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Cellular dynamics of antisense oligonucleotides and short interfering RNAs.

We aim to compare quantitatively the dynamics of the effectiveness of antisense oligonucleotides (AS ODNs) versus short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and relate their effectiveness to sequence metrics (e.g., predicted free energy of binding). AS ODNs against a quantitative model target, pd1EGFP (destabilized enhanced GFP [green fluorescent protein]), were selected using our thermodynamic model, and siRNA sequences were designed to be identical to the AS ODN sequences in the antisense strand. We evaluated d1EGFP inhibition in transiently and stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells over time using flow cytometry. Overall, our results show that the rationally designed AS ODN and siRNA sequences proved effective inhibitors of GFP expression and suggest that certain regions of mRNA may be susceptible to both AS ODNs and siRNAs.

Animals↗

Cytosine arabinoside substitution decreases transcription factor-DNA binding element complex formation.

CONTEXT: The pyrimidine nucleoside analog, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), is an effective therapeutic agent for acute leukemia. The phosphorylated triphosphate, cytosine arabinoside triphosphate, competes with deoxycytosine triphosphate as a substrate for incorporation into DNA. Once incorporated into DNA, it inhibits DNA polymerase and topoisomerase I and modifies the tertiary structure of DNA. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the substitution of Ara-C for cytosine in double-stranded oligonucleotides that contain 4 specific transcription factor binding sites (TATA, GATA, C/EBP, and AP-2alpha) alters transcription factor binding to their respective DNA binding elements. DESIGN: Transcription factors were obtained from nuclear extracts from human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. [32P]-end-labeled double-stranded oligonucleotides that contained 1 or 2 specific transcription factor binding sites with or without Ara-C substitution for cytosine were used to assess transcription factor binding by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. RESULTS: The substitution of Ara-C for cytosine within and outside the transcription factor binding element (AP-2alpha, C/EBP), outside the binding element only (GATA, TATA), or within the binding element only (AP-2alpha) all result in a reduction in transcription factor binding to their respective DNA binding element. CONCLUSION: The reduction of the binding capacity of transcription factors with their respective DNA binding elements may depend on structural changes within oligonucleotides induced by Ara-C incorporation. This altered binding capacity of transcription factors to their DNA binding elements may represent one mechanism for Ara-C cytotoxicity secondary to inhibition of transcription of new messenger RNAs and, subsequently, translation of new proteins.

Binding Sites↗

Effects of the ribosomal subunit association on the chemical modification of the 16S and 23S RNAs from Escherichia coli.

70S ribosomes and 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits from Escherichia coli were modified under non-denaturing conditions with the chemical reagent dimethylsulfate. The ribosomal 23S and 16S RNAs were isolated after the reaction and the last 200 nucleotides from the 3' ends were analyzed for differences in the chemical modification. A number of accessibility changes could be detected for 23S and 16S RNA when 70S ribosomes as opposed to the isolated subunits were modified. In addition to a number of sites which were protected from modification several guanosines showed enhanced reactivities, indicating conformational changes in the ribosomal RNA structures when 30S and 50S subunits associate to a 70S particle. Most of the accessibility changes can be localized in double-helical regions within the secondary structures of the two RNAs. The results confirm the importance of the ribosomal RNAs for ribosomal functions and help to define the RNA domains which constitute the subunit interface of E. coli ribosomes.

Binding Sites↗

Development and characterization of a human marrow stromal cell line that enhances osteoclast-like cell formation.

We established a human bone marrow stromal cell line (Saka) by infecting marrow adherent cells from semisolid marrow cultures with a recombinant simian virus-40 (SV40) virus. The cells expressed SV40 large tumor antigen, had a fibroblast-like shape, and expressed fibronectin and vimentin. They did not contain detectable alkaline phosphatase activity; express myeloid, lymphoid, or factor VIII-associated antigens; or develop adipocyte-like characteristics with dexamethasone treatment. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of Saka cell RNA detected expression of messenger RNAs for interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 beta, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, stem cell factor, and the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor. Coculture of Saka cells with human marrow mononuclear cells enhanced formation of osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNC) in long term human bone marrow cultures. These MNC expressed calcitonin receptors and formed resorption lacunae on dentine. In contrast, coculture of marrow mononuclear cells with other SV40-transformed human marrow stromal cell lines did not increase MNC formation. Conditioned medium from Saka cells or coculture of bone marrow and Saka cells separated by a Millipore membrane did not enhance MNC formation. Addition of a neutralizing antibody to IL-6 or IL-1 beta blocked the effects of Saka cells on MNC formation. These results suggest that marrow stromal cells enhance osteoclast formation in part through direct cell to cell contact and production of IL-6 and/or IL-1 beta.

