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PubMed1971

Catabolite repression in the D-serine deaminase system of Escherichia coli K-12.

The induced synthesis of d-serine deaminase in Escherichia coli is subject to three catabolic effects: inhibition on inducer uptake, transient repression, and catabolite repression. Inhibition on d-serine uptake is not significant at the d-serine concentration normally used for induction. Transient repression and catabolite repression of d-serine deaminase synthesis are abolished by mutations in dsdCy, which appears to be an operator locus. The decline in the rate of constitutive synthesis observed in dsdCx mutants growing with glycerol as carbon source at temperatures above 37 C is due to catabolite repression. The low level of constitutivity at 37 C and the partial cis dominance of dsdCx mutants are not artifacts of catabolite repression. It is suggested that a product of one of the genes of the dsd operon may regulate the expression of the operon.

Carbon Isotopes↗

PubMed1984

Repression is relieved before attenuation in the trp operon of Escherichia coli as tryptophan starvation becomes increasingly severe.

Expression of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli is regulated over about a 500- to 600-fold range by the combined action of repression and attenuation. Repression regulates transcription initiation in response to variation in the intracellular concentration of tryptophan. Attenuation regulates transcription termination at a site in the leader region of the operon in response to changes in the extent of charging of tRNATrp. We measured repression independently of attenuation to ascertain whether these regulatory mechanisms were used differentially by the bacterium as the severity of tryptophan starvation was increased. We found that repression regulated transcription of the operon over the range from growth with excess tryptophan to growth under moderate tryptophan starvation. By contrast, attenuation (termination control) was not relaxed until tryptophan starvation was in the moderate-to-severe range. Thus, attenuation and repression were used to regulate transcription in response to different degrees of tryptophan deprivation. Consistent with this conclusion is the observation that when tryptophan starvation was sufficient to relieve repression 50 to 60%, 65% of the tRNATrp of the bacterium was charged. These findings provide a possible explanation for the existence of only two tryptophan codons in the coding region for the trp leader peptide of Enterobacteriaceae.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

PubMed1994

Expression of high-affinity glucose transport protein Hxt2p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is both repressed and induced by glucose and appears to be regulated posttranslationally.

Expression of putative high-affinity glucose transport protein Hxt2p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was repressed 15- to 20-fold in high concentrations of glucose or fructose. S. cerevisiae with either the ssn6-delta 9 or the hxk2-delta 1::URA3 mutation, each of which relieves glucose repression, exhibited high Hxt2p expression in both 2.0% glucose (normally repressing) and 0.05% glucose (normally derepressing) while S. cerevisiae with the snf1-delta 10 mutation, which causes constitutive repression, did not detectably express Hxt2p in either glucose concentration. In addition to repressing at high concentrations, glucose or fructose is required for induction of Hxt2p expression. Hxt2p was not expressed by wild-type S. cerevisiae in media containing only ethanol or galactose as carbon and energy source but was expressed if glucose was added. An hxk2-delta 1::URA3 mutant did not detectably express Hxt2p in ethanol or galactose, but an ssn6-delta9 mutant did highly express Hxt2p in both carbon sources. Thus, simple relief of glucose repression as occurs with hxk2 null mutants is insufficient for high-level Hxt2p expression. Mutation of ssn6, a general transcriptional repressor, does lead to Hxt2p expression in the absence of glucose induction, suggesting relief of an additional negative regulatory system. High expression of Hxt2p does not always result in HXT2-dependent high-affinity transport, implying that Hxt2p activity is regulated posttranslationally. In the high glucose condition for the ssn6 mutant, high-affinity glucose transport is derepressed. Deletion of the HXT2 locus does not diminish this level of transport. However, high-affinity glucose transport is diminished in the ssn6-delta9 hxt2 delta1 double mutant compared with ssn6-delta9 alone in low glucose. Thus, while constitutively expressed in ssn6 mutants, Hxt2p only appears to be active as a transporter under low-glucose conditions. Similarly, Hxt2p was found to be expressed under low-glucose conditions in an snf3 mutant which does not display high-affinity uptake. This finding suggests that SNF3 may be involved in the posttranslational regulation of Hxt2p.

