Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “transcript”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Engrailed, a homeodomain protein, can repress in vitro transcription by competition with the TATA box-binding protein transcription factor IID.

Engrailed (En) is a homeodomain protein that binds to a consensus sequence (NP) and plays an important role during Drosophila development. Purified En, which is produced in Escherichia coli, binds not only to this consensus sequence but also to the TATA box of the Drosophila Hsp70 promoter and of other eukaryotic promoters. Interestingly, En represses transcription of these promoters in an in vitro-reconstituted mammalian transcription system and footprint analyses show that En competes with the TATA box-binding protein transcription factor IID for binding to the TATA box. In contrast, a stable template-committed complex formed by preincubation of transcription factor IID with the promoter is not disrupted by addition of En, and in this case transcription is not repressed. These in vitro studies suggest a transcriptional repression mechanism, involving competition between En and transcription factor IID for TATA box binding, that may be involved in En-mediated repression in vivo.

Animals

Overexpression of the transcription factor UBF1 is sufficient to increase ribosomal DNA transcription in neonatal cardiomyocytes: implications for cardiac hypertrophy.

The accelerated protein accumulation characteristic of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy results from increased cellular protein synthetic capacity (elevated ribosome content). The rate limiting step in ribosome accumulation is transcription of the rRNA genes. During neonatal cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by norepinephrine or spontaneous contraction, changes in the expression of a ribosomal DNA transcription factor, UBF, correlated with increased rates of ribosome biogenesis. We hypothesized that elevated expression of UBF was part of the mechanism by which these hypertrophic stimuli effected increases in the rate of transcription from the rDNA promoter. In this study, we have examined directly the effect of overexpressing UBF on rDNA transcription in neonatal cardiomyocytes in culture. In control experiments, a novel reporter construct for rDNA transcription (pSMECAT) showed similar increases in activity in response to hypertrophic stimuli (10(-4) M phenylephrine, 10(-7) M endothelin, and spontaneous contraction) as did the endogenous rRNA genes. When contraction-arrested cardiomyocytes were cotransfected with pSMECAT and increasing amounts of a UBF1 expression vector; a dose-dependent (3-5 fold) increase in rDNA transcription was observed. Western blot analysis confirmed that the overexpressed, FLAG-tagged UBF accumulated in the cardiomyocyte nuclei. The observation that overexpression of UBF1 is sufficient to increase rDNA transcription in neonatal cardiomyocytes provides evidence in support of the hypothesis that the regulation of UBF is a key component of the increased ribosome biogenesis and protein accumulation associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Animals

Functional domains of transcription factor hGABP beta1/E4TF1-53 required for nuclear localization and transcription activation.

Transcription factor E4TF1 is the human homolog of GABP and has been renamed hGABP (human GABP). hGABP is composed of two types of subunits; hGABP beta1/E4TF1-53 and the ets-related protein hGABP alpha/E4TF1-60. Both bind together to form an (alpha)2(beta1)2 heterotetrameric complex on DNA and activate transcription at specific promoters in vitro. Tetramer formation depends on two regions of hGABP beta1; the N-terminal region containing the Notch/ankyrin-type repeats is necessary for binding to hGABP alpha and the C-terminal region is necessary for homodimerization. In this report, we constructed various deletion mutants of hGABP beta1 in order to delimit the functional regions required for nuclear localization and transcription activity. We found that hGABP beta1 localization in the nucleus is dependent on a region located between amino acids 243 and 330 and that the presence of hGABP beta1 influences the efficiency of hGABP alpha transport into the nucleus. Next, we demonstrated that the hGABP complex composed of alpha and beta1 subunits activates transcription from the adenovirus early 4 promoter in vivo. This transcription activation needs the C-terminal region of hGABP beta1 and is consistent with results obtained with the in vitro assay. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis analysis of the C-terminal region reveals that the alpha-helix structure and the leucine residues are important for formation of a heterotetrameric complex with hGABP alpha in vitro and for transcription activation in vivo. These results suggest that hGABP beta1 stimulates transcription as part of a heterotetrameric complex with hGABP alpha in vivo.

