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T Grange

Publications and source records attributed to T Grange.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Participation of Ets transcription factors in the glucocorticoid response of the rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene.

We have previously shown that two remote glucocorticoid-responsive units (GRUs) of the rat tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene contain multiple binding sites for several transcription factor families, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We report here the identification of two novel binding sites for members of the Ets family of transcription factors in one of these GRUs. One of these binding sites overlaps the major GR-binding site (GRBS), whereas the other is located in its vicinity. Inactivation of the latter binding site leads to a twofold reduction of the glucocorticoid response, whereas inactivation of the site overlapping the GRBS has no detectable effect. In vivo footprinting analysis reveals that the active site is occupied in a glucocorticoid-independent manner, in a TAT-expressing cell line, even though it is located at a position where there is a glucocorticoid-dependent alteration of the nucleosomal structure. This same site is not occupied in a cell line that does not express TAT but expresses Ets-related DNA-binding activities, suggesting the existence of an inhibitory effect of chromatin structure at a hierarchical level above the nucleosome. The inactive Ets-binding site that overlaps the GRBS is not occupied even in TAT-expressing cells. However, this same overlapping site can confer Ets-dependent stimulation of both basal and glucocorticoid-induced levels when it is isolated from the GRU and duplicated. Ets-1 expression in COS cells mimics the activity of the Ets-related activities present in hepatoma cells. These Ets-binding sites could participate in the integration of the glucocorticoid response of the TAT gene with signal transduction pathways triggered by other nonsteroidal extracellular stimuli.

Animals↗

Visualization of the interaction of a regulatory protein with RNA in vivo.

We have adapted to RNA molecules the ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LMPCR) procedure of genomic sequencing [Mueller, P. R. & Wold, B. (1989) Science 246, 780-786]. This new procedure, the reverse ligation-mediated PCR (RLPCR), is sufficiently sensitive to allow "in vivo" footprinting of minor RNA species. It is based on the ligation of an RNA linker of known sequence to every 5' end resulting from the cleavage of total cellular RNA. Target RNA molecules are specifically reverse-transcribed and the resulting products are amplified by PCR. The localization of the initial 5' ends is ultimately determined on a sequencing gel. To demonstrate the validity of this strategy, we have used RNase T1 treatment of permeabilized cells and RLPCR and have detected in vivo iron-depletion-dependent footprints on two iron-responsive elements of the transferrin receptor mRNA.

Base Sequence↗

Two liver-enriched trans-acting factors support the tissue-specific basal transcription from the rat tyrosine aminotransferase promoter.

The rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene (TAT) is a glucocorticoid-inducible gene, specifically expressed in liver. Using gel retardation assays, we have shown that its promoter (nt + 1 to -350; TAT.35) binds a combination of both ubiquitous and liver-specific trans-acting factors. Cis-acting sequences spanning: (i) nt -65 to -85 bound NF-Y, an ubiquitous "AACCAAT" box binding factor; (ii) nt -157 to -171 bound a liver-enriched member of the NF1 gene family [NF1Liver (NF1L hereafter)]; (iii) nt -266 to -281 bound the liver specific factor HNF1; and (iv) nt -283 to -288 bound ubiquitous "CCAAT" box binding factor(s). Moreover, the TAT gene promoter was able to drive liver-specific basal transcription, even in an in vitro assay using TAT-expressing (liver) vs non-expressing (spleen) crude nuclear extracts (NEs). Competition studies in transcription with both unmutated and mutated ds-oligonucleotides (ds-oligos) demonstrated that NF1L and HNF1 supported approx. 60 and 25% of the basal transcriptional activity sustained by TAT.35 in the liver, respectively. Neither of these oligos affected the very low level of transcription sustained by spleen NEs. This suggests a minor role for HNF1 in liver-specific basal TAT gene expression, consistent with previous observations with dedifferentiated C2 hepatoma cells (which does not express HNF1) [Deschatrette and Weiss. Biochimie 56 (1974) 1603-1611 and Cereghini et al. EMBO Jl9 (1990) 2257-2263]. Competition studies in liver-specific in vitro transcription with ds-oligo -265/-290 yielded a 90% inhibition, suggesting either that sequences spanning nt -283 to -288 sequester "CCAAT-box" binding factor(s) that may be relevant elsewhere for TAT promoter function (e.g. NF-Y which interacts with nt -65 to -85), or that such a factor interacts functionally with HNF1.

Animals↗

In vivo footprinting of rat TAT gene: dynamic interplay between the glucocorticoid receptor and a liver-specific factor.

HNF5, a liver-specific DNA-binding protein, interacts with DNA in a manner that allows DNAase I cleavage in the middle of its recognition sequence. Using this property we have identified in vivo HNF5 bound to its sites within two glucocorticoid-responsive units of the rat tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene. One HNF5-binding site is also a glucocorticoid receptor-binding site; glucocorticoid-dependent HNF5 binding could be detected at this site even though it is incompatible with glucocorticoid receptor binding. HNF5 binds within 10 min of hormone addition, indicating that it participates in transcriptional activation. In the TAT gene glucocorticoid-dependent HNF5 binding occurs where there is glucocorticoid-dependent disruption of nucleosomal structure; constitutive binding occurs in constitutively disrupted regions. These results suggest a hit-and-run mechanism of transcriptional activation by glucocorticoid receptor: the activated receptor binds its target sequence, modifies local chromatin structure, then leaves its site accessible to another factor.

Animals↗

Cell-type specific activity of two glucocorticoid responsive units of rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene is associated with multiple binding sites for C/EBP and a novel liver-specific nuclear factor.