Base Sequence↗

Cap and polyA tail enhance translation initiation at the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site by a discontinuous scanning, or shunting, mechanism.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) does not replicate in vitro, suggesting that cultured cells may lack factors that are essential for efficient use of HCV messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Here, we have studied the efficiency of HCV mRNA translation compared with translation of capped and polyadenylated mRNAs in human cells. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We have generated noninfectious minivirus mRNAs from an infectious HCV genome. These mRNAs were transfected into human cells, and the translation efficiency was determined. RESULTS: Hepatitis C virus mRNAs under control of the HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) were inefficiently translated compared with capped and polyadenylated mRNAs. Addition of a cap and a polyA tail on the HCV mRNAs revealed that these structures interacted with the hepatitis C IRES in a synergistic manner to load ribosomes onto the HCV mRNAs, thereby strongly enhancing translation. The positive effect of the cap and the polyA tail on initiation of translation at the initiator AUG embedded in the HCV IRES was the result of a discontinuous scanning, or shunting, mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that recruitment of ribosomes to the HCV mRNAs was inefficient in dividing cultured cells. Factors that are necessary for efficient translation of the HCV mRNAs in hepatocytes may be absent or inactive in cultured cells. This may be one reason for the inefficient replication of the HCV in vitro.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Site of premature termination of late transcription of simian virus 40 DNA: enhancement by 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole.

Sedimentation analysis of pulse-labeled RNA synthesized in nuclei isolated from simian virus 40-infected cells revealed an abundance of short cellular and viral RNAs. The relative amount of the short chains is increased in nuclei isolated from cells treated with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB). The short viral RNAs were purified by hybridization to and elution from simian virus 40 DNA on filters, and their sizes were determined by gel electrophoresis. A major band of 93- to 95-nucleotide-long RNA was observed along with additional minor bands. Identical bands were revealed when the viral RNA was purified from nuclei of cells pretreated with DRB. The major band was identified as an aborted transcript of a RNA that initiated at the major initiation site (nucleotide 243). We have found that the DNA region where the RNA stops is A+T rich and is immediately preceded by a G+C-rich region that exhibits dyad symmetry, resembling the termination signal in prokaryotes. These observations show that RNA polymerase II responds to the same termination signal as the prokaryotic enzyme and suggest that a mechanism of attenuation regulates simian virus 40 late transcription.

DNA, Viral↗

Construction and functional analysis of ribosomal 5S RNA from Escherichia coli with single base changes in the ribosomal protein binding sites.

The ribosomal 5S RNA gene from E. coli was altered by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis at positions A66 and U103. The mutant genes were cloned into an expression vector and selectively transcribed in an UV-sensitive E. coli strain using a modified maxicell system. The mutant 5S RNA genes were found to be transcribed and processed normally. The 5S RNA molecules were assembled into 50S ribosomal subunits. Under in vitro conditions the stability of the mutant 70S ribosomes seemed, however, to be reduced, since they dissociated into their subunits more easily than those of the wild type. The isolated mutated 5S RNAs with base changes in the ribosomal protein binding sites for L18 and L25, together with a point mutant at G41 (G to C), constructed earlier, were tested for their capacity to bind the 5S RNA binding proteins L5, L18 and L25. The following effects were observed: The base change A66 to C within the L18 binding site did not affect the binding of the ribosomal protein L18 but enhanced the stability of the L25-5S RNA complex considerably. The base changes U103 to G and G41 to C slightly reduced the binding of L5 and L25 whereas the binding of L18 to the mutant 5S RNAs was not altered. In addition 70S ribosomes with the single point mutations in their 5S RNAs were tested in their tRNA binding capacity. Mutants containing a C41 in their 5S RNA showed a reduction in the poly(U)-dependent Phe-tRNA binding, whereas the mutations to C66 and G 103 lead to completely inactive ribosomes in the same assay. Based on previous results a spatial model of the 5S RNA molecule is presented which is consistent with the findings reported in this paper.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Defective interfering RNAs of a satellite virus.