Animals

A 10-amino-acid sequence in the N-terminal A/B domain of thyroid hormone receptor alpha is essential for transcriptional activation and interaction with the general transcription factor TFIIB.

The effects of the thyroid hormone (3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine [T3]) on gene transcription are mediated by nuclear T3 receptors (T3Rs). alpha- and beta-isoform T3Rs (T3R alpha and -beta) are expressed from different genes and are members of a superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that also includes the receptors for steroid hormones, vitamin D, and retinoids. Although T3 activates transcription by mediating a conformational change in the C-terminal approximately 220-amino-acid ligand-binding domain (LBD), the fundamental mechanisms of T3R-mediated transcriptional activation remain to be determined. We found that deletion of the 50-amino-acid N-terminal A/B domain of chicken T3R alpha (cT3R alpha) decreases T3-dependent stimulation of genes regulated by native thyroid hormone response elements about 10- to 20-fold. The requirement of the A/B region for transcriptional activation was mapped to amino acids 21 to 30, which contain a cluster of five basic amino acids. The A/B region of cT3R alpha is not required for T3 binding or for DNA binding of the receptor as a heterodimer with retinoid X receptor. In vitro binding studies indicate that the N-terminal region of cT3R alpha interacts efficiently with TFIIB and that this interaction requires amino acids 21 to 30 of the A/B region. In contrast, the LBD interacts poorly with TFIIB. The region of TFIIB primarily involved in the binding of cT3R alpha includes an amphipathic alpha helix contained within residues 178 to 201. Analysis using a fusion protein containing the DNA-binding domain of GAL4 and the entire A/B region of cT3R alpha suggests that this region does not contain an intrinsic activation domain. These and other studies indicate that cT3R alpha mediates at least some of its effects through TFIIB in vivo and that the N-terminal region of DNA-bound cT3R alpha acts to recruit and/or stabilize the binding of TFIIB to the transcription complex. T3 stimulation could then result from ligand-mediated changes in the LBD which may lead to the interaction of other factors with cT3R alpha, TFIIB, and/or other components involved in the initiation of transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence

An RNA polymerase II transcription factor inactivated in poliovirus-infected cells copurifies with transcription factor TFIID.

Inhibition of host cell RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription by poliovirus infection was studied in vitro. Whole-cell extracts prepared from poliovirus-infected HeLa cells at 3 h postinfection were shown to be deficient in a factor required for specific transcription from the adenovirus major late promoter. Three lines of evidence suggest that transcription factor TFIID is deficient in poliovirus-infected cells. First, the activity required to specifically restore transcription in poliovirus-infected cell extracts was shown to copurify with TFIID through three chromatographic steps. Second, transcription reactions reconstituted with phosphocellulose-derived chromatographic fractions revealed a fourfold decrease in the specific activity of the TFIID-containing fraction prepared from poliovirus-infected cells compared with that of the same fraction prepared from mock-infected cells. Finally, TFIID and the activity required to specifically restore transcription in virus-infected cell extracts were shown to have the same kinetics of heat inactivation. Together, these results suggest that inactivation of TFIID is an early event in the inhibition of host cell RNA polymerase II transcription by poliovirus.

Cell Transformation, Viral

Negative transcriptional regulation of human interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene by glucocorticoids through interference with nuclear transcription factors AP-1 and NF-AT.

IL-2 gene transcription is affected by several nuclear proteins. We asked whether dexamethasone (Dex) and cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibit IL-2 gene transcription by interfering with the activity of nuclear proteins that bind to the IL-2 promoter. Nuclear extracts from primary human T lymphocytes were analyzed by electrophoretic DNA mobility shift assays. Both Dex and CsA inhibited the binding of transcription factors AP-1 and NF-AT, but not of NF-kB and OCT-1/OAF, to their corresponding sites on the IL-2 gene promoter. To correlate changes in nuclear factor binding in vitro with transcriptional activity in vivo and define the structural requirements for IL-2 promoter repression, we used transient DNA transfections. Jurkat cells were transfected with plasmids containing either the intact IL-2 promoter or its AP-1, NF-AT, and NF-kB motifs. Dex inhibited the IL-2 promoter and the AP-1, but not the NF-AT and NF-kB plasmids. In contrast, CsA inhibited the IL-2 promoter and the NF-AT, but not the AP-1 and NF-kB plasmids. These results suggest that in human T lymphocytes both Dex and CsA inhibited IL-2 gene transcription through interference with transcription factors AP-1 and NF-AT. We propose that, while maximum inhibition may involve interaction with both transcription factors, AP-1 is the primary target of Dex.

