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Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein gene expression in the rat duodenum by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.

Regulation of the expression of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (Mr 9000 CaBP) gene by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) was studied in the rat duodenum. In vivo stimulation of Mr 9000 CaBP synthesis was analyzed using a complementary DNA probe and by measuring the rate of Mr 9000 CaBP gene transcription in isolated nuclei (run-on assay). A single 1,25-(OH)2D3 injection (650 pmol/100 g of body weight) induced a 2-fold increase in Mr 9000 CaBP gene transcription within 15 min in the duodenum of vitamin D-deficient rats. RNA synthesis was maximal at 1 h, then decreased until 16 h of postinjection. There was an initial transient accumulation of Mr 9000 CaBP mRNA (from 7 to 15 min), which was followed by a second, significant increase, by 3 h which remained elevated until 16 h. The magnitude and time course of the Mr 9000 CaBP increase was similar to that of its mRNA as early as 1 h after 1,25-(OH)2D3 administration. Mr 9000 CaBP gene transcription was not significantly induced by 1,25-(OH)2D3 in vitamin D-replete rats and no transient accumulation of Mr 9000 CaBP mRNA was observed. Thus, 1,25-(OH)2D3 modulates Mr 9000 CaBP gene expression in at least two ways, a rapid transcriptional stimulation and a post-transcriptional effect preventing degradation of Mr 9000 CaBP transcripts and accounting for their accumulation several hours after the hormone treatment.

Animals↗

Glucocorticoids inhibit transcriptional and post-transcriptional expression of interleukin 1 in U937 cells.

We investigated effects of corticosteroids on interleukin 1 (IL-1) production in monocyte-like tumor cell line, U937. Release of IL-1 activity by bacterial toxin-stimulated cells was completely blocked by 10 nM dexamethasone (Dex). We examined the question whether corticosteroids suppress IL-1 production by blocking transcription of IL-1 mRNA, or by blocking IL-1 synthesis at a post-transcriptional step. Northern blot hybridization analysis indicated that Dex, 10 nM, completely blocked accumulation of IL-1 beta-encoding mRNA in U937 cells. Dex-mediated inhibition of IL-1 release appeared to be glucocorticoid receptor-mediated and was abrogated by progesterone. In addition, Dex at high concentrations could inhibit post-transcriptional synthesis of IL-1 by prestimulated U937 cells. Although Dex, 500 nM, did not change IL-1 mRNA levels in prestimulated cells, it completely blocked IL-1 release and induced a transient increase in cellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Dex-mediated inhibition of IL-1 release in prestimulated cells is likely to occur via increased levels of cAMP, which have been shown to block post-transcriptional IL-1 synthesis. Our results indicate that glucocorticoids suppress IL-1 synthesis by two distinct mechanisms, blocking transcription of IL-1 mRNA during monocyte activation, and blocking post-transcriptional IL-1 synthesis via cAMP.

Aldosterone↗

Transcription of Rhizobium meliloti nodulation genes. Identification of a nodD transcription initiation site in vitro and in vivo.

Nodulation genes in Rhizobium are required for invasion of the host plant. The nodABC operon is induced by plant activator molecules; this activation requires the gene product of the constitutively expressed nodD locus, which is transcribed divergently from nodABC. We are employing in vitro transcription to elucidate the molecular mechanism of nod gene activation. We used a micropurification technique to obtain RNA polymerase from Rhizobium meliloti, and here demonstrate that it initiated and terminated accurately at the Escherichia coli trp promoter-leader region. E. coli RNA polymerase, however, apparently fails to recognize R. meliloti promoters. We used the R. meliloti RNA polymerase in a minimal transcription system to attempt to localize the divergent start sites for nodD and nodABC. Transcript sizing and fingerprinting, together with synchronized single-round transcription experiments permit us to designate an in vitro transcription initiation site for nodD. Primer extension analysis of in vivo mRNA demonstrates that the initiation site which is utilized in vitro is the same site used in vivo. While nodABC is not transcribed in our minimal in vitro transcription system, this system should prove useful for the study of factors in induced cells which promote expression of this inducible promoter.

