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Evolutionary conservation of post-transcriptional 3' end adenylation of small RNAs: S. cerevisiae signal recognition particle RNA and U2 small nuclear RNA are post-transcriptionally adenylated.

The 3' terminal nucleotide of several human small RNAs, including Signal Recognition Particle (SRP) RNA, 7SK RNA, U2 small nuclear RNA and ribosomal 5S RNA was previously characterized and a fraction of these RNAs was found to contain a single post-transcriptionally added adenylic acid residue on their 3' ends. Here we report the development of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for determining and quantifying the extent of post-transcriptional adenylation of RNAs from different species. Using this assay, we found that a fraction of S. cerevisiae U2 small nuclear RNA and S. cerevisiae SRP RNA contain a post-transcriptionally added adenylic acid residue on their 3' ends. Sequencing analysis confirmed this adenylation to be post-transcriptional. Corresponding small RNAs in Xenopus oocytes also contained this post-transcriptional adenylation on their 3' ends. These data show that post-transcriptional adenylation on the 3' end of several small RNA molecules is conserved through evolution. Xenopus SRP RNA from both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments contained post-transcriptionally added adenylic acid residue on its 3' end. In addition, the Alu portion of SRP RNA was adenylated, when injected into the cytoplasm of frog oocytes. These data show that this novel adenylating machinery, capable of specifically adding a single adenylic acid to the 3' end of some RNA molecules, is present and functional in both nucleus and cytoplasm.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Alternative transcription initiation sites generate two LCA1 Ca2+-ATPase mRNA transcripts in tomato roots.

The tomato LCA1 gene encodes a Ca2+-ATPase and gives rise to two major mRNA transcripts and two distinct protein products of different size in tomato roots. The basis of the transcript size difference was investigated to assess whether the mRNA transcripts encoded distinct protein products. Primer extension and S1 nuclease analysis identified two transcription initiation sites at -72 and -1392 from the start of translation. RNA gel blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA isolated from phosphate-starved tomato roots using probes designed to domains of the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) or the full-length LCA1 cDNA identified mRNAs of 4.7 and 3.6 kb, corresponding to mRNA originating from transcription initiation sites -1392 and -72, respectively. Screening of a cDNA library derived from phosphate-starved tomato roots yielded three cDNA clones, LCA1A, LCA1B and LCA1C (3.6, 4.5 and 5.1 kb respectively). These cDNAs contain full-length LCA1 mRNA sequence derived from each transcription initiation site, with LCA1C additionally containing an intron of 0.6 kb. Sequence analysis indicated 100% identity between the three size classes of cDNA clones except for the differential 5'-UTR and the unspliced intron. Overall, the results indicate that the two major LCA1 mRNA transcripts are derived by differential transcription initiation and that two of the mRNAs may encode identical protein products, while a third mRNA may correspond to a non-functional truncated protein.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

The c-ets proto-oncogenes encode transcription factors that cooperate with c-Fos and c-Jun for transcriptional activation.

Cell transformation by oncogenes leads to changes in gene expression. A key event in this process seems to be activation of the transcription factors AP-1 and PEA 3. Their synergistic activities are required for efficient activation of transcription from different promoters by many different oncogenes, serum growth factors and the tumour promoter TPA. We show here that the products of the ets-1 and -2 proto-oncogenes, whose biological function was previously unknown, are transcription factors that activate transcription through the PEA 3 motif. The p68c-ets-1 protein specifically binds to DNA and contains a transcriptional activation domain. The ets-like gene family therefore seems to encode a new family of transcription factors, apparently unrelated to other transcription factors. The p68c-ets-1 protein cooperates with c-Fos and c-Jun (components of AP-1) for activation of transcription from the oncogene-responsive domain of the polyoma enhancer, indicating that combined activity of all three oncoproteins could be involved in the response of cells to growth stimuli.

Base Sequence↗

Translation activates the paused transcription complex and restores transcription of the trp operon leader region.