The structures of two remote glucocorticoid responsive units (GRUs) that cooperatively interact to promote cell-type specific glucocorticoid induction of rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression have been analyzed. DNAase I footprinting and gel mobility shift analyses reveal a complex array of contiguous and overlapping sites for cell type-specific DNA binding proteins. Apart from the glucocorticoid receptor, two liver-specific nuclear factors possess multiple binding sites in each of these GRUs: C/EBP and a newly identified liver-specific factor: HNF5. C/EBP possesses four binding sites in each GRU; a DNA-binding protein with similar binding specificity has been identified in fibroblasts; this protein could be related to AP-3. HNF5 possesses two binding sites in one GRU and four in the other. There are also HNF5 binding sites in numerous regulatory regions of other liver-specific genes. The interaction of HNF5 with DNA gives a characteristic DNAase I footprint with hypersensitive sites in the middle of the recognition sequence. Some of the C/EBP and HNF5 binding sites overlap in a conserved arrangement.

Animals↗

Two remote glucocorticoid responsive units interact cooperatively to promote glucocorticoid induction of rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression.

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene transcription is specifically activated by glucocorticoid hormones in liver cells. This regulation involves a glucocorticoid responsive region located 2,500 bases upstream from the transcription start site of the rate gene. By transient transfection of TAT-CAT fusion genes into a rat hepatoma cell line expressing the TAT gene we found that this region promotes only 30% of the glucocorticoid stimulation. We have identified a new cis-acting region far upstream (-5,400) from the transcription start site that is essential to achieve the physiological level of glucocorticoid stimulation of endogenous TAT gene expression. This region corresponds to a tissue-specific DNAse I hypersensitive site which is constitutive despite the fact it possesses a glucocorticoid receptor binding site. It is by itself almost inactive on a promoter but it cooperatively enhances the action of the proximal glucocorticoid responsive region. Its activity requires both the glucocorticoid receptor binding site and its flanking sequences.

Animals↗

Positive and negative regulation of a transfected chimeric tyrosine aminotransferase gene: effect of copy number.

To define a selective system for the study of rat tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT; EC 2.6.1.5) gene expression, we have introduced into cultured cells the selectable bacterial gene gpt linked to TAT gene flanking sequences. After integration in host cell DNA, the chimeric gene exhibits the same pattern of regulation as the TAT gene. In hepatoma cells, its expression is induced after glucocorticoid hormone treatment and repressed after fusion with fibroblasts. In fibroblasts, the chimeric gene is not expressed. The correct pattern of regulation is lost when the number of integrated copies is high. At copy number above 10, the transfected gene responds poorly to glucocorticoids in hepatoma cells. At copy number above 50, the gene is expressed in fibroblasts. Another gene present in the same construction and controlled by the SV40 early promoter and enhancer is positively regulated by glucocorticoids in hepatoma cells but not after fusion with fibroblasts. These data indicate that in hybrid cells, both TAT promoter and glucocorticoid-responsive elements are negatively regulated.

Animals↗

Human mRNA polyadenylate binding protein: evolutionary conservation of a nucleic acid binding motif.

We have isolated a full length cDNA (cDNA) coding for the human poly(A) binding protein. The cDNA derived 73 kd basic translation product has the same Mr, isoelectric point and peptidic map as the poly(A) binding protein. DNA sequence analysis reveals a 70,244 dalton protein. The N terminal part, highly homologous to the yeast poly(A) binding protein, is sufficient for poly(A) binding activity. This domain consists of a four-fold repeated unit of approximately 80 amino acids present in other nucleic acid binding proteins. In the C terminal part there is, as in the yeast protein, a sequence of approximately 150 amino acids, rich in proline, alanine and glutamine which together account for 48% of the residues. A 2,9 kb mRNA corresponding to this cDNA has been detected in several vertebrate cell types and in Drosophila melanogaster at every developmental stage including oogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Complete complementary DNA of rat tyrosine aminotransferase messenger RNA. Deduction of the primary structure of the enzyme.

The primary structure of rat tyrosine aminotransferase (L-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase; EC 2.6.1.5), a liver-specific enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis, has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a cloned full-length cDNA. The mRNA is 2362 nucleotides long (excluding the poly(A) tail) and codes for a polypeptide of 454 amino acids with a molecular weight of 50634. Unambiguous identification was obtained by comparison of this sequence with the amino acid sequences of several peptides obtained from the purified enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of the mouse dihydrofolate reductase cDNA in B. subtilis: a system to select mutant cDNAs coding for methotrexate resistant enzymes.

With the aim to obtain a cDNA coding for a mammalian methotrexate resistant dihydrofolate reductase (Dhfr) a plasmid ( pQS1 ) harboring the mouse wild type Dhfr cDNA was constructed and used to transform a methotrexate sensitive bacteria: B. subtilis. A plasmid, pQS4 , expressing large amount of Dhfr in both E. coli and B. subtilis was isolated through a two steps selection with two substrate analogues, trimethoprim followed by methotrexate. This new plasmid has a 54 bp duplication including the beta-lactamase promoter and a deletion of 564 bp removing the 5' end of the beta-lactamase coding region. These changes create a new -35 region TTGAAA and a potentially stronger binding site for both E. coli and B. subtilis 16S ribosomal RNA. pQS4 transformed B. subtilis were then grown in the presence of high level of methotrexate and resistant mutants isolated. One of them, pQS6 , which codes for an enzyme about 50 times more resistant to methotrexate than the wild type Dhfr was sequenced. It shows that a point mutation replaces the glutamine residue at position 35 by a proline.

Animals↗