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Transcription factor RFX2 is abundant in rat testis and enriched in nuclei of primary spermatocytes where it appears to be required for transcription of the testis-specific histone H1t gene.

Previous work in our laboratory revealed upregulated transcription of the testis-specific linker histone H1t gene in pachytene primary spermatocytes during spermatogenesis. Using the H1t X-box as an affinity chromatography probe, we identified Regulatory Factor X2 (RFX2), a member of the RFX family of transcription factors, as a nuclear protein that binds the probe. We also showed that RFX2 activated the H1t promoter in transient expression assays. However, other RFX family members have the same DNA-binding domain and they also may regulate H1t gene expression. Therefore, in this study we examined the distribution of RFX2 and other RFX family members in rat testis germinal cells and in several tissues. Among tissues examined, RFX2 is most abundant in testis. Testis RFX2 is most abundant in spermatocytes where transcription of the H1t gene is upregulated and the steady-state H1t mRNA level is high. RFX2 levels decrease but RFX1 levels increase in early spermatids where H1t gene transcription is downregulated. Antibodies against RFX2 generate a shifted band in electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) using H1t or testisin X-box DNA probes with nuclear proteins from spermatocytes. These data support the hypothesis that RFX2 expression is upregulated in spermatocytes where it participates in activating transcription of the H1t gene and other testis genes. These data also support the possibility that other RFX family members may bind to the H1t promoter in other testis germinal cell types and in nongerminal cells to downregulate H1t gene transcription.

Animals↗

Transcription factor Sox-2 inhibits co-activator stimulated transcription.

Previous studies have shown that transcription of the fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) gene by early embryonic cells is dependent upon a powerful distal enhancer located 3 kb downstream of the transcription start site within the untranslated region of the last exon. The transcription factors Sox-2 and Oct-3 cooperatively bind to critical cis-regulatory elements within the enhancer to synergistically activate transcription. Moreover, the co-activator p300 can mediate the synergistic activity of Sox-2 and Oct-3, and p300 associates with the FGF-4 enhancer in vivo. Embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells have been used extensively as a model system to study the regulation of the FGF-4 gene during early development. Recently, it has been suggested that suboptimal levels of Sox-2 expression in F9 EC cells limit the transcription of the FGF-4 gene. The studies presented in this report argue that Sox-2 levels are not limiting in F9 EC cells. Moreover, overexpression of Sox-2 in F9 EC cells decreases FGF-4 promoter activity. In addition, overexpression of Sox-2 in these cells inhibits activation by the co-activators p300, CBP, and OCA-B in a manner that requires the transactivation domain of Sox-2. These findings suggest that Sox-2 levels in F9 EC cells are regulated carefully to avoid interference with the transcription of critical genes.

Animals↗

Regulated assembly of transcription factors and control of transcription initiation.

Proteins that function in regulation of transcription initiation are typically homo or hetero-oligomeric. Results of recent biophysical studies of transcription regulators indicate that the assembly of these proteins is often subject to regulation. This regulation of assembly dictates the frequency of transcription initiation via its influence on the affinity of a transcription regulator for DNA and its affect on target site selection. Factors that modulate transcription factor assembly include binding of small molecules, post-translational modification, DNA binding and interactions with other proteins. Here, the results of recent structural and/or thermodynamic studies of a number of transcription regulators that are subject to regulated assembly are reviewed. The accumulated data indicate that this phenomenon is ubiquitous and that mechanisms utilized in eukaryotes and prokaryotes share common features.

Animals↗

The RNA polymerase I-specific transcription initiation factor UBF is associated with transcriptionally active and inactive ribosomal genes.

We have characterized an anti-NOR (nucleolar organizer region) serum (P419) from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis and show that it contains antibodies directed against the RNA polymerase I-specific transcription initiation factor UBF. This serum reacts with UBF from a variety of vertebrate cells as revealed both by immunoblotting and by indirect immunofluorescence. We have used the P419 serum to study the intracellular localization of this transcription factor at the light and electron microscopic level. In interphase cells, UBF exhibits a pronounced punctate pattern and is found to be associated with necklace-like structures, which appear to reflect the transcriptionally active state of the nucleolus. Inhibition of rRNA synthetic activity caused either by nutritional starvation or by actinomycin D treatment resulted in a marked decrease in the number and in a significant increase in the size of UBF-positive granules. Under all experimental conditions applied, UBF was exclusively found within the nucleolus and was not released into the nucleoplasm or cytoplasm. During mitosis, UBF was found to be concentrated at the chromosomal NOR indicating that a significant quantity, if not all, of this factor remains bound to the ribosomal transcription units. From this we conclude that UBF is associated both with transcriptionally active and inactive rRNA genes and, therefore, changes in the intracellular localization of UBF are very likely not involved in rDNA transcription regulation.