It has been proposed that RNA polymerase pausing in the leader region of the tryptophan (trp) operon of Escherichia coli is responsible for the synchronization of transcription and translation essential to attenuation control. In this report we use an in vitro coupled transcription/translation system to study the effect of trp leader peptide synthesis on RNA polymerase pausing in the trp leader region. Wild-type and translation-defective trp leader templates of E. coli and Serratia marcescens were employed, and pause RNA synthesis and paused complex release (activation) were quantified relative to synthesis of the terminated leader transcript. It was observed that pausing in the trp leader region was prolonged when translation of the leader transcript was reduced by mutations in the leader region or by addition of the translation inhibitor kasugamycin or chloramphenicol. Experiments with S-30 extracts from a mutant strain that is inefficient in translating the tryptophan codons in the leader transcript indicated that ribosome movement to these codons also releases the paused transcription complex. These findings indicate that the paused trp leader transcription complex resumes transcription when released by ribosome movement over the leader peptide coding region. This release would facilitate the coupling of transcription and translation essential to attenuation control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amanitin greatly reduces the rate of transcription by RNA polymerase II ternary complexes but fails to inhibit some transcript cleavage modes.

The toxin alpha-amanitin is frequently employed to completely block RNA synthesis by RNA polymerase II. However, we find that polymerase II ternary transcription complexes stalled by the absence of NTPs resume RNA synthesis when NTPs and amanitin are added. Chain elongation with amanitin can continue for hours at approximately 1% of the normal rate. Amanitin also greatly slows pyrophosphorolysis by elongation-competent complexes. Complexes which are arrested (that is, which have paused in transcription for long periods in the presence of excess NTPs) are essentially incapable of resuming transcription in the presence of alpha-amanitin. Complexes traversing sequences that can provoke arrest are much more likely to stop transcription in the presence of the toxin. The substitution of IMP for GMP at the 3' end of the nascent RNA greatly increases the sensitivity of stalled transcription complexes to amanitin. Neither arrested nor stalled complexes display detectable SII-mediated transcript cleavage following amanitin treatment. However, arrested complexes possess a low level, intrinsic transcript cleavage activity which is completely amanitin-resistant; furthermore, pyrophosphorolytic transcript cleavage in arrested complexes is not affected by amanitin.

Amanitins↗

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of storage protein gene expression in sulfur-deficient pea seeds.

We have used in vitro transcription in isolated pea nuclei to determine whether the expression of genes for the seed storage proteins legumin and vicilin is regulated transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally in response to changing sulfur status in the developing seed. During the first 48 h of recovery from S deficiency, transcription of legumin genes increased by two-fold whereas the level of legumin mRNA increased 20-fold in the same period. Vicilin gene transcription decreased during recovery, consistent with a gradual decrease in mRNA levels. We conclude that regulation of legumin mRNA levels in response to changing S status is post-transcriptional, whereas that of vicilin mRNA is transcriptional. In contrast, during normal plant development the expression of both of these gene families appears to be under transcriptional control.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

Inappropriate transcription from the 5' end of the murine dihydrofolate reductase gene masks transcriptional regulation.

Using the nuclear run-on assay we found that in proliferating cells the transcription rate in the 5' end of the murine dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene was approximately ten-fold higher than in the 3' end of the gene, suggesting transcriptional attenuation within the dhfr gene. However, when the transcription rate was measured by pulse-labeling, the rate was uniform throughout the gene, and the 5' dhfr signal was approximately ten-fold lower relative to a control gene signal than in the run-on assay. Previously, the activity of a dhfr promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene was shown to increase about ten-fold at the G1/S-phase boundary following stimulation of serum-starved cells. To determine if the run-on procedure would detect growth regulation of the endogenous dhfr gene, serum-starved and -stimulated NIH 3T3 cells were analyzed. Using a dhfr 5' end probe no difference in transcription rate between these growth states was detected and the dhfr 3' end probe did not detect signal above background. In a cell line that was amplified at the dhfr locus, the transcription rate in the 5' end of the gene increased less than two-fold in stimulated cells, but the rate in the 3' end of the gene increased five- to seven-fold. Therefore, the dhfr gene is growth regulated at the level of transcription, but the nuclear run-on assay was only able to detect a difference in transcription rate in the 3' end of the gene in amplified cells. We suggest that isolation of nuclei may activate dhfr transcription complexes that normally are activated only at the G1/S-phase boundary.