Biological Transport↗

PubMed1997

Repression of the aroP gene of Escherichia coli involves activation of a divergent promoter.

The repression of aroP expression which is mediated by the TyrR protein with phenylalanine, tyrosine, or tryptophan has been shown to be primarily a direct result of TyrR-mediated activation of a divergent promoter, P3, which directs the RNA polymerase away from promoter P1. Evidence which has been presented to support this conclusion is as follows. Repression of P1 does not occur either in vitro or in vivo if wild-type TyrR protein is substituted by the activation-negative mutant RQ10 (with an R-to-Q change at position 10). Repression of P1 is greatly diminished if the P3 promoter is inactivated or if a 5-bp insertion is made between the P3 promoter and the binding sites for TyrR. Repression is also abolished if the promoter strength of P1 is increased or a putative UP element associated with P3 is altered. Repression of the second promoter, P2, still occurs if the wild-type TyrR protein is substituted with RQ10 or EQ274. The tryptophan-mediated repression of aroP does not involve the TrpR protein.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗

PubMed1999

The PalkBFGHJKL promoter is under carbon catabolite repression control in Pseudomonas oleovorans but not in Escherichia coli alk+ recombinants.

The alk genes are located on the OCT plasmid of Pseudomonas oleovorans and encode an inducible pathway for the utilization of n-alkanes as carbon and energy sources. We have investigated the influence of alternative carbon sources on the induction of this pathway in P. oleovorans and Escherichia coli alk+ recombinants. In doing so, we confirmed earlier reports that induction of alkane hydroxylase activity in pseudomonads is subject to carbon catabolite repression. Specifically, synthesis of the monooxygenase component AlkB is repressed at the transcriptional level. The alk genes have been cloned into plasmid pGEc47, which has a copy number of about 5 to 10 per cell in both E. coli and pseudomonads. Pseudomonas putida GPo12 is a P. oleovorans derivative cured of the OCT plasmid. Upon introduction of pGEc47 in this strain, carbon catabolite repression of alkane hydroxylase activity was reduced significantly. In cultures of recombinant E. coli HB101 and W3110 carrying pGEc47, induction of AlkB and transcription of the alkB gene were no longer subject to carbon catabolite repression. This suggests that carbon catabolite repression of alkane degradation is regulated differently in Pseudomonas and in E. coli strains. These results also indicate that PalkBFGHJKL, the Palk promoter, might be useful in attaining high expression levels of heterologous genes in E. coli grown on inexpensive carbon sources which normally trigger carbon catabolite repression of native expression systems in this host.

Alkanes↗

PubMed2005

Sulfate-dependent repression of genes that function in organosulfur metabolism in Bacillus subtilis requires Spx.

Oxidative stress in Bacillus subtilis results in the accumulation of Spx protein, which exerts both positive and negative transcriptional control over a genome-wide scale through its interaction with the RNA polymerase alpha subunit. Previous microarray transcriptome studies uncovered a unique class of genes that are controlled by Spx-RNA polymerase interaction under normal growth conditions that do not promote Spx overproduction. These genes were repressed by Spx when sulfate was present as a sole sulfur source. The genes include those of the ytmI, yxeI, and ssu operons, which encode products resembling proteins that function in the uptake and desulfurization of organic sulfur compounds. Primer extension and analysis of operon-lacZ fusion expression revealed that the operons are repressed by sulfate and cysteine; however, Spx functioned only in sulfate-dependent repression. Both the ytmI operon and the divergently transcribed ytlI, encoding a LysR-type regulator that positively controls ytmI operon transcription, are repressed by Spx in sulfate-containing media. The CXXC motif of Spx, which is necessary for redox sensitive control of Spx activity in response to oxidative stress, is not required for sulfate-dependent repression. The yxeL-lacZ and ssu-lacZ fusions were also repressed in an Spx-dependent manner in media containing sulfate as the sole sulfur source. This work uncovers a new role for Spx in the control of sulfur metabolism in a gram-positive bacterium under nonstressful growth conditions.

Bacillus subtilis↗

PubMed2006

Mutational analysis of the Escherichia coli melR gene suggests a two-state concerted model to explain transcriptional activation and repression in the melibiose operon.