Base Sequence↗

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional effects of nerve growth factor on expression of the three neurofilament subunits in PC-12 cells.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to increase the levels of neurofilament proteins in PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells. In this report, we show that the three neurofilament subunits, NF-L, NF-M, and NF-H, are not induced coordinately. NF-H accumulated only after longer term NGF treatment than required for NF-L and NF-M. While NGF treatment resulted in 12- and 14-fold increases in NF-L and NF-M mRNA levels, respectively, over a 14-day period, no increase in the level of NF-H mRNA was observed. This indicated that in PC-12 cells, control of NF-H expression by NGF may occur at the post-transcriptional level. NGF appeared to have no effect on the stability of NF-L mRNA, although it increased the stability of NF-M mRNA relative to that in control PC-12 cells. Analysis of the effect of NGF on the transcription of neurofilament genes showed 4- and 5-fold increases in the rates of NF-L and NF-M gene transcription, respectively, and no increase in the rate of NF-H gene transcription. Taken together these results demonstrate that NGF stimulates the expression of individual neurofilament subunits at the transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional levels.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of the asialoglycoprotein receptor in normal and neoplastic rat liver.

We have previously shown that immunologically detectable cell surface asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptors are decreased or absent in proliferating in vivo hepatocytes, such as in developing, regenerating, preneoplastic, and neoplastic liver samples. We now show that this decrease is the result of a post-transcriptional mechanism(s), since specific ASGP receptor transcripts are quantitatively unaltered in the above samples based on Northern blot analysis using a specific cDNA ASGP receptor probe. In primary hepatomas, the major, minor, or both ASGP receptor transcripts are translated into functional protein since specific binding of I125 asialoorsomucoid to total hepatoma homogenates is identical to normal liver. However, Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antibody directed against the ASGP receptor indicated that peptides corresponding to RHL-2 and RHL-3 are present at increased levels in the cytosol fraction of primary hepatoma cells, whereas the RHL-1 species is not detectable in either the plasma membrane, microsomal, or cytosol fractions of these cells. We also show that ASGP receptor activity can be modulated by transcriptional mechanisms, since primary rat hepatocytes cultured for 24 h have decreased ASGP receptor transcripts. In addition, Morris hepatoma 7777 cells, either in culture or growing as a transplantable tumor in vivo, have no detectable ASGP receptor transcripts, while still retaining the ASGP receptor gene.

Animals↗

Evidence for the transcript secondary structures predicted to regulate transcription attenuation in the trp operon.

We have examined the leader transcript of the Serratia marcescens trp operon to determine if the alternate secondary structures postulated to control transcription attenuation actually form in purified trp leader RNA. RNA secondary structures were analyzed by partial digestion of 32P end-labeled leader transcripts with single and double strand-specific nucleases. We found that the 176 nucleotide wild-type transcript formed the predicted hairpin structures designated 1:2 and 3:4; the latter structure is believed to signal transcription termination. We constructed a deletion plasmid, pSm delta 1,4, to determine whether the postulated RNA antiterminator structure 2:3 could also form. This plasmid lacked the DNA regions corresponding to RNA segments 1 and 4. We found that the leader transcript from pSm delta 1,4 formed structure 2:3. This provides the first direct evidence establishing the formation of a predicted antitermination secondary structure.

Base Sequence↗

In vitro transcription of the supB-E tRNA operon of Escherichia coli. Characterization of transcription products.

The seven tRNA genes clustered in the supB-E region of the Escherichia coli chromosome were transcribed in vitro with purified RNA polymerase, using a restriction fragment from lambda psu degrees 2, a transducing phage carrying the chromosome region, as template. A single major transcript was synthesized, which was about 770 nucleotides long and contained all seven tRNA sequences. The terminal sequences of the transcript were determined and mapped on the DNA sequence of the supB-E region previously determined. The transcription start site is seven base pairs downstream from the Pribnow box sequence, as expected from the DNA sequence analysis and consistent with the findings on the trimeric tRNA precursor (pppG--tRNAMETM-tRNALeu-tRNAGln1) which was detected in an RNase P mutant and shown to be coded for by the supB-E region. Cleavage of the restriction fragment at the -35 region with another restriction endonuclease abolished the template activity of the fragment. Transcription of the supB-E tRNA operon was relatively unaffected by the presence of rho factor. Transcription termination occurs within a region of three bases between positions 770 and 772 from the transcription start site. Immediately upstream from the termination sites, there is a region of 26 nucleotides that could form a stem structure, thereby consistent with the general feature of rho-independent termination sites.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Selective in vitro transcription of Euglena chloroplast ribosomal RNA genes by a transcriptionally active chromosome.