Panicum mosaic virus (PMV) is a recently molecularly characterized RNA virus with the unique feature of supporting the replication of two subviral RNAs in a few species of the family Gramineae. The subviral agents include a satellite RNA (satRNA) that is devoid of a coding region and the unrelated satellite panicum mosaic virus (SPMV) that encodes its own capsid protein. Here we report the association of this complex with a new entity in the RNA world, a defective-interfering RNA (DI) of a satellite virus. The specificity of interactions governing this four-component viral system is illustrated by the ability of the SPMV DIs to strongly interfere with the accumulation of the parental SPMV. The SPMV DIs do not interfere with PMV satRNA, but they do slightly enhance the rate of spread and titer of PMV. The SPMV-derived DIs provide an additional avenue by which to investigate fundamental biological questions, including the evolution and interactions of infectious RNAs.

Defective Viruses↗

The thermodynamic origin of the stability of a thermophilic ribozyme.

Understanding the mechanism of thermodynamic stability of an RNA structure has significant implications for the function and design of RNA. We investigated the equilibrium folding of a thermophilic ribozyme and its mesophilic homologue by using hydroxyl radical protection, small-angle x-ray scattering, and circular dichroism. Both RNAs require Mg(2+) to fold to their native structures that are very similar. The stability is measured as a function of Mg(2+) and urea concentrations at different temperatures. The enhanced stability of the thermophilic ribozyme primarily is derived from a tremendous increase in the amount of structure formed in the ultimate folding transition. This increase in structure formation and cooperativity arises because the penultimate and the ultimate folding transitions in the mesophilic ribozyme become linked into a single transition in the folding of the thermophilic ribozyme. Therefore, the starting point, or reference state, for the transition to the native, functional thermophilic ribozyme is significantly less structured. The shift in the reference state, and the resulting increase in folding cooperativity, is likely due to the stabilization of selected native interactions that only form in the ultimate transition. This mechanism of using a less structured intermediate and increased cooperativity to achieve higher functional stability for tertiary RNAs is fundamentally different from that commonly proposed to explain the increased stability of thermophilic proteins.

Base Sequence↗

A nuclear matrix attachment region organizes the Epstein-Barr viral plasmid in Raji cells into a single DNA domain.

The extrachromosomal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) plasmid in the Burkitt lymphoma cell line, Raji, is stably associated with the nuclear matrix. This association is effected by a nuclear matrix attachment region (MAR) located in the BamHI C fragment of the viral genome; no other region of EBV DNA was found to be attached to the nuclear matrix with high affinity. The MAR was mapped to 5.2 kbp of DNA, greater than 80% of which is found on the nuclear matrix in unsynchronized cells expressing only viral latent cycle products. Thus the majority of viral plasmids in Raji cells use the same MAR. The MAR of EBV DNA contains the origin of latent viral DNA replication (oriP), the genes for the small viral RNAs (EBERs) and a 500 bp region immediately upstream of the EBER-1 gene. The clustering of the latent viral replication origin and the nearby enhancer and promoters for latent viral transcription on the nuclear matrix is likely to be crucial for regulation of the latent viral genome.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Microbial detection with low molecular weight RNA.

The need to monitor microorganisms in the environment has increased interest in assays based on hybridization probes that target nucleic acids (e.g., rRNA). We report the development of liquid-phase assays for specific bacterial 5S rRNA sequences or similarly sized artificial RNAs (aRNAs) using molecular beacon technology. These beacons fluoresce only in the presence of specific target sequences, rendering as much as a 27-fold fluorescence enhancement. The assays can be used with both crude cell lysates and purified total RNA preparations. Minimal sample preparation (e.g., heating to promote leakage from cells) is sufficient to detect many Gram-negative bacteria. Using this approach it was possible to detect an aRNA-labeled Escherichia coli strain in the presence of a large background of an otherwise identical E. coli strain. Finally, by using a longer wavelength carboxytetramethylrhodamine beacon it was possible to reduce the fraction of the signal due to cellular autofluorescence to below 0.5%.