Animals↗

NFAT3 is required for EGF-induced COX-2 transcription, but neither iNOS transcription nor cell transformation in Cl 41 cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been reported to act as a tumor promoter in several tissues, such as skin, in association with the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, molecular mechanisms involved in these regulations are not well defined. This study addressed a potential role of nuclear factor of activated T cells 3 (NFAT3) in EGF-induced COX-2 and iNOS transcription and cell transformation in mouse epidermal Cl 41 cells. We found that EGF markedly induced anchorage-independent growth (cell transformation) of Cl 41 cells, as well as COX-2 (> 6-fold) and iNOS (> 5-fold) promoter-dependent transcription. The EGF-induced COX-2 transcription was blocked by knockdown of NFAT3 with NFAT3 siRNA, whereas the transcription of iNOS and cell transformation induced by EGF were not affected. Although our recent studies supported that NFAT3 plays an essential role in chemical carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (B[a]PDE)-induced cell transformation, the data presented here demonstrated that NFAT3 is required for EGF-induced COX-2 transcription, but neither iNOS transcription nor cell transformation, indicating that the role of NFAT3 in regulating cell transformation is carcinogen-specific.

Animals↗

Activation of the insulin-like growth factor II transcription by aflatoxin B1 induced p53 mutant 249 is caused by activation of transcription complexes; implications for a gain-of-function during the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced mutation of the p53 gene at codon 249 (p53mt249) is critical during the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. p53mt249 markedly increases insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) transcription largely from promoter 4, accumulating the fetal form of IGF-II. Modulation of the transcription factor binding to IGF-II P4 by wild-type p53 and p53mt249 was identified. Wild-type p53 inhibited binding of transcription factors Sp1 and TBP on the P4 promoter, while p53mt249 enhanced the formation of transcriptional complexes through enhanced DNA-protein (Sp1 or TBP) and protein-protein (Sp1 and TBP) interactions. p53mt249 stimulates transcription factor Sp1 phosphorylation which might be a cause of increased transcription factor binding on the P4 promoter while wild-type p53 does not. Transfection of hepatocytes with p53mt249 impaired induction of apoptosis by the HBV-X protein and TNF-alpha. Therefore, the blocking of apoptosis through enhanced production of IGF-II should provide a favorable opportunity for the selection of transformed hepatocytes. These results explain the molecular basis for the genesis of HCC by p53mt249 which was found to be induced by a potent mutagen, AFB1.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Human tumor suppressor p14ARF negatively regulates rRNA transcription and inhibits UBF1 transcription factor phosphorylation.

The nucleolar Arf protein has been shown to regulate cell cycle through both p53-dependent and -independent pathways. In addition to the well-characterized Arf-mdm2-p53 pathway, several partners of Arf have recently been described that could participate in alternative regulation process. Among those is the nucleolar protein B23/NPM, involved in the sequential maturation of rRNA. p19ARF can interact with B23/NPM in high molecular complexes and partially inhibit the cleavage of the 32S rRNA, whereas the human p14ARF protein has been shown to participate in the degradation of NPM/B23 by the proteasome. These data led to define Arf as a negative regulator of ribosomal RNA maturation. Our recent finding that the human p14ARF protein was able to specifically interact with the rRNA promoter in a p53-independent context, led us to analyse in vitro and in vivo the consequences of this interaction. Luciferase assay and pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the rRNA transcription was strongly reduced upon p14ARF overexpression. Investigations on potential interactions between p14ARF and the transcription machinery proteins demonstrated that the upstream binding factor (UBF), required for the initiation of the transcriptional complex, was a new partner of the p14ARF protein. We next examined the phosphorylation status of UBF as UBF phosphorylation is required to recruit on the promoter factors involved in the transcriptional complex. Upon p14ARF overexpression, UBF was found hypophosphorylated, thus unable to efficiently recruit the transcription complex. Taken together, these data define a new p53-independent pathway that could regulate cell cycle through the negative control of rRNA transcription.

Animals↗

Recruitment of histone deacetylase 4 by transcription factors represses interleukin-5 transcription.

