Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Id”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

CD4+ T cells kill Id+ B-lymphoma cells: FasLigand-Fas interaction is dominant in vitro but is redundant in vivo.

B-lymphoma cells express a highly tumor-specific antigen, monoclonal Ig, which is a promising target for immunotherapy. Previous work has demonstrated that B-lymphoma cells spontaneously process their endogenous monoclonal Ig and present variable (V) region peptides (Id-peptides) on their MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. Id-specific CD4+ T cells protect mice against B-lymphoma cells in the absence of antiidiotypic antibodies. The molecular mechanism by which Id-specific CD4+ T cells kill B-lymphoma cells is hitherto unknown. We here demonstrate in an Id-specific T-cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic mouse model that Id-specific CD4+ T cells induce apoptosis of Fas+ B-lymphoma cells in vitro by FasLigand (FasL)-Fas interaction. Moreover, the rare B lymphomas that had escaped rejection in TCR-transgenic mice had down-regulated their sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Although these results suggest that FasL-Fas interaction is important, Id-specific CD4+ T cells could eliminate Id+ B-lymphoma cells in vivo by other mechanisms, since three independent ways of blocking FasL-Fas-mediated killing failed to abrogate tumor protection in TCR-transgenic mice. These results suggest that there are several redundant pathways by which Id-specific CD4+ T cells eliminate Id+ B-lymphoma cells in vivo, of which FasL-Fas interaction is only one.

Animals↗

Id-1 overexpression in invasive ductal carcinoma cells is significantly associated with intratumoral microvessel density in ER-negative/node-positive breast cancer.

The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of inhibitor of DNA binding (Id-1) overexpression in human breast cancer. We examined Id-1 expression by immunohistochemistry in 263 human breast cancers, 15 in situ lesions and 248 invasive cancers to investigate the relationship between its expression and various clinicopathological factors. Id-1 expression was significantly higher in invasive ductal carcinoma than in in situ ductal carcinoma or other invasive cancer subtypes (P=0.029 and 0.006, respectively). We also examined the association between Id-1 expression and tumor angiogenesis by measuring microvessel densities (MVD). Regarding the endothelial cells of microvessels showed negative or very weak Id-1 expression, Id-1 overexpression was found to be significantly related to MVD (P=0.014). Furthermore, Id-1 overexpression was found to be significantly associated with higher MVD in the ER-negative and node-involved subgroups of breast cancer (P=0.040 and 0.046, respectively). These data indicate that Id-1 overexpression is significantly associated with tumor angiogenesis, especially in the ER-negative and node-positive subtypes of invasive breast cancer. Thus, Id-1 presents a possible therapeutic antitumor target molecule in ER-negative and node-positive breast cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Expression of the helix-loop-helix protein inhibitor of DNA binding-1 (ID-1) is activated by all-trans retinoic acid in normal human keratinocytes.

The ID (inhibitor of differentiation or DNA binding) helix-loop-helix proteins are important mediators of cellular differentiation and proliferation in a variety of cell types through regulation of gene expression. Overexpression of the ID proteins in normal human keratinocytes results in extension of culture lifespan, indicating that these proteins are important for epidermal differentiation. Our hypothesis is that the ID proteins are targets of the retinoic acid signaling pathway in keratinocytes. Retinoids, vitamin A analogues, are powerful regulators of cell growth and differentiation and are widely used in the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers in humans. Furthermore, retinoic acid is necessary for the maintenance of epithelial differentiation and demonstrates an inhibitory action on skin carcinogenesis. We examined the effect of all-trans retinoic acid on expression of ID-1, -2, -3, and -4 in normal human keratinocytes and found that exposure of these cells to all-trans retinoic acid causes an increase in both ID-1 and ID-3 gene expression. Furthermore, our data show that this increase is mediated by increased transcription involving several cis-acting elements in the distal portion of the promoter, including a CREB-binding site, an Egr1 element, and an YY1 site. These data demonstrate that the ID proteins are direct targets of the retinoic acid signaling pathway. Given the importance of the ID proteins to epidermal differentiation, these results suggest that IDs may be mediating some of the effects of all-trans retinoic acid in normal human keratinocytes.