The specificity of transcription of Euglena gracilis Z chloroplast DNA by chloroplast DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in a transcriptionally active chromosome (Hallick, R.B., Lipper, C., Richards, O.C., and Rutter, W.J. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 3039-3045) has been studied. RNA molecules are both initiated and elongated in vitro. The RNA transcripts have been characterized as to their size, nuclease sensitivity, 5'-terminal oligonucleotides, and coding locus on the chloroplast genome. RNA labeled in vitro at the 5' end with [gamma-32P]ATP was digested with RNase T1, RNase A, and S1 nuclease. The resulting 5'-gamma-32P-oligonucleotides were fractionated by gel electrophoresis. In each case, one or two discrete products were obtained, consistent with initiation in vitro only at defined loci. RNA labeled in vitro with [alpha-32P]ATP or CTP has been hybridized to Southern (Southern, E.M. (1975) J. Mol. Biol. 98, 503-517) transfers of restriction endonuclease fragments of chloroplast DNA. The most abundant in vitro transcripts hybridize to chloroplast DNA fragments coding for 23 S, 16 S, and 5 S rRNAs. Only the coding strands of the rRNA genes are transcribed. Non-rDNA sequences of chloroplast DNA are also selectively transcribed but at much lower levels. The transcriptionally active chromosome has proved to be an ideal biochemical preparation for the study of selective transcription of cell organelle DNA.

Chloroplasts↗

Regulation of calmodulin gene expression by insulin is both transcriptional and post-transcriptional.

Previously we demonstrated that in streptozotocin-induced or spontaneously diabetic BB rats (BB-SDR), low-Km cyclic AMP (cAMP), phosphodiesterase (PDE), and calmodulin (CaM) are decreased. Isolated fat cells of diabetic animals synthesized less CaM and contained reduced levels of CaM transcripts (Solomon SS, Palazzolo MR, Green SA, Raghow R. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1990; 168: 1007-12). Treatment of diabetic animals with insulin restores CaM transcripts to normal. RNA was extracted from isolated hepatocytes from BB-SDR rats in primary tissue culture treated with insulin (from 2.8 x 10(4) to 1.4 x 10(6) microU/ml) for 48 hours, was immobilized on nitrocellulose, and was sequentially hybridized with radiolabeled probes for CaM, actin, and tubulin. Insulin stimulates steady state levels of mRNA for calmodulin > actin > tubulin. Furthermore, decreased steady state levels of CaM mRNA in hepatocytes from diabetic animals are restored to normal levels with in vitro insulin incubation. Data from nuclear transcription run-on assays demonstrate that insulin stimulates transcription of mRNA CaM by 80%. In addition, we observed RNA degradation in the untreated diabetic but not insulin-treated liver. These data support transcriptional as well as post-transcriptional effects of insulin on CaM mRNA. We postulate that in uncontrolled diabetes, elevations in levels of cAMP in tissue result in part from decreased activity of the apparently co-regulated PDE and CaM and that PDE inactivation in diabetes results from both insulin insufficiency and CaM down-regulation.

Actins↗

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for PML-RAR alpha fusion transcripts in acute promyelocytic leukemia and its application to minimal residual leukemia detection.

Chromosome translocation t(15;17) specifically found in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) results in cleavage in the introns of PML gene on chromosome 15 and in the intron of the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) gene on chromosome 17, creation and expression of PML-RAR alpha and RAR alpha-PML fusion genes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to detect the PML-RAR alpha fusion transcripts rapidly in APL patients. The fusion transcripts could be detected in all of the 10 APL patients studied. Of the two breakpoints in the PML gene so far reported, seven APL patients had the fusion transcript compatible with the downstream (3') breakpoint, and the other three APL patients were considered to have the upstream (5') breakpoint. RT-PCR could detect the fusion transcripts from as little as 50 pg bone marrow RNA, and from as little as 0.5 pg bone marrow RNA with the nested PCR. This method was applied to detect minimal residual leukemia cells in an APL patient who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, in whom the RT-PCR could not detect the PML-RAR alpha fusion transcripts at several post-transplant time points. This system could be useful to detect minimal residual leukemia cells and accordingly modify the treatment strategy, as well as to make a quick diagnosis with a small amount of clinical sample.