Transcription of the Escherichia coli melAB operon is regulated by the MelR protein, an AraC family member whose activity is modulated by the binding of melibiose. In the absence of melibiose, MelR is unable to activate the melAB promoter but autoregulates its own expression by repressing the melR promoter. Melibiose triggers MelR-dependent activation of the melAB promoter and relieves MelR-dependent repression of the melR promoter. Twenty-nine single amino acid substitutions in MelR that result in partial melibiose-independent activation of the melAB promoter have been identified. Combinations of different substitutions result in almost complete melibiose-independent activation of the melAB promoter. MelR carrying each of the single substitutions is less able to repress the melR promoter, while MelR carrying some combinations of substitutions is completely unable to repress the melR promoter. These results argue that different conformational states of MelR are responsible for activation of the melAB promoter and repression of the melR promoter. Supporting evidence for this is provided by the isolation of substitutions in MelR that block melibiose-dependent activation of the melAB promoter while not changing melibiose-independent repression of the melR promoter. Additional experiments with a bacterial two-hybrid system suggest that interactions between MelR subunits differ according to the two conformational states.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

PubMed1967

Catabolite repression in the facultative chemoautotroph Thiobacillus novellus.

Several fermentable carbon sources were found to give rise to catabolite repression of all enzymes implicated in thiosulfate oxidation in the facultative chemoautotroph, Thiobacillus novellus. Glucose was found to elicit a strong repression. Glycerol, lactate, lactose, ribose, and pyruvate caused marked repression. In all cases, the repression could be relieved only by returning the cells to a medium devoid of such fermentable substrates. On the other hand, carbon compounds (amino acids and organic acids) that are metabolizable only aerobically caused transient or no repression of the thiosulfate oxidative system. All of the enzymes believed to participate in thiosulfate oxidation, except tetrathionase, were found to be simultaneously induced and repressed. This would suggest that tetrathionate may not be a necessary intermediate in the thiosulfate-oxidation pathway of T. novellus.

Cell-Free System↗

PubMed1969

Temperature-sensitive repression of the tryptophan operon in Escherichia coli.

Mutants of Escherichia coli exhibiting temperature-sensitive repression of the tryptophan operon have been isolated among the revertants of a tryptophan auxotroph, trpS5, that produces an altered tryptophanyl transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase. Unlike the parental strain, these mutants grew in the absence of tryptophan at high but not at low temperature. When grown at 43.5 C with excess tryptophan (repression conditions), they produced 10 times more anthranilate synthetase than when grown at 36 C or lower temperatures. Similar, though less striking, temperature-sensitivity was observed with respect to the formation of tryptophan synthetase. Transduction mapping by phage P1 revealed that these mutants carry a mutation cotransducible with thr at 60 to 80%, in addition to trpS5, and that the former mutation is primarily responsible for the temperature-sensitive repression. These results suggest that the present mutants represent a novel type of mutation of the classical regulatory gene trpR, which probably determines the structure of a protein involved in repression of the tryptophan operon. In agreement with this conclusion, tRNA of several trpR mutants was found to be normal with respect to its tryptophan acceptability. It was also shown that the trpS5 allele, whether present in trpR or trpR(+) strains, produced appreciably higher amounts of anthranilate synthetase than the corresponding trpS(+) strains under repression conditions. This was particularly true at higher temperatures. These results provide further evidence for our previous conclusion that tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is somehow involved in repression of this operon.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1995

Tetracycline repressor-regulated gene repression in recombinant human cytomegalovirus.