3T3 Cells↗

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha isoforms by thyroid hormone in the developing rat brain.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional events involved in the induction of sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K(+)-ATPase) by thyroid hormone (T3) were investigated. In vitro transcription of nuclei isolated from cerebra of 5- and 15-day-old normal and hypothyroid rats showed that transcription of all alpha mRNA isoforms (alpha 1, alpha 2 and alpha 3) of Na+,K(+)-ATPase are sensitive to T3. This is evidenced by a 50-70% reduction in the rates of transcription of alpha 1 and alpha 3 mRNA and 20-40% reduction of alpha 2 mRNA in nuclei from hypothyroid cerebra compared with those from normal controls. Preincubation of nuclei from hypothyroid cerebra with T3 prior to transcription also showed an increase in the rates of transcription of these mRNAs. At the post-transcriptional level, T3 enhanced the half life of alpha 3 mRNA by 1.5-fold with no discernible effect on alpha 1 and alpha 2 mRNA.

Aging↗

Expression of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency-associated transcripts and transcripts affected by the deletion in avirulent mutant HFEM: evidence for a new class of HSV-1 genes.

During latent herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in the trigeminal ganglia of mice, three virus-specific transcripts, 2.0, 1.5, and 1.45 kilobases (kb), are detectable by Northern (RNA) blot analysis, but only the 2.0-kb transcript can be detected in HSV-1-infected tissue culture cells (J.G. Spivack and N. W. Fraser, J. Virol. 61:3842-3847, 1987). Since these latency-associated genes map to a diploid region of the genome, transcription from the deletion mutant HFEM, which contains only one complete copy of these genes, was investigated to determine the effect of gene dosage. The 4.1-kb HFEM deletion is located between the alpha genes ICP0 and ICP27. ICP0 mRNA and the 2.0-kb latency-associated transcript were present at normal levels during HFEM infection, but ICP27 mRNA and 0.9- and 1.1-kb transcripts that map near the deletion were not readily detectable. The levels of expression of one or more of these genes might be an important determinant of HSV-1 virulence in animal hosts. ICP27 mRNA accumulated when protein synthesis was inhibited before HFEM infection, implying that the deletion may affect ICP27 regulatory rather than coding elements. Expression of the 2.0-kb latency-associated transcript was characterized in infected CV-1 cells with metabolic inhibitors and strand-specific probes. On the basis of metabolic inhibitor studies, the gene encoding the 2.0-kb latency-associated transcript is not an alpha gene. During HSV-1 replication in infected tissue culture cells, the beta and gamma genes require the prior expression of alpha gene products. However, the latency-associated RNAs are expressed in the absence of detectable levels of alpha transcripts in latently infected mice. Thus, this latency-associated gene family appear to be regulated quite differently than alpha, beta, or gamma genes. For these reasons, and because the latency-associated genes may perform latent rather than replicative functions, we propose that they should be considered members of a new HSV-1 gene class, the lambda genes.

Cell Line↗

Cellular or viral protein binding to a cytomegalovirus promoter transcription initiation site: effects on transcription.

We have previously shown that the IE2 protein of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) represses its own synthesis by binding to the major immediate-early promoter (M. P. Macias and M. F. Stinski, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:707-711, 1993). The binding of a viral protein (IE2) and a cellular protein in the region of the transcription start site was investigated by site-specific mutational analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The viral protein and the cellular protein require different but adjacent core DNA sequence elements for binding. In situ chemical footprinting analysis of DNA-protein interactions with purified CMV IE2 protein or HeLa cell nuclear extracts demonstrated binding sites that overlap the transcription start site. The IE2 protein footprint was between bp -15 and +2, relative to the transcription start site, and the cellular protein was between bp -16 and +7. The ability of the unknown human cellular protein of approximately 150 kDa to bind the CMV major immediate-early promoter correlates with an increase in the level of transcription efficiency. Mutations in the core DNA sequence element for cellular protein binding significantly reduced the level of in vitro transcription efficiency. Mutations upstream and downstream of the core sequence moderately reduced the transcription efficiency level. Negative autoregulation of the CMV promoter by the viral IE2 protein may involve both binding to the DNA template and interference with the function of a cellular protein that binds to the transcription start site and enhances transcription efficiency.