Adolescent↗

Detection of a neuron-specific 9.0-kb transcript which shares homology with antisense transcripts of HIV-1 gag gene in patients with and without HIV-1 infection.

The pathogenesis of the neurologic abnormalities associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is poorly understood. Although human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcripts have been detected in endothelial cells and macrophages of the central nervous system in patients with AIDS, infection of neuronal cells by HIV-1 has not been established. The purpose of this study was to localize HIV-1 transcripts in the central nervous system. 3H and digoxigenin-UTP-labeled riboprobes generated from a 942-bp fragment of DNA from the 5' end of the HIV-1 gag sequence were used for in situ hybridization. The antisense riboprobe hybridized to lymphoid cells in the sections of kidney and spleen obtained from patients with AIDS, as well as to the HIV-1-infected A3.01 cell line. The control sense probe did not hybridize to these same cells. In contrast, no detectable hybridization was observed to neuronal cells when the antisense probe was applied to sections of brain obtained from patients with and without AIDS. To our surprise, however, specific hybridization was observed to neuronal cells when the control sense probe was applied. This hybridization with the control sense probe was seen in both patients with and without HIV-1 infection. Northern blot analysis confirmed the in situ hybridization results; a unique 9.0-kb transcript was detected exclusively in brain tissue. These data suggest that there is a neuron-specific 9.0-kb transcript that shares extensive homology with antisense gag HIV-1 sequences and that this transcript is expressed in neuronal cells of both HIV-1-infected and noninfected individuals. The biological significance of this 9.0-kb transcript is unknown, but it may play an important role in the interactions of HIV-1 with neuronal cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Comparative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization analyses of human imprinted p57KIP2 and insulin-like growth factor 2 gene transcripts in fetal kidney and Wilms' tumors using archival tissue.

p57KIP2 (KIP2) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that arrests cells in G1 and an imprinted gene mapped on chromosome 11p15.5. To investigate the role of KIP2 in Wilms' tumor (WT), DNA and RNA were extracted from archival tissue sections of WT. KIP2 expression was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and in situ mRNA hybridization. Thirteen of 39 WT were informative for length polymorphism of KIP2 and subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. KIP2 was expressed predominantly from one allele, although a low level of expression was also detected from the other. Three WT with loss of heterozygosity at the KIP2 locus demonstrated that the remaining KIP2 allele was still active, which was also confirmed by in situ hybridization. Furthermore, among 13 KIP2-informative WT, 2 were heterozygous for insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2). Allele-specific analysis demonstrated that one showed monoallelic IGF2 expression, whereas the other showed biallelic expression. In situ hybridization of fetal kidney showed that KIP2 transcripts were detected in a variety of cell types, among which differentiated epithelial structures showed higher expression than undifferentiated mesenchyme, whereas IGF2 was expressed predominantly in undifferentiated mesenchyme and renal vesicles of an early phase. WT demonstrated KIP2 and IGF2 hybridization patterns similar to fetal kidney in that KIP2 transcripts were detected in epithelial structures and blastema, whereas IGF2 transcripts were seen in blastema and immature epithelial structures. Hybridization results indicated that KIP2 expression in WT did not appear to be significantly reduced compared with that in fetal kidney and that WT demonstrated a significant amount of KIP2 transcripts regardless of retention or loss of heterozygosity at the KIP2 locus. These data suggest that although KIP2 may play a role in differentiation of the fetal kidney, it is not likely as a tumor suppressor gene, which is implicated as the cause of the development of a majority of WT.