Cyclosporine

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of c-jun expression during monocytic differentiation of human myeloid leukemic cells.

AP-1, the polypeptide product of c-jun, recognizes and binds to specific DNA sequences and stimulates transcription of genes responsive to certain growth factors and phorbol esters such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We studied the effects of TPA on the regulation of c-jun gene expression in HL-60 cells during monocytic differentiation. Low levels of c-jun transcripts were detectable in untreated HL-60 leukemic cells, increased significantly by 6 h, and reached near maximal levels by 24 h of exposure to 32 nM TPA. Similar kinetics of c-jun induction by TPA were observed in human U-937 and THP-1 monocytic leukemia cells. Similar findings were obtained with bryostatin 1 (10 nM), another activator of protein kinase C and inducer of monocytic differentiation. Furthermore, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (0.5 microM), a structurally distinct agent which also induces HL-60 monocytic differentiation, increased c-jun expression. TPA treatment of HL-60 cells in the presence of cycloheximide was associated with superinduction of c-jun transcripts. Run-on analysis demonstrated detectable levels of c-jun gene transcription in untreated HL-60 cells, and that exposure to TPA increases this rate 3.3-fold. Treatment of HL-60 cells with both TPA and cycloheximide had no effect on the rates of c-jun transcription. The half-life of c-jun RNA as determined by treating HL-60 cells with TPA and actinomycin D was 30 min. In contrast, the half-life of c-jun RNA in TPA-treated HL-60 cells exposed to cycloheximide and actinomycin D was greater than 2 h. These findings suggested that the increase in c-jun RNA observed during TPA-induced monocytic differentiation is mediated by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms.

Calcitriol

Roles for both the RAP30 and RAP74 subunits of transcription factor IIF in transcription initiation and elongation by RNA polymerase II.

Mammalian transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) is a heterodimer composed of approximately 30-kDa (RAP30) and approximately 70-kDa (RAP74) subunits. TFIIF has been shown to bind RNA polymerase II and control the activity of the enzyme in both the initiation and elongation stages of transcription. Although previous studies have established a role for RAP30 in assembly of the preinitiation complex and in transcription initiation, information on the function of RAP74 in these processes has been lacking. Using a highly purified transcription system and assays that permit sensitive measurement of the contributions of both RAP30 and RAP74 to TFIIF function, we have investigated the roles of these TFIIF subunits in transcription initiation and elongation. Results of template competition experiments indicate that both RAP30 and RAP74 contribute to the formation of stable preinitiation intermediates containing RNA polymerase II. Investigation of the role of TFIIF in transcription initiation indicates that both RAP30 and RAP74 function in synthesis of the first few phosphodiester bonds of nascent transcripts and in formation of Sarkosyl-resistant pre-initiation intermediates. Finally, kinetic experiments indicate that both RAP30 and RAP74 function in TFIIF-mediated stimulation of the rate of RNA chain elongation by RNA polymerase II.

Animals

Dominant negative mutant of c-Jun inhibits NF-AT transcriptional activity and prevents IL-2 gene transcription.