The tetracycline repressor (TetR)-regulated gene expression system from Escherichia coli was used to control gene expression in recombinant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). To adapt the TetR system in HCMV, derivatives of the viral US11 (early) gene promoter, which controls the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene, were constructed by systematic insertion of the tetracycline operator (tetO) sequences. Gene expression from constructs containing two or three appropriately placed tetO sequences adjacent to the TATA box were efficiently repressed by a TetR-VP16 fusion protein (tTA) in a transient expression system. Efficient repression (50- to 120-fold) also occurred in tTA-expressing stably transfected human cells which were infected with recombinant HCMV containing a US11 promoter surrounded by three tetO sequences. The tTA-mediated gene repression was relieved in the presence of 1 microgram of tetracycline per ml. The results of this study are significant in three respects. (i) This is the first demonstration that a TetR-derived protein can be used to efficiently repress gene expression in a mammalian system. (ii) Efficient repression was dependent on the presence of the transcriptional activation domain from the herpes simplex virus type 1 VP16 protein. (iii) The ability to regulate gene expression in a controlled fashion in order to elucidate viral gene function is an important development in the HCMV field. The tTA-mediated gene repression system may be extremely useful for creating host-range mutants in essential genes in order to study their role in the HCMV replicative cycle, a system that is otherwise exceedingly difficult to genetically dissect.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1996

YY1 represses human papillomavirus type 16 transcription by quenching AP-1 activity.

YY1 is a multifunctional transcription factor that has been shown to regulate the expression of a number of cellular and viral genes, including the human papillomavirus (HPV) oncogenes E6 and E7. In this study, we have analyzed the YY1-mediated repression of the HPV type 16 (HPV-16) E6-E7 promoter. A systematic analysis to identify YY1 sites present in the HPV-16 long control region showed that of 30 potential YY1 binding motifs, 24 bound purified recombinant YY1 protein, but only 10 of these were able to bind YY1 when nuclear extracts of HeLa cells were used. Of these, only a cluster of five sites, located in the vicinity of an AP-1 motif, were found to be responsible for repressing the HPV-16 P97 promoter. All five sites were required for repression, the mutation of any one site giving rise to a four- to sixfold increase in transcriptional activity. The target for YY1-mediated repression was identified as being a highly conserved AP-1 site, and we propose that AP-1 may represent a common target for YY1 repression. We also provide data demonstrating that YY1 can bind the transcriptional coactivator CREB-binding protein and propose a potentially novel mechanism by which YY1 represses AP-1 activity as a result of this YY1-CREB-binding protein interaction.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

PubMed1996

Human papillomavirus type 11 and 16 E5 represses p21(WafI/SdiI/CipI) gene expression in fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Here we report that the E5 proteins of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) and HPV-16 suppressed the expression of the p21(WafI/SdiI/CipI) tumor suppressor gene in NIH 3T3 cells and immortalized human keratinocytes. The promoter activity of p21 was repressed by E5 of HPV-11 and -16, suggesting that p21 gene suppression by E5 was at the transcriptional level. Using an inducible system, we demonstrated that increased induction of HPV-11 E5 in NIH 3T3 cells and keratinocytes led to increased repression of p21 promoter activity. The repression of p21 promoter activity by a series of E5 mutants was somewhat correlated with their respective transforming activities. Previously, we and other investigators showed that the E5 proteins of HPV-11 and -16 can activate the expression of c-jun. The repression of p21 gene expression might be a mechanism of oncogene-mediated growth promotion, since the expression of c-jun also led to a reduction of the levels of p21 RNA and protein in keratinocytes. This is the first demonstration that E5 proteins of HPV-11 and -16 repress p21 gene expression, and this might be one of the mechanisms by which E5 stimulates cell proliferation. In addition, this is also the first report of c-jun repression of p21.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1997

Different mechanisms contribute to the E2-mediated transcriptional repression of human papillomavirus type 18 viral oncogenes.

Transcription of the human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) E6 and E7 oncogenes is repressed by the viral E2 protein. In C33 cells, we have previously shown that of the four E2 binding sites (E2 BS) present in the HPV18 long control region (LCR), only the binding site adjacent to the TATA box (E2 BS 1) was involved in E2-mediated repression. In the present study, we sought to determine whether this phenomenon was conserved in other cell lines. We first showed that all three E2 BS proximal to the P105 promoter were required for full repression of its activity in HeLa and HaCaT cells. Repression by E2 at E2 BS 2 occurred through the displacement of Sp1. Second, a truncated E2 product, lacking the N-terminal transactivation domain, repressed transcription more efficiently than the full-length protein. Repression was abolished when the N-terminal domain of E2 was replaced by the activation domain of VP16. The VP16-E2 chimeric protein could activate transcription from an LCR mutated in its TATA box. DNA-protein binding studies showed that E2 associates with its four binding sites in the LCR with similar affinities. However, challenge of such complexes with excess binding sites demonstrated that interaction with E2 BS 4 was the most stable while interaction with E2 BS 1 was the least stable. Furthermore, complexes with the full-length E2 were less stable than those formed with the N-terminally truncated protein.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1998

Retinoid-induced repression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 core promoter activity inhibits virus replication.