Alleles↗

Detection of bcr-abl transcript in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has become an attractive alternative to SLAB gel analysis for direct and accurate detection of amplified product, and a few cycles of polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) could be sufficient for both quantitative and qualitative analysis. We try to assess: 1) whether CE could be a practical, non-isotopic method for direct detection of the presence of amplified bcr-abl obtained by a reverse transcription (RT)-PCR (qualitative analysis) and 2) whether it is possible to quantify PCR products using a competitive RT-PCR measuring peak areas of CE electropherograms (quantitative analysis). DESIGN AND METHODS: The two types of bcr-abl chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) associated transcript products were generated by RT-PCR (qualitative analysis) from 1 microgram of total RNA extracted from bone marrow samples of 34 CML patients at diagnosis (median age 47.5; range 18-65; median Sokal's score 0.9; range 0.53-2.78). The PCR products were analyzed by SLAB-gel electrophoresis (SGE) on 2% agarose gels and by CE (128 runs; median 3.3 times for each sample). Furthermore, we assessed the amount of PCR product (quantitative analysis) by a competitive RT-PCR approach and by CE (bcr-abl transcripts were expressed as transcript per microgram of total RNA examined). RESULTS: CE separation of PCR products obtained by qualitative RT-PCR showed baseline resolution for the two peaks corresponding to the two types of bcr-abl junctions: the b2-a2 type (343 base pairs, 10 patients) was revealed at 9.33 min [standard deviation (SD) = 0.1] and the b3-a2 type (418 base pair, 24 patients) at 10.03 min (SD = 0.25). By quantitative analysis we found that there is great interpatient variability in bcr-abl expression at diagnosis: the median value of the amount of bcr-abl transcript was 78,000 bcr-abl transcript/microgram total RNA ranging from 17,300 to 750,000. The amount of bcr-abl transcript at diagnosis was related to the number of blast cells (mean value 128,859 vs. 331,722 in patients with 0% blast cells and > 1% blast cells, respectively; p = 0.004) and Sokal's score (mean value 156,865 vs. 408,800 in patients with Sokal's score < 0.8 and > 1.2, respectively; p = 0.003). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that CE analysis offers greater resolution and enhanced sensitivity for detection and quantification of bcr-abl PCR product in the study of this leukemia. Qualitative analysis by CE of bcr-abl product provides a rapid technique (less than 20 min) for the analysis of subnanogram amounts of DNA fragments. CE run times are short, the capillary can be re-used and full automation may be feasible with data acquisition by a computer-controlled step. Competitive/quantitative analysis of bcr-abl as analyzed by CE allowed fewer reactions and more precise quantification.

Adolescent↗

Telomerase activity in human development is regulated by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) transcription and by alternate splicing of hTERT transcripts.

The correlation between telomerase activity, telomere lengths, and cellular replicative capacity has led to the theory that maintenance of telomere lengths by telomerase acts as a molecular clock to control replicative capacity and senescence. Regulation of this molecular clock may have applications in the treatment of cell aging and tumorigenesis, although little is presently known about the regulation of telomerase activity. To investigate possible mechanisms of regulation, we examined telomerase activity and the expression of the human telomerase RNA subunit and the human telomerase reverse transcriptase protein (hTERT) during human fetal heart, liver, and kidney development. The human telomerase RNA subunit is expressed in all three tissues at all gestational ages examined. hTERT expression correlates with telomerase activity in the liver, where both are expressed at all ages surveyed, and in the heart, where both are present until the 11th gestational week but not thereafter. However, although telomerase activity in the kidney is suppressed after the 15th gestational week, the hTERT transcript can be detected until at least the 21st week. Reverse transcription-PCR using primers within the reverse transcriptase domain of hTERT show the presence of multiple alternately spliced transcripts in these tissues, corresponding to full-length message as well as spliced messages with critical reverse transcriptase motifs deleted. Of note, telomerase activity in the kidney is only present at those gestational ages when full-length hTERT message is expressed (until approximately week 15), with spliced transcripts continuing to be expressed at later stages of development. The tissue-specific and gestational-age dependent expression of hTERT mRNA seen in human development suggests the presence of at least two regulatory mechanisms controlling the activity of telomerase: transcriptional control of the hTERT gene and alternate splicing of hTERT transcripts.

Alternative Splicing↗

The properties of a new polymerase III transcription factor reveal that transcription complexes can assemble by more than one pathway.

We have resolved a previously unidentified factor (TFIIID) that is required for in vitro transcription of polymerase III templates. Our ability to resolve factor D from each of the other components of the transcription machinery (polymerase and transcription factors IIIB and IIIC) allowed us to test the capacity of these separated components to form stable complexes with tRNA genes. We find that none of the individual components binds detectably to tRNA genes, but that certain combinations of transcription factors do bind. Our results show that TFIIID is essential for binding and that formation of a full transcription complex can proceed by either of two different pathways.