Expression of the transcription complex AP-1, composed of Jun and Fos family members, can be induced by a variety of stimuli. In lymphocytes, AP-1 transcriptional activity increases after TCR ligation and plays an important role in T cell activation events such as lymphokine secretion. To explore the requirements for AP-1 in IL-2 production, the AP-1 complex was targeted with a dominant negative mutant c-Jun protein, TAM-67, from which the transactivation domain has been deleted. In transient transfections of Jurkat cells, TAM-67 efficiently inhibited endogenous AP-1 transcriptional activity and blocked the activity of a reporter construct containing the 5' regulatory region of the IL-2 gene. TAM-67 also inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-AT (NF-AT), whereas the NF-kappa B, NF-IL-2A, and the proximal TRE-like sites were relatively unaffected. The use of this dominant negative transcription factor suggests that: 1) transactivation-defective nuclear factors represent a novel approach to study the functional consequences of nuclear protein interactions on gene transcription; 2) the proximal TRE-like site from the IL-2 promoter is different from the consensus TRE; and 3) AP-1 plays an important role in the transcriptional activation mediated by the NF-AT binding complex.

Base Sequence

Purification and identification of a vaccinia virus-encoded intermediate stage promoter-specific transcription factor that has homology to eukaryotic transcription factor SII (TFIIS) and an additional role as a viral RNA polymerase subunit.

Enzymes and factors, required for in vitro transcription of templates regulated by vaccinia virus intermediate stage promoters, are present in HeLa cells infected with vaccinia virus in the presence of an inhibitor of DNA replication. Previous studies indicated that in vitro transcription could be reconstituted by adding a partially purified transcription factor to the viral RNA polymerase and capping enzyme. By using an independent purification procedure, we isolated two vaccinia virus intermediate were necessary for transcription of several different intermediate stage promoter templates but not for early or late stage promoter templates. VITF-1 was purified to homogeneity, and the sequences of two tryptic peptides were mapped to the fourth open reading frame within the HindIII E fragment (E4L) of the vaccinia virus genome, which had previously been shown to encode an RNA polymerase subunit of 30 kDa (RPO30) with homology to eukaryotic transcription elongation factor SII. Co-chromatography of VITF-1 with the E4L-derived protein was demonstrated using specific antiserum. In addition, transcriptionally active recombinant VITF-1 was made by expressing the E4L open reading frame in Escherichia coli. Thus, E4L encodes a multifunctional protein, serving as a RNA polymerase subunit and a stage-specific transcription factor. The stepwise binding of capping enzyme, VITF-1, and VITF-2 to a DNA/viral RNA polymerase complex was demonstrated.

Amino Acid Sequence

The DNA-dependent ATPase activity of vaccinia virus early gene transcription factor is essential for its transcription activation function.

Vaccinia virus early transcription factor (VETF) activates the transcription of early gene templates by the viral RNA polymerase. VETF is a heterodimeric protein that binds to transcription promoters and has an associated DNA-dependent ATPase activity. The small subunit of VETF has sequences resembling two motifs commonly found in ATPases: an A-type ATP binding motif and a DEAH box. To investigate the functional role of the ATPase activity, we have analyzed the effect of mutations in each of the putative ATPase motifs. Recombinant VETF was expressed in HeLa cells using a vaccinia virus/T7 RNA polymerase system. Simultaneous expression of both subunits of VETF was required to obtain soluble protein with promoter binding, DNA-dependent ATPase, and transcription activation functions. The mutants with altered ATPase motifs retained promoter binding activity but had no detectable ATPase activity and no ability to activate transcription. The DEAH box mutant was shown to dominantly repress transcription activation by wildtype VETF. These results indicate that the DNA-dependent ATPase activity of VETF is essential for its transcription activation function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Wild-type but not mutant p53 can repress transcription initiation in vitro by interfering with the binding of basal transcription factors to the TATA motif.

It has previously been shown that excess wild type (wt) p53 can repress the transcriptional activity of a variety of promoters in intact cells. To determine whether this transcriptional repression represented a direct effect of p53, wt and mutant p53 were prepared from E. coli-produced p53 and from insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. When added into an in vitro transcription system, wt p53, but not mutant p53 reduced markedly transcription from the c-myc promoter, as well as from an array of other promoters, with the exception of an MHC class I gene promoter. The presence of wt p53 seemed to affect specifically the formation of the transcription preinitiation complex because preformed initiation complexes were completely refractory to wt p53, as was also the process of transcript elongation. Wild-type but not mutant p53 interfered with the stable binding of TBP and TFIIA to the TATA motif, although both wt and mutant p53 could associate in vitro with purified TBP. We propose that upon binding to TBP, wt but not mutant p53 specifically blocks the ability of TBP to engage in interactions required for efficient transcriptional initiation. This may account, at least in part, for the ability of excess wt p53 to inhibit cell proliferation and to interfere with neoplastic processes.