Biomarkers↗

Chromosome aberrations and oncogene alterations in two new breast tumor cell lines.

Two new breast tumor cell lines (UISO-BC-1 and UISO-BC-2) have been established from pleural effusions obtained from patients with confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer. Cytogenetic investigation shows several numerical and structural aberrations in both cell lines. Each cell line appears to have distinctive karyotypic aberrations. Although a common marker chromosome was not found in both cell lines, several breakpoints (i.e., 1q11, 3q11, 7p11, 9q11, and 13q11) were commonly involved in the marker chromosomes of both lines. Double minute (dmin) chromosomes were also observed in these two cell lines. Sixteen oncogene probes were used to study the oncogene amplification and overexpression; among these, only neu and c-myc probes detected multiple gene copies. A 10-fold amplification and a 20-fold overexpression of the neu were observed in the UISO-BC-1 line, whereas a threefold and a fivefold amplification of c-myc were found in UISO-BC-1 and UISO-BC-2, respectively. Moderately enhanced expression (sixfold) of c-myc was also observed in the UISO-BS-2 line. No gross rearrangement of these genes or aberrant RNAs was detected in these tumor cell lines.

Aged↗

The synergistic cytocidal effect produced by immune interferon and tumor necrosis factor in HT-29 cells is associated with inhibition of rRNA processing and (2',5') oligo (A) activation of RNase L.

The cytocidal activity of human immune interferon (IFN-tau) in combination with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) was assessed in human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. IFN-tau or TNF alone reduced cell viability by 15-20%, but in combination produced a synergistic cytotoxic effect which inhibited colony formation by 55-85%. TNF impaired the processing of ribosomal precursor 45S RNA to 32S RNA which resulted in the selective inhibition of 28S rRNA. Both TNF and IFN-tau induced the activity of (2',5') oligo (A) synthetase and produced selective degradation of 28S rRNA, effects possibly related to the (2',5') oligo (A)-dependent activation of RNase L. The combination of IFN-tau and TNF resulted in a marked reduction in the labeling of ribosomal precursor RNAs as well as mature rRNA. These results demonstrate that the posttranscriptional and processing effects of IFN-tau and TNF are related to the enhanced cytotoxicity by this combination of cytokines.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

PIASy mediates NEMO sumoylation and NF-kappaB activation in response to genotoxic stress.

Protein modification by SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) is an important regulatory mechanism for multiple cellular processes. SUMO-1 modification of NEMO (NF-kappaB essential modulator), the IkappaB kinase (IKK) regulatory subunit, is critical for activation of NF-kappaB by genotoxic agents. However, the SUMO ligase, and the mechanisms involved in NEMO sumoylation, remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that although small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against PIASy (protein inhibitor of activated STATy) inhibit NEMO sumoylation and NF-kappaB activation in response to genotoxic agents, overexpression of PIASy enhances these events. PIASy preferentially stimulates site-selective modification of NEMO by SUMO-1, but not SUMO-2 and SUMO-3, in vitro. PIASy-NEMO interaction is increased by genotoxic stress and occurs in the nucleus in a manner mutually exclusive with IKK interaction. In addition, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) also increases PIASy-NEMO interaction and NEMO sumoylation, whereas antioxidants prevent these events induced by DNA-damaging agents. Our findings demonstrate that PIASy is the first SUMO ligase for NEMO whose substrate specificity seems to be controlled by IKK interaction, subcellular targeting and oxidative stress conditions.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

DN-p73 is activated after DNA damage in a p53-dependent manner to regulate p53-induced cell cycle arrest.

