochrome P450c mRNA content, determined by Northern blot analysis, was induced in cells treated with 1,2-benzanthracene from levels undetectable in untreated cells. When dexamethasone was included in the culture medium together with 1,2-benzanthracene there was a further 2-fold increase in the induction of cytochrome P450c mRNA. The concentration of dexamethasone required for a half-maximal increase in cytochrome P450c mRNA content was approximately 10(-9) M. By nuclear run-on transcription assays, treatment with 1,2-benzanthracene induced cytochrome P450c transcription 5.3-fold over untreated cells. In the presence of dexamethasone and 1,2-benzanthracene, there was a further 2-fold increase in cytochrome P450c transcription. Southwestern blotting and exonuclease footprinting methods have identified binding interactions of a purified glucocorticoid receptor fraction with portions of the cytochrome P450c gene within the first intron. Using a chimeric plasmid containing the first intron, the first exon, and 824 bp of 5'-flanking region of the cytochrome P450c gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was induced in transfected HepG2 hepatoma cells by the addition of 1,2-benzanthracene. The addition of dexamethasone induced a further 2.2-fold increase in activity. Deletion of the first intron within the chimeric plasmid abolished responsiveness to dexamethasone. It is concluded that glucocorticoids act together with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to increase the levels of cytochrome P450c expressed in the fetal rat hepatocyte, and that this action is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. A glucocorticoid responsive element, which binds the glucocorticoid receptor, has been identified within the first intron of the cytochrome P450c gene. These results suggest that glucocorticoids play a significant role in the response of the hepatic cytochrome P450c gene to xenobiotics.

Actins↗

PubMed1988

Production of growth factors related to fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor by human embryonal carcinoma cells.

Previous studies have demonstrated that mouse embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells produce at least two growth factors: one related to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and another related to basic fibroblast growth factor (FGFb). Since human EC cell lines are being used with increased frequency, the current study examined whether human EC cells produce growth factors, in particular those produced by mouse EC cells. In this study, it was determined that the human EC cell line NT2/D1 produces a heat-labile heparin-binding growth factor that behaves like FGF in a bioassay. Three additional criteria suggest that this factor is closely related or identical to FGFb. The factor from NT2/D1 EC cells, bovine FGFb and FGFb produced by the human hepatoma cell line SK-HEP-1 elute from heparin at similar salt concentrations. The factor produced by NT2/D1 EC cells exhibits a thermal stability curve that is nearly identical to those for bovine FGFb and FGFb from SK-HEP-1 cells. Lastly, NT2/D1 and SK-HEP-1 cells express transcripts of the same size that hybridize with a cDNA probe for human FGFb. In the course of these studies it was determined that NT2/D1 EC cells also express several transcripts that hybridize with a cDNA probe for the human PDGF A-chain. Thus, our findings suggest that the pattern of growth factor production by human and mouse EC cells is evolutionarily conserved.

Biological Assay↗

PubMed1988

Identification of multiple regulatory elements on the human cytochrome P450IA1 gene.

To examine the transcriptional regulation of the human cytochrome P450IA1 gene, a 3574 bp fragment containing 1140 bp of 5' flanking sequences, exon 1 (leader information only), intron 1, and the leader sequences from exon 2, was cloned upstream of the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and used to transfect the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. In transient expression assays, treatment of the transfected cells with 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran was shown to induce the expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase 10-fold. Previous studies by other investigators have identified a xenobiotic responsive element at greater than 800 bp 5' to the cap site in the mouse and rat cytochrome P450IA1 gene. In the current report, deletion of sequences from the 5' side of the P450IA1 fragment, as well as internal deletions, were used to identify at least three additional regulatory elements. A second positive, 3-methylcholanthrene responsive element was localized to sequences between -49 and -560 in addition to confirming the location of a similar element between -831 and -1140. These elements flank a potent negative regulatory element that has been conserved between the rat, mouse and human P450IA1 genes and also exhibits significant sequence identity with one of the negative control elements of the human c-Ha-ras1 proto-oncogene. Deletion of the negative control element clearly demonstrated that the fragments containing xenobiotic responsive elements also possess positive, constitutive control activity. A fourth element located within intron 1 was shown to potentiate the activity of 3-methylcholanthrene when the cells were treated simultaneously with the glucocorticoid agonist, dexamethasone.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Interaction of the 4 S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-binding protein with the cytochrome P-450c gene.

The induction of cytochrome P-450c, the isozyme most closely associated with aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in the rat, is mediated through a cytosolic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-binding protein(s). We have reported on the purification and characterization of a 4 S protein that interacts in a specific and saturable manner with [3H]benzo[a]pyrene and other PAHs. (W. H. Houser et al. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 7839-7845). We have also reported on the specific and saturable interaction of the 4 S protein with a plasmid containing 1.9 kbp of cloned rat P-450c sequence including exon 1, the 5' half of intron 1, and approximately 882 bp upstream information. Our investigations now show that incubation of this protein with a portion of the rat P-450c gene, followed by digestion with either lambda exonuclease or exonuclease III, tentatively identified two protected regions at -225 and -455 bp 5' from exon 1. To further study the significance of these protected regions, a 3.4-kbp fragment containing cytochrome P-450c promoter and 5'-upstream sequences (-882 to +2545) was fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene and transfected into either rat epithelial RL-PR-C cells or rat hepatoma H-4-II-E cells. Both cell lines expressed CAT activity in response to induction by 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), indicating that important regulatory regions responsive to 3MC are present in these constructs. However, neither cell line expressed CAT activity in response to 3MC when transfected with plasmids containing deletions (-95 to -724 or -240 to -720) in the regions shown to be protected by our footprinting studies. These results corroborate previous studies which indicated that the 4 S PAH-binding protein interacts in a specific manner with regions of the rat cytochrome P-450c gene. We conclude that the 4 S protein may play an important role in the regulation of expression of cytochrome P-450c in the rat.

Animals↗