Binding Sites↗

Id expression in amphioxus and lamprey highlights the role of gene cooption during neural crest evolution.

Neural crest cells are unique to vertebrates and generate many of the adult structures that differentiate them from their closest invertebrate relatives, the cephalochordates. Id genes are robust markers of neural crest cells at all stages of development. We compared Id gene expression in amphioxus and lamprey to ask if cephalochordates deploy Id genes at the neural plate border and dorsal neural tube in a manner similar to vertebrates. Furthermore, we examined whether Id expression in these cells is a basal vertebrate trait or a derived feature of gnathostomes. We found that while expression of Id genes in the mesoderm and endoderm is conserved between amphioxus and vertebrates, expression in the lateral neural plate border and dorsal neural tube is a vertebrate novelty. Furthermore, expression of lamprey Id implies that recruitment of Id genes to these cells occurred very early in the vertebrate lineage. Based on expression in amphioxus we postulate that Id cooption conferred sensory cell progenitor-like properties upon the lateral neurectoderm, and pharyngeal mesoderm-like properties upon cranial neural crest. Amphioxus Id expression is also consistent with homology between the anterior neurectoderm of amphioxus and the presumptive placodal ectoderm of vertebrates. These observations support the idea that neural crest evolution was driven in large part by cooption of multipurpose transcriptional regulators from other tissues and cell types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The 2.1-, 5.4- and 5.7-kb transcripts of the IDS gene are generated by different polyadenylation signals.

Deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) is responsible for mucopolysaccharidosis type II (OMIM 309900). The IDS gene (Xq28) has been completely sequenced (accession number L35485). Northern blot analysis of poly(A(+)) RNA from different tissues, hybridized with the total IDS cDNA, has revealed three major species of 2.1, 5.4 and 5.7 kb and one minor of 1.4 kb. The 1.4-kb mRNA has been previously described and we show that the three major IDS mRNA are the result of alternative polyadenylation site selection: a non-canonical ATTAAA signal at genomic position 23631 for the 2.1-kb mRNA, a AATAAA signal at position 27156 for the 5.4-kb mRNA and a AATAAA signal at position 27399 for the 5.7-kb mRNA. The different IDS mRNA encode for the same polypeptide and the most abundant transcripts have a long 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). The absence of obvious correlation between transcripts content and size, IDS protein amount and IDS activity in the four human fetal tissues tested suggests that it is IDS protein processing that may be regulated rather than IDS gene transcription.

Base Sequence↗

Id-1 expression and cell survival.

The Id (inhibitor of differentiation or DNA binding) helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins are a group of dominant negative regulators of basic HLH transcriptional factors which promote cell differentiation. Recent evidence has revealed that Id proteins, especially Id-1, are also able to promote cell proliferation and cell cycle progression through inactivation of tumour suppressor and activation of growth promoting pathways in mammalian cells. In addition, upregulation of Id-1 has been found in many types of human cancer and its expression levels are also associated with advanced tumour stage. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Id-1 in human cancer cells is able to induce cell proliferation under sub-optimal conditions and protect the cells against apoptosis. These lines of evidence strongly indicate Id-1 as a positive regulator of cell growth and its expression may be a key factor required for tumour cell proliferation. This review will discuss recent evidence on the role of Id-1 in cell proliferation and survival, and its significance in malignant transformation. In addition, we will highlight the recent development in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the action of Id-1 in promoting cell survival and tumourigenesis. Finally, the therapeutic implications through inactivation of Id-1 in the treatment of human cancer will also be addressed.

Animals↗

Rodent BC1 RNA gene as a master gene for ID element amplification.

ID elements are short interspersed repetitive DNA elements (SINEs) which have amplified in rodent genomes via retroposition, a process involving an RNA intermediate. BC1, an abundant ID-related transcript, is transcribed from a conserved, single-copy gene in rodents. The gene encoding BC1 RNA represents one of the earliest and possibly the first ID-containing sequence. Comparison of consensus sequences of each rodent ID with its corresponding BC1 RNA gene showed that the variations of BC1 RNA within rodents corresponded to specific changes within the ID consensus sequence for each rodent species