The rates of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), progression to AIDS following HIV-1 infection, and AIDS-associated mortality are all inversely correlated with serum vitamin A levels (R. D. Semba, W. T. Caiaffa, N. M. H. Graham, S. Cohn, and D. Vlahov, J. Infect. Dis. 171:1196-1202, 1995; R. D. Semba, N. M. H. Graham, W. T. Caiaffa, J. B. Margolik, L. Clement, and D. Vlahov, Arch. Intern. Med. 153:2149-2154, 1993; R. D. Semba, P. G. Miotti, J. D. Chiphangwi, A. J. Saah, J. K. Canner, G. A. Dallabetta, and D. R. Hoover, Lancet 343:1593-1596, 1994). Here we show that physiological concentrations of vitamin A, as retinol or as its metabolite, all-trans retinoic acid, repressed HIV-1Ba-L replication in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). Repression required retinoid treatment of peripheral monocytes during their in vitro differentiation into MDMs. Retinoids had no repressive effect if they were added after virus infection. Retinol, as well as all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid, also repressed HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-directed expression up to 200-fold in transfected THP-1 monocytes. Analysis of HIV-1 LTR deletion mutants demonstrated that retinoids were able to repress activation of HIV-1 expression by both NF-kappaB and Tat. A cis-acting sequence required for retinoid-mediated repression of HIV-1 transcription was localized between nucleotides -51 and +12 of the HIV-1 LTR within the core promoter. Protein-DNA cross-linking experiments identified four proteins specific to retinoid-treated cells that bound to the core promoter. We conclude that retinoids render macrophages resistant to virus replication by modulating the interaction of cellular transcription factors with the viral core promoter.

Cell Differentiation↗

PubMed2000

The human factors YY1 and LSF repress the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat via recruitment of histone deacetylase 1.

Enigmatic mechanisms restore the resting state in activated lymphocytes following human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, rarely allowing persistent nonproductive infection. We detail a mechanism whereby cellular factors could establish virological latency. The transcription factors YY1 and LSF cooperate in repression of transcription from the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR). LSF recruits YY1 to the LTR via the zinc fingers of YY1. The first two zinc fingers were observed to be sufficient for this interaction in vitro. A mutant of LSF incapable of binding DNA blocked repression. Like other transcriptional repressors, YY1 can function via recruitment of histone deacetylase (HDAC). We find that HDAC1 copurifies with the LTR-binding YY1-LSF repressor complex, the domain of YY1 that interacts with HDAC1 is required to repress the HIV-1 promoter, expression of HDAC1 augments repression of the LTR by YY1, and the deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A blocks repression mediated by YY1. This novel link between HDAC recruitment and inhibition of HIV-1 expression by YY1 and LSF, in the natural context of a viral promoter integrated into chromosomal DNA, is the first demonstration of a molecular mechanism of repression of HIV-1. YY1 and LSF may establish transcriptional and virological latency of HIV, a state that has recently been recognized in vivo and has significant implications for the long-term treatment of AIDS.

DNA, Viral↗

PubMed2002

Adenovirus E1A N-terminal amino acid sequence requirements for repression of transcription in vitro and in vivo correlate with those required for E1A interference with TBP-TATA complex formation.