Base Sequence

Multiple transcripts encoding heme oxygenase-2 in rat testis: developmental and cell-specific regulation of transcripts and protein.

We report for the first time that heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) expression is regulated by developmental and cell type-specific factors in the testis, and we describe the presence of three unique sizes of HO-2 transcripts in the testis. HO-2, together with HO-1 (HSP32), catalyzes oxidative cleavage of the heme molecule to biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron; HO-2 is the major isozyme of the testis. Northern blot analysis was used to demonstrate the presence of five transcripts for HO-2 in rat testis mRNA; they range from approximately 1.3 to approximately 2.1 kg in length with a predominant 1.45-kb message; three of the transcripts, approximately 1.45 kb, approximately 1.7 kb, and approximately 2.1 kg, are unique to testis. The two other transcripts of approximately 1.3 and approximately 1.9 kb are common to every tissue examined, including the testis. Analysis of three distinct cDNAs isolated from rat libraries in phage lambda indicates that all are identical from -37, relative to translation initiation through the coding region to the first of two poly(A) signals previously identified in the HO-2 gene (McCoubrey and Maines, 1994). Upstream of -37, the 5' untranslated sequences of the isolates differ in both length and sequence. Comparison with the genomic sequence suggests that the multiple transcripts arise by splicing of alternative first exons as well as use of alternate poly(A) signals. Northern hybridization with probes specific for the unique portion of each cDNA are consistent with this interpretation. Further, unlike HO-1, HO-2 messages are developmentally regulated; only approximately 1.3- and approximately 1.9-kb transcripts were detected, at minute levels, in the testis RNA of 7-day-old rats. A pronounced increase in total message level was observed by Day 28 postpartum, although the level had not reached the marked amplification seen in the adult testis. Further, the transcript patterns differed when Day 28 and adult testis were compared to Day 7 testis. The very predominant approximately 1.45-kb band and the approximately 1.7- and 2.1-kb bands were absent from Day 7 testis. Heme oxygenase activity and HO-2 protein levels, as assessed by Western blot, reflect the increases at the RNA level. Interestingly, although abundant HO-2 mRNA can be detected by in situ hybridization in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids, HO-2 protein was detected, by immunocytochemistry, only in spermatids. These observations demonstrate tissue and cell specificity of HO-2 gene expression and suggest that in the testis, HO-2 expression is regulated at the transcriptional and translational levels.

Animals

Pax-3 contains domains for transcription activation and transcription inhibition.

Pax-3 is a member of the Pax family of transcription factors involved in transcriptional control events during embryonic development. Here we report a functional dissection of the Pax-3 protein and describe the protein domains which are responsible for different activities. A transcription inhibition activity is located in the first 90 N-terminal amino acids and includes part of the paired domain. Furthermore, the C terminus of Pax-3 is able to confer transcriptional activation of basal promoters. Pax-3 can utilize both transcription modulating functions and activates transcription over a narrow range of protein concentration in the presence of promoter elements containing functional binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence

Sarkosyl defines three intermediate steps in transcription initiation by RNA polymerase III: application to stimulation of transcription by E1A.

We used Sarkosyl to analyze steps along the pathway of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase III. Sarkosyl (0.015%) inhibited transcription when present prior to incubation of RNA polymerase III, TFIIIB, and TFIIIC with the VAI gene, whereas it had no detectable effect on initiation or reinitiation of transcription when added subsequently. The formation of the corresponding 0.015% Sarkosyl-resistant complex required the presence of TFIIIC, TFIIIB, and RNA polymerase III but not nucleoside triphosphates. The addition of 0.05% Sarkosyl after this early step selectively inhibited a later step in the preinitiation pathway, allowing a single round of transcription after nucleoside triphosphate addition but blocking subsequent rounds of initiation. This step occurred prior to initiation because nucleoside triphosphates were not required for the formation of the corresponding 0.05% Sarkosyl-resistant complex. These observations provided a means to distinguish effects of regulatory factors on different steps in promoter activation and function. Using 0.05% Sarkosyl to limit reinitiation, we determined that the E1A-mediated stimulation of transcription by RNA polymerase III resulted from an increase in the number of active transcription complexes.