Antigens, Viral↗

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of 72-kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in human fibroblasts. Comparisons with collagenase and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase gene expression.

The temporal aspects and mechanisms of the regulation of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 72-kDa gelatinase/type IV collagenase (MMP-2) by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) were investigated in early passage human gingival fibroblasts and compared with the regulation of the genes for collagenase (MMP-1) and TIMP, the tissue inhibitor of MMPs. Northern hybridization analyses revealed that 1.0 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 increased the abundance of MMP-2 mRNA/cell approximately 1.5-fold at 24 h, an increase similar to that observed in the level of [35S]methionine pulse-labeled MMP-2 at 24 h (1.9-fold). At 48 and 72 h, the increase in MMP-2 mRNA abundance remained elevated by 1.5-2.2-fold on a per cell basis whereas TIMP mRNA levels were elevated by up to 3.3-fold. In contrast, the relative levels of collagenase mRNA were reduced by 66-75%. The changes in the MMP-2, collagenase, and TIMP mRNA concentrations in response to TGF-beta 1 were blocked by cycloheximide indicating that protein synthesis was required to mediate the effects of TGF-beta 1 on these mRNA levels. TGF-beta 1 was also found to increase the half-life of the MMP-2 mRNA from approximately 46 to approximately 150 h but did not alter the stability of TIMP mRNA (t1/2 approximately 60 h). Nuclear run-off transcription assays revealed that MMP-2 gene transcription was increased approximately 5-fold 7 h following TGF-beta 1-treatment but returned to control levels by 24 h. In comparison, increased TIMP gene transcription was only detectable after 24 h whereas collagenase gene transcription, although low in control cells, was undetectable at 24 h. Gene transcription, mRNA levels, and message stability of the genes for the extracellular matrix proteins type I collagen and fibronectin were also increased by TGF-beta 1. Thus, the similarity in the control of MMP-2, alpha 1 (I) procollagen, and fibronectin expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels indicates that these genes may share regulatory elements. In comparison, TGF-beta 1 reduced the level of collagenase mRNA and increased the level of TIMP mRNA as a result of altered transcriptional activities, through pathways that required protein synthesis, and without changes in mRNA stability.

Blotting, Northern↗

Mutations of the beta subunit of RNA polymerase alter both transcription pausing and transcription termination in the trp operon leader region in vitro.

RNA polymerase was purified from rifampicin-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli which exhibit altered transcription termination at the trp operon attenuator in vivo. These mutant polymerases were used to investigate transcription pausing at the trp leader pause site and transcription termination at the trp attenuator. The mutant polymerases examined in vitro mimic their in vivo termination responses; i.e. RNA polymerase isolated from a mutant which displays high transcriptional read-through of the trp operon in vivo allows greater transcriptional read-through in vitro, while RNA polymerase prepared from a mutant which has reduced read-through in vivo exhibits greater termination of transcription in vitro. The observed differences are not due to the presence of--or response to--alternate secondary structures in the trp leader transcript since deletion of the DNA segment corresponding to some of these alternate structures does not affect termination efficiency. The mutant polymerases also have comparable effects on the kinetics of transcription pausing at the trp leader pause site; the termination-deficient polymerase exhibits diminished pausing while the termination-proficient polymerase displays enhanced pausing. We suggest that this correlation reflects polymerase recognition of similar features of RNA secondary structures in the pause and termination events. In addition, since single mutational changes in RNA polymerase affect two activities, pausing and termination, it is likely that a single site or region of the polymerase is involved in both events.

Base Sequence↗

Human CD3-CD16+ natural killer cells express the hGATA-3 T cell transcription factor and an unrearranged 2.3-kb TcR delta transcript.