p53 and p73 genes are both activated in response to DNA damage to induce either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, depending on the strength and the quality of the damaging stimulus. p53/p73 transcriptional activity must be tightly regulated to ensure that the appropriate biological response is achieved and to allow the cell to re-enter into the cell cycle after the damage has been repaired. In addition to multiple transcriptionally active (TA) isoforms, dominant negative (DN) variants, that lack the amino-terminal transactivation domain and function as trans-repressors of p53, p63 and p73, are expressed from a second internal promoter (P2-p73Pr). Here we show that, in response to a non apoptotic DNA damage induced by low doses of doxorubicin, p53 binds in vivo, as detected by a p53-specific chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and activates the P2-p73 promoter. DN-p73alpha protein accumulates under the same conditions and exogenously expressed DN-p73alpha is able to counteract the p53-induced activation of the P2-p73Pr. These results suggest that DN-p73 may contribute to the autoregulatory loops responsible for the termination of p53/p73 responses in cells that do not undergo apoptosis. Accordingly, the activation of the P2-p73Pr is markedly enhanced in both p73-/- murine fibroblasts and in human cells in which p73 transcripts are selectively knocked-out by p73-specific small interfering RNAs.

Apoptosis↗

Strand transfer occurs in retroviruses by a pause-initiated two-step mechanism.

Recombination promotes retrovirus evolution. It involves transferring a growing DNA primer from one genomic RNA template in the virus to the other. Strand transfer results in vitro suggested that pausing of the reverse transcriptase during synthesis allows enhanced RNase H cleavage of the initial, or donor, RNA template that facilitates primer interaction with the acceptor template. Hairpins are common structures in retrovirus RNAs that induce pausing. Analyzing primer transfers in hairpins by base substitution markers showed transfer sites well beyond the site of pausing. We developed methods to distinguish the initial site of primer-acceptor template interaction from the site of primer terminus transfer. The strand transfer mechanism was confirmed to involve two steps. In the first, the acceptor template invades the primer-donor complex. However, the primer terminus continues elongation on the donor RNA. The interacting primer and acceptor strands then propagate by branch migration to catch the advancing primer terminus. Some distance downstream of the invasion site the primer terminus transfers, marking the genetic shift from donor to acceptor. Nucleocapsid protein (NC) is known to influence primer elongation and strand exchange. The presence of NC increased the efficiency of transfers but did not appear to alter the fundamental transfer mechanism.

Base Sequence↗

Studying neurotrophin antiviral effect on rabies-infected dorsal root ganglia cultures.

Neurotrophin (NT)-induced modulation of rabies virus adsorption, transcription, and replication were analyzed in adult mouse dorsal root ganglia cultures. Different types of nerve growth factor and NT-3 treatment were tested before infection (pretreatment), during infection (transtreatment) and after withdrawing the viral inoculum (post-treatment). NT pretreatment for 4 days prior to infection produced a significant increase in the quantity of virus adsorbed into cultures and a concomitant increase in genomic viral RNA as measured by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). NT pretreatment triggered increased expression of two rabies virus receptors (NCAM and p75NTR); however, no increase in rabies virus transcription and expression could be observed. By contrast, NT treatment during and after infection (trans- and post-treatment) induced a strong decrease in the quantity of viral nucleoprotein genomic and messenger nucleoprotein RNAs. These findings suggested that NT had an intrinsic inhibitory effect on rabies virus infection, which was not counterbalanced by NTs' rabies virus receptor-enhancing property and viral uptake. Adult mouse dorsal root ganglion cultures can be regarded as being a useful model for detecting therapeutic targets and evaluating experimental antiviral drugs.

Age Factors↗

The self-cleaving domain from the genomic RNA of hepatitis delta virus: sequence requirements and the effects of denaturant.

The sequence requirements for self-cleavage of hepatitis delta virus genomic RNA were examined using precursor RNAs which were labeled at either the 5' or 3' ends and progressively deleted from the unlabeled end. In the presence of 50% formamide, which enhances self-cleavage in 2 mM MgCl2 at 37 degrees C, 84 nucleotides (nt) 3' of the break site were required. In the absence of formamide the minimum was reduced to 82 nt. Under both sets of conditions, precursors with 1 nt 5' to the break site cleaved. These results allowed two condition-dependent minimal domains for self-cleavage to be defined. However, in the absence of formamide, sequences flanking the minimal domain inhibited cleavage, possibly through involvement in the formation of non-cleaving structures. These data are consistent with the idea that cleavage in vivo could be regulated by alternative RNA structures.

Base Sequence↗