The critical role of IL-5 (interleukin-5) in eosinophilic inflammation implicates it as a therapeutic target for allergic diseases. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular basis for the involvement of reversible histone acetylation in IL-5 transcriptional regulation. We provide evidence that HDAC4 (histone deacetylase 4) and p300, a known HAT (histone acetyltransferase), reversibly controlled the activity of the IL-5 promoter in vivo and in vitro, with a concurrent alteration of histone H3 acetylation status at the promoter regions. The nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of HDAC4 was shown to play an important role in the suppressive function of HDAC4 in IL-5 gene expression. Point mutation and reporter ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) studies determined that the four transcription factors binding on the IL-5 promoter, i.e. C/EBPbeta (CAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta), GATA3 (GATA binding protein 3), NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) and YY1 (Yin and Yang 1), were essential for the recruitment of HDAC4. Consistent with these observations, HDAC4 was found to form protein complexes with GATA3 and YY1, and to co-exist in the nuclei with GATA3. We propose that the unique regulatory mechanism of IL-5 gene transcription involves the reversible histone modification catalysed by HDAC4 and p300, which are recruited by the transcription factors. The dynamic balance in IL-5 transcriptional regulation is achieved through interactions among HATs/HDACs, histones and transcription factors. These data contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of IL-5 regulation, which is crucial to the development of new therapeutic strategies for IL-5-related allergic diseases.

Binding Sites↗

Post-transcriptional enhancement of Escherichia coli bgl operon silencing by limitation of BglG-mediated antitermination at low transcription rates.

The silent bgl operon of Escherichia coli is activated by spontaneous mutations that derepress its promoter. In addition, expression depends on specific transcriptional antitermination within the operon by the antiterminator protein BglG. Here, we show that BglG-mediated antitermination limits expression of the bgl operon when the cellular transcription rate is low. The expression levels of chromosomally encoded activated bgl operon alleles are low but increase significantly when BglG protein is provided in trans or when the expression is rendered independent of BglG-mediated antitermination by mutation of the terminator. Plasmid-encoded activated bgl operon alleles are expressed at high levels. Moreover, a moderate (threefold) further increase in the transcription rate of chromosomally encoded activated bgl operon alleles in an rpoS mutant can result in high (up to 50-fold increased) expression levels. These data show that the expression of the bgl operon does not correlate linearly with its cellular transcription rate. Moderate differences in the transcription initiation rate are amplified post-transcriptionally into large changes in the expression level of the operon by the requirement of a threshold for BglG-mediated antitermination. Implications for bgl operon regulation by global regulators H-NS, RpoS and others are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Transcription factor TFIIB and the vitamin D receptor cooperatively activate ligand-dependent transcription.

The active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], regulates gene transcription through binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Sequence-specific transcription factors, including nuclear hormone receptors, are thought to interact with the basal transcription complex to regulate transcription. In glutathione S-transferase fusion-based protein-protein binding assays we found that VDR specifically binds to TFIIB, a component of the basal complex, and that the interaction requires select domains of each protein. To assess the functional significance of this interaction, transfection assays were performed with a 1,25(OH)2D3-responsive reporter construct. In P19 embryonal carcinoma cells cotransfection of VDR and TFIIB cooperatively activated reporter transcription, while each factor alone gave very low to no activation. This activation was dependent on 1,25(OH)2D3 and the dose of TFIIB and VDR transfected, demonstrating that a nuclear hormone receptor functionally interacts with TFIIB in vivo. In contrast, transfection of NIH 3T3 cells generated strong reporter activation by 1,25(OH)2D3 in the presence of VDR alone, and cotransfection of TFIIB led to specific dose-dependent repression of reporter activity. Taken together, these results indicate that TFIIB-nuclear hormone receptor interaction plays a critical role in ligand-dependent transcription, which is apparently modulated by a cell-type-specific accessory factor.

Adult↗

Cell cycle-dependent regulation of RNA polymerase I transcription: the nucleolar transcription factor UBF is inactive in mitosis and early G1.

Transcription of ribosomal RNA genes by RNA polymerase (pol) I oscillates during the cell cycle, being maximal in S and G2 phase, repressed during mitosis, and gradually recovering during G1 progression. We have shown that transcription initiation factor (TIF)-IB/SL1 is inactivated during mitosis by cdc2/cyclin B-directed phosphorylation of TAFI110. In this study, we have monitored reactivation of transcription after exit from mitosis. We demonstrate that the pol I factor UBF is also inactivated by phosphorylation but recovers with different kinetics than TIF-IB/SL1. Whereas TIF-IB/SL1 activity is rapidly regained on entry into G1, UBF is reactivated later in G1, concomitant with the onset of pol I transcription. Repression of pol I transcription in mitosis and early G1 can be reproduced with either extracts from cells synchronized in M or G1 phase or with purified TIF-IB/SL1 and UBF isolated in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors. The results suggest that two basal transcription factors, e.g., TIF-IB/SL1 and UBF, are inactivated at mitosis and reactivated by dephosphorylation at the exit from mitosis and during G1 progression, respectively.