The adenovirus (Ad) E1A 243R oncoprotein encodes an N-terminal transcription repression domain that is essential for early viral functions, cell immortalization, and cell transformation. The transcription repression function requires sequences within amino acids 1 to 30 and 48 to 60. To elucidate the roles of the TATA-binding protein (TBP), p300, and the CREB-binding protein (CBP) in the mechanism(s) of E1A repression, we have constructed 29 amino acid substitution mutants and 5 deletion mutants spanning the first 30 amino acids within the E1A 1-80 polypeptide backbone. These mutant E1A polypeptides were characterized with regard to six parameters: the ability to repress transcription in vitro and in vivo, to disrupt TBP-TATA box interaction, and to bind TBP, p300, and CBP. Two regions within E1A residues 1 to 30, amino acids 2 to 6 and amino acid 20, are critical for E1A transcription repression in vitro and in vivo and for the ability to interfere with TBP-TATA interaction. Replacement of 6Cys with Ala in the first region yields the most defective mutant. Replacement of 20Leu with Ala, but not substitutions in flanking residues, yields a substantially defective phenotype. Protein binding assays demonstrate that replacement of 6Cys with Ala yields a mutant completely defective in interaction with TBP, p300, and CBP. Our findings are consistent with a model in which the E1A repression function involves interaction of E1A with p300/CBP and interference with the formation of a TBP-TATA box complex.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

PubMed2003

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K-bZIP is a coregulator of K-Rta: physical association and promoter-dependent transcriptional repression.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human gammaherpesvirus that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma and B-cell neoplasms. The genomic organization of KSHV is similar to that of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV encodes two transcriptional factors, Rta and Zta, which functionally interact to transactivate EBV genes during replication and reactivation from latency. KSHV encodes a basic leucine zipper protein (K-bZIP), a homologue of EBV Zta, and K-Rta, the homologue of EBV Rta. EBV Rta and Zta are strong transcriptional transactivators. Although there is ample evidence that K-Rta is a potent transactivator, the role of K-bZIP as a transcriptional factor is much less clear. In this study, we report that K-bZIP modulates K-Rta function. We show that K-bZIP directly interacts with K-Rta in vivo and in vitro. This association is specific, requiring the basic domain (amino acids 122 to 189) of K-bZIP and a specific region (amino acids 499 to 550) of K-Rta, and can be detected with K-bZIP and K-Rta endogenously expressed in BCBL-1 cells treated with tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. The functional relevance of this association was revealed by the observation that K-bZIP represses the transactivation of the ORF57 promoter by K-Rta in a dose-dependent manner. K-bZIP lacking the interaction domain fails to repress K-Rta-mediated transactivation; this finding attests to the specificity of the repression. Interestingly, this repression is not observed for the promoter of polyadenylated nuclear (PAN) RNA, another target of K-Rta; thus, repression is promoter dependent. Finally, we provide evidence that the modulation of K-Rta by K-bZIP also occurs in vivo during reactivation of the viral genome in BCBL-1 cells. When K-bZIP is overexpressed in BCBL-1 cells, the level of expression of ORF57 but not PAN RNA is repressed. These data support the model that one function of K-bZIP is to modulate the activity of the transcriptional transactivator K-Rta.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

The Grb2/Mek pathway represses Nanog in murine embryonic stem cells.

The homeobox gene Nanog is a key intrinsic determinant of self renewal in embryonic stem (ES) cells, and its repression leads ES cells to selectively differentiate into primitive endoderm. Although Nanog repression occurs at the outermost layer of ES cell aggregates independent of the leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)/STAT3 pathway, it is largely undetermined what external cues and intracellular signals cause the event. Of interest, addition of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium vanadate, selectively repressed Nanog transcription without any detectable changes in upstream transcriptional regulators Oct3/4 and Sox2. Furthermore, sodium vanadate induced primitive endoderm differentiation, even in the inner cells of ES cell aggregates. Expression of Gata6 and Zfp42, two putative downstream Nanog effectors, was also increased and decreased by the addition of sodium vanadate, respectively, but these changes were eliminated by exogenous Nanog expression. The effects of sodium vanadate were abrogated by Grb2 deficiency or by the addition of the Mek inhibitor, PD98059. Indeed, PD98059 prevented Nanog repression induced by ES cell aggregation as well. Furthermore, transfection of a constitutive active Mek mutant into ES cells induced Nanog repression and primitive endoderm differentiation. These data indicate that the Grb2/Mek pathway primarily mediates Nanog gene repression upon ES cell differentiation into primitive endoderm.

Animals↗