Adenovirus Early Proteins

The Oct-1 POU-specific domain can stimulate small nuclear RNA gene transcription by stabilizing the basal transcription complex SNAPc.

The RNA polymerase II and III human small nuclear RNA promoters have a common basal element, the proximal sequence element, which binds the TATA box-binding protein-containing complex SNAPc. They also contain an enhancer characterized by a highly conserved octamer sequence, which constitutes a binding site for the broadly expressed POU domain transcription factor Oct-1. The POU domain is a bipartite DNA-binding domain consisting of a POU-homeo (POUH) domain and a POU-specific (POUs) domain joined by a flexible linker. Here, we show that the Oct-1 POU domain but not the related Pit-1 POU domain can facilitate the binding of SNAPc to the proximal sequence element, and activate transcription. The effect is probably mediated by protein-protein contacts, and 1 of 30 amino acid differences between the Oct-1 and Pit-1 POUs domains is the key determinant for the differential interaction with SNAPc and the ability to activate transcription. These results show that a function that is the hallmark of activation domains, namely, recruitment of a basal transcription complex resulting in activation of transcription, can be performed by a DNA-binding domain. In this case, subtle changes between activator DNA-binding domains, as subtle as a single amino acid difference, can profoundly affect interaction with the basal transcription machinery.

Amino Acid Sequence

Analysis of the molecular mechanisms for the species-specific transcription of Drosophila and human tRNA gene transcription components.

The transcription of eucaryotic tRNA genes requires two factors IIIB and IIIC, in addition to RNA polymerase III, to reconstitute this process in vitro. We have examined the functional exchangeability of these components from Drosophila and human systems. The reconstitution of heterologous IIIB and IIIC components demonstrated that neither factor will functionally substitute for the homologous components to activate tRNA gene transcription. The addition of the heterologous Drosophila factors to HeLa transcription assays causes an inhibition of RNA synthesis that is dependent upon the order of addition of these proteins to the DNA template. Thus, it appears that tRNA gene transcription in these systems is species-specific. We have further analyzed the reason for the apparent incompatibilities of these components by the use of stable complex formation assays. We find that human HeLa IIIB and Drosophila IIIC are unable to form stably associated complexes with a tRNA gene template, whereas the Drosophila IIIB and HeLa IIIC do form stable but nonproductive complexes. These results demonstrate that specific IIIC-IIIB interactions are critical in the formation of productive transcription complexes and are responsible for the observed species specificity of Drosophila and human tRNA gene transcription.

Animals

Expression of the clustered mitochondrial tRNA genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: transcription and processing of transcripts.

The transcripts of a cluster of eight tRNA genes localized in the Cap-oxiI region of the mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated by hybridization of gene-specific probes on Northern blots of mitochondrial RNA and by S1 mapping of the 5' termini of the transcripts. Two rho- mutants that lack mature tRNA species and accumulate precursors have been used to detect transcripts that are not detectable in wild-type (w.t.) mitochondria. The results have shown the existence of polygenic transcripts carrying at least 5-7 tRNA sequences, both in w.t. and in rho- strains. The existence of several alternative processing pathways, which involve cleavage at the 3' and 5' ends of the tRNA sequences and in the long intergenic regions (possibly at GC clusters), is suggested. Cleavage at the 5' ends of tRNA sequences is defective in the mutant strains. The transcripts of the genes for tRNAThrACN and tRNACys (the tRNA genes immediately downstream from the 21S rRNA gene) have been analyzed; the possibility that these species represent primary transcripts is considered, and potential sites for initiation of transcription of the clustered tRNA genes are discussed.

Base Sequence