3T3 Cells↗

Transcription factor AP-2 controls transcription of the human transforming growth factor-alpha gene.

The epidermal growth factor receptor is vital for normal development and plays a role in oncogenesis. The level of activation of this receptor by transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is controlled, in part, by the rate of transcription of the TGF-alpha gene. In the characterization of the proximal TGF-alpha promoter by DNase I footprinting, a 43-base pair element (-88 to -130 relative to the transcription start site), designated TalphaRE I, was found that was specifically protected by nuclear proteins from human mammary carcinoma MDA468 cells. TalphaRE I was essential for the maximal expression of the TGF-alpha gene as indicated by deletion and mutagenesis analyses. TalphaRE I consists of two cis-acting elements, a proximal regulatory element (PRE, -89 to -103) and a distal regulatory element (DRE, -121 to -128). Both elements were able to form specific complexes with protein from MDA468 cell nuclear extracts and are necessary for the full activity of the entire 1.1-kilobase pair TGF-alpha promoter. Competition and antibody studies determined that the DRE contains a binding site for the transcription factor AP-2, while the protein that binds to the PRE has yet to be identified. When linked upstream to the heterologous herpes simplex thymidine kinase promoter, the TalphaRE I enhanced transcription up to 11-fold in MDA468 cells. Cotransfection of an AP-2 expression vector was able to activate transcription from the TalphaREI-TK construct in a DRE-dependent manner. These results further our understanding of how TGF-alpha transcription is regulated.

Base Sequence↗

The hepatitis B virus X protein enhances the DNA binding potential and transcription efficacy of bZip transcription factors.

The hepatitis B virus X protein interacts with the basic-region, leucine zipper protein (bZip) domain of cAMP response element-binding protein increasing its affinity for the cAMP response element site in vitro and its transcriptional efficacy in vivo (Williams, J. S., and Andrisani, O. M. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 3819-3823). Here we examine pX interactions with bZip transcription factors ATF3, gadd153/Chop10, ICER IIgamma, and NF-IL6. We demonstrate direct interactions in vitro between pX and the bZip proteins tested. In contrast MyoD and Gal4(1-147) fail to interact with pX. We also demonstrate by the mammalian two-hybrid assay the direct interaction of pX with cAMP response element- binding protein, ICER IIgamma, ATF3, and NF-IL6 in hepatocytes. In addition, pX increases the DNA binding potential of bZip proteins for their cognate DNA-binding site in vitro. In transient transfections in hepatocytes (AML12 cell line), pX increases the transcriptional efficacy of the bZip transcription factors. NF-IL6-mediated transcriptional activation is enhanced 3-fold by pX. Most interestingly, pX augments the repression mediated by bZip repressors ATF3 and ICER IIgamma, by 6- and 7-fold, respectively, demonstrating for the first time the involvement of pX in gene repression. We conclude that pX is an enhancer of the DNA binding potential of bZip transcription factors, thereby increasing the transactivation or repression efficacy of bZip-responsive genes.

Animals↗

Yeast transcript elongation factor (TFIIS), structure and function. II: RNA polymerase binding, transcript cleavage, and read-through.

The transcriptionally active fragment of the yeast RNA polymerase II transcription elongation factor, TFIIS, comprises a three-helix bundle and a zinc ribbon motif joined by a linker region. We have probed the function of this fragment of TFIIS using structure-guided mutagenesis. The helix bundle domain binds RNA polymerase II with the same affinity as does the full-length TFIIS, and this interaction is mediated by a basic patch on the outer face of the third helix. TFIIS mutants that were unable to bind RNA polymerase II were inactive for transcription activity, confirming the central role of polymerase binding in the TFIIS mechanism of action. The linker and zinc ribbon regions play roles in promoting cleavage of the nascent transcript and read-through past the block to elongation. Mutation of three aromatic residues in the zinc ribbon domain (Phe269, Phe296, and Phe308) impaired both transcript cleavage and read-through. Mutations introduced in the linker region between residues 240 and 245 and between 250 and 255 also severely impaired both transcript cleavage and read-through activities. Our analysis suggests that the linker region of TFIIS probably adopts a critical structure in the context of the elongation complex.

Models, Molecular↗

Reconstitution of yeast RNA polymerase I transcription in vitro from purified components. TATA-binding protein is not required for basal transcription.