Animals↗

Functional differences between the two splice variants of the nucleolar transcription factor UBF: the second HMG box determines specificity of DNA binding and transcriptional activity.

The nucleolar transcription factor UBF consists of two proteins, UBF1 and UBF2, which originate by alternative splicing. Here we show that deletion of 37 amino acids within the second of five HMG box motifs in UBF2 is important for the dual role of UBF as transcriptional activator and antirepressor. UBF1 is a potent antirepressor and transcriptional activator, whereas the ability of UBF2 to counteract histone H1-mediated repression and to stimulate ribosomal gene transcription both in vivo and in vitro is at least one order of magnitude lower. The difference in transcriptional activity between UBF1 and UBF2 is due to their different binding to the ribosomal gene promoter and enhancer. Apparently, the presence of an intact HMG box2 modulates the sequence-specific binding of UBF to rDNA control elements. However, the interaction of UBF with rDNA does not entirely depend on sequence recognition. Both UBF isoforms bind efficiently to four-way junction DNA, indicating that they recognize defined DNA structures rather than specific sequences. The results demonstrate that the HMG boxes are functionally diverse and that HMG box2 plays an important role in specific binding of UBF to rDNA.

3T3 Cells↗

An in vitro transcription system that recapitulates equine infectious anemia virus tat-mediated inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat activity demonstrates a role for positive transcription elongation factor b and associated proteins in the mechanism of Tat activation.

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) activates transcription via a Tat protein, a TAR element, and the equine elongation factor positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). In human cells, EIAV Tat (eTat) can inhibit the ability of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat (hTat) to activate transcription from the HIV-1 long terminal repeat, demonstrating that EIAV Tat can interact nonproductively with human P-TEFb. To study the mechanism of EIAV Tat and HIV-1 Tat activation, we developed an in vitro elongation assay that recapitulates EIAV Tat-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 Tat trans-activation. We found that eTat specifically inhibits activation of elongation by HIV-1 Tat while having no effect on basal transcription elongation. The competitive inhibition of hTat activation was reversed by an activity present in HeLa cell nuclear extracts, most likely a form of P-TEFb. Recombinant P-TEFb (cyclin T1 and CDK9) overcame the inhibition of transcription by eTat but in a nonspecific manner. EIAV Tat affinity chromatography was used to purify the activity present in nuclear extract that was capable of reversing eTat inhibition. We characterized the protein components of this activity, which include cyclin T1, CDK9, Tat-SF1, and at least three unidentified proteins. These data suggest that additional factors are involved in the mechanism of Tat activation.

Binding, Competitive↗

Transcription factor eUSF is an essential component of isolated transcription complexes on the duck histone H5 gene and it mediates the interaction of TFIID with a TATA-deficient promoter.

We analysed the formation of transcription complexes on the H5 gene of the duck which is efficiently transcribed in HeLa cell extracts in vitro. Upon deletion of its TATA-box, the fidelity of transcription of the H5 gene is maintained, although the efficiency of this process is significantly reduced. Selective inactivation of TFIID in whole cell extracts and reconstitution experiments either with human recombinant TFIID or a protein fraction from duck erythrocytes enriched in TFIID show that transcription of the TATA-less H5 promoter nevertheless requires the protein TFIID. Screening of promoter elements which could indirectly mediate the interaction of TFIID with a TATA-less H5 promoter led to the identification of a sequence element located about 40 base-pairs downstream from the H5 initiation site that shows partial homology to the USF consensus sequence. In electrophoretic mobility shift and footprinting studies we demonstrated a specific interaction of the erythroid factor USF (eUSF) with this downstream element. By isolating active transcription complexes we found that all components required for correct initiation remain stably associated with the H5 promoter irrespective of the presence or absence of the TATA box. Moreover, the reconstitution of eUSF and TFIID-depleted transcription complexes with purified protein fractions demonstrate that not only TFIID but also eUSF essentially participates in complex formation even on H5 promoter mutations lacking the TATA-box. Mutual interactions between eUSF and TFIID appear to stabilize the binding of TFIID in the presence or absence of its proper binding site.

Animals↗