In this study we analyzed the T cell receptor(TcR) delta transcripts expressed by CD3-CD16+ cells and we investigated whether these cells expressed the hGATA-3 T cell transcription factor and the recombination-activating gene (RAG)-1. Multiple TcR delta transcripts deriving from an unrearranged TcR delta gene were detected in both polyclonal and clonal CD3-CD16+ natural killer(NK) cell lines. Two unrearranged TcR delta transcripts had a size similar to that of the functional TcR delta mRNA (2.3 and 1.3 kb) found in TcR gamma/delta+ T lymphocytes. Sequence analysis of nine different 2.3-kb cDNA clones obtained from NK-derived polyA+ RNA confirmed that they corresponded to an unrearranged TcR delta gene. These cDNA were 2343 bp long and their transcription initiation site was located 814 bp upstream from the J delta 1 segment. The sequence located upstream of the J delta 1 segment corresponded to the previously reported germ-line sequence. The J delta 1 segment was correctly spliced to C delta; in addition the four C delta exons were found to be already assembled. Two polyadenylation sites were present in the fourth C delta exon. However, only that located at the 3' end appeared to be utilized in the 2.3-kb cDNA. The expression of hGATA-3, a T cell-specific factor known to be involved in the regulation of the transcription of TcR delta locus, was analyzed by Northern blot, in cultured NK cell population and clones (but not in freshly derived cell populations). All NK clones and cell lines studied were found to express hGATA-3-specific mRNA, suggesting that hGATA-3 may be involved in the regulation of the unrearranged TcR delta gene expression in NK cells. Finally, no transcription of the RAG-1 gene could be detected in all NK cell lines or clones analyzed.

Base Sequence↗

The age-related decline in the induction of IL-2 transcription is correlated to changes in the transcription factor NFAT.

The effect of aging on the induction of IL-2 transcription by concanavalin A was studied in spleen lymphocytes isolated from young (4-6 months) and old (24 months) male Fischer 344 rats. The induction of IL-2 mRNA levels and IL-2 transcription were 40 to 50% lower for spleen lymphocytes isolated from old rats compared to spleen lymphocytes isolated from young rats. Because the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor activating IL-2 transcription) plays a major role in the regulation of IL-2 transcription, the DNA binding activity of NFAT in nuclear extracts of concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes was measured using a gel shift assay. The ability of nuclear extracts isolated from either total spleen lymphocytes or T cells to bind the NFAT oligonucleotide decreased 50 to 60% with age. Therefore, the age-related decrease in the expression of IL-2 appears to occur at the level of transcription and involves the transcription factor NFAT.

Aging↗

The activities of acidic and glutamine-rich transcriptional activation domains in plant cells: design of modular transcription factors for high-level expression.

The aim of this work was to design strong transcriptional activators that can be used to regulate plant gene expression. The contribution of different components in a transcription factor and target gene system was assayed by measuring transcriptional activation. Each component was optimised to achieve maximal reporter gene expression in transient protoplast transformation assays. The DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4 was studied in the context of fusion proteins with activation domains of the herpes simplex virus protein VP16 or the tomato Myb-like activator THM18. Multimerisation of the activation domain and insertion of a homopolymeric glutamine stretch was used to increase transcription factor potency. Evidence is presented that these modifications can result in even more active transcription factors when they are combined. Finally, it was demonstrated using competition experiments that transcription factors with acidic activation domains can mutually suppress their activation potentials when expressed at high levels.

Base Sequence↗

The transcription of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is regulated by Ets transcription factors.

The Ets family of transcription factors comprises several members which are involved to regulate gene transcription. Although several consensus binding sites for Ets proteins can be found in a wide series of promoter, only a limited number of them are indeed activated by these transcription factors. The human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a crucial role in immune responses by enabling the binding of effector cells to various target cell types. ICAM-1 is constitutively expressed at different levels in the absence of stimuli in different cell types, and its expression is upregulated by several proinflammatory cytokines. We have here examined the transcriptional regulation of human ICAM-1 expression by Ets proteins, and more particularly by ERM, a member of this family of transcription factors. Transient transfection assays revealed that Ets-2 and ERM significantly activate the transcription of ICAM-1 promoter, whereas the less-related Ets family member, Spi-1/Pu.1, failed to do so. Transfection of a series of ICAM-1 promoter deletion mutants together with ERM expression plasmids have shown that an Ets responsive element is located within the first 176 bp upstream from the translational start site. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting analysis have enabled us to identify two Ets binding sites at positions -158 and -138 from the ATG, respectively. Site directed mutagenesis of these elements has shown that the distal site is the major element required for the ERM-mediated activation of the ICAM-1 promoter. We can thus conclude that expression of ICAM-1 can be regulated by Ets transcription factors.

Animals↗

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↗