Five purified protein components, RNA polymerase I, Rrn3p, core factor, TBP (TATA-binding protein), and upstream activation factor, are sufficient for high level transcription in vitro from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae rDNA promoter. Rrn3p and pol I form a complex in solution that is active in specific initiation. Three protein components, pol I, Rrn3p, and core factor, and promoter sequence to -38, suffice for basal transcription. Unlike pol II and pol III, yeast pol I basal transcription does not require TBP. Instead, TBP, upstream activation factor, and the upstream element of the promoter together stimulate pol I basal transcription to a fully activated level. The role of TBP in pol I transcription is fundamentally different from its role in pol II or pol III transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The cyclic AMP response element modulator family regulates the insulin gene transcription by interacting with transcription factor IID.

We analyzed a mechanism of transcriptional regulation of the human insulin gene by cyclic AMP response element modulator (CREM) through four cyclic AMP response elements (CREs). We isolated two novel CREM isoforms (CREMDeltaQ1 and CREMDeltaQ2), which lack one of the glutamine-rich domains, Q1 and Q2 respectively, and six known isoforms (CREMtaualpha, CREMalpha, inducible cyclic AMP early repressor (ICER) I, ICER Igamma, CREM-17X, and CREM-17) from rat pancreatic islets and the RINm5F pancreatic beta-cell line. CREM isoforms functioned as efficient transcriptional activators or repressors to modulate insulin promoter activity by binding to all of the insulin CREs. The binding activity of repressors is higher than that of activators and suppressed not only basal activity but also activator-induced activities. Furthermore, CREM activator interacted directly with the transcription factor IID components hTAF(II)130 and TATA box-binding protein (TBP). These results suggest that the activation of the insulin gene transcription by CREM activator is mediated by not only direct binding to the CREs but also by recruiting transcription factor IID to the insulin promoter via its interaction with hTAF(II)130 and TBP. On the other hand, the CREM repressor ICER competitively interrupts the binding of the activators to CREs and does not interact with either TBP or hTAF(II)130; therefore, it might fail to stabilize the basal transcriptional machinery and repress transactivation.

Animals↗

Downstream promoter sequences facilitate the formation of a specific transcription factor IID-promoter complex topology required for efficient transcription from the megalin/low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 promoter.

Megalin/low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP-2) is an endocytic receptor expressed in highly specialized cell types such as parathyroid cells and epithelia of the kidney. Previous experiments identified a nonconsensus TATA element, with the sequence TAGAAAA, as crucial for accurate and efficient transcription from the LRP-2 promoter. Here we show that, in addition to the TAGA element, promoter sequences downstream of the transcription start site contribute significantly to transcription both in vitro and in transfected cells. Deletion and point mutational analyses reveal that the promoter region located between positions +5 and +11 (sequence TTTTGGC) is of particular importance. Complementation experiments in nuclear extracts lacking transcription factor IID (TFIID) activity show that TATA-binding protein-associated factors of TFIID are essential for the function of LRP-2 downstream promoter sequences. Interestingly, DNase I footprinting studies show that the downstream region between positions +5 and +11 does not significantly affect overall TFIID affinity to the promoter but that it profoundly affects the topology of the TFIID x promoter complex not only downstream of the transcription start site, but in particular in the TATA box region. Our observations suggest a model for a novel downstream sequence function, in which TATA-binding protein-associated factor-promoter interactions downstream of the transcription start site modulate TFIID-DNA interactions in the TATA box region.

Base Sequence↗

Transcription activation by the orphan nuclear receptor, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor I (COUP-TFI). Definition of the domain involved in the glucocorticoid response of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factors (COUP-TFs), orphan members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, play a key role in the regulation of organogenesis, neurogenesis, and cellular differentiation during embryogenic development. COUP-TFs are also involved in the regulation of several genes that encode metabolic enzymes. Although COUP-TFs function as potent transcription repressors, there are at least three different molecular mechanisms of activation of gene expression by COUP-TFs. First, as we have previously shown, COUP-TF is required as an accessory factor for the complete induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene transcription by glucocorticoids. This action is mediated by the binding of COUP-TF to the glucocorticoid accessory factor 1 (gAF1) and 3 (gAF3) elements in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene glucocorticoid response unit. In addition, COUP-TF1 binds to DNA elements in certain genes and transactivates directly. Finally, COUP-TF1 serves as a coactivator through DNA-bound hepatic nuclear factor 4. Here we show that the same region of COUP-TFI, located between amino acids 184 and 423, is involved in these three mechanisms of transactivation by COUP-TFI. Furthermore, we show that GRIP1 and SRC-1 potentiate the activity of COUP-TFI and that COUP-TFI associates with these coactivators in vivo using the same region required for transcription activation. Finally, overexpression of GRIP1 or SRC-1 does not convert COUP-TFI from a transcriptional repressor into a transcriptional activator in HeLa cells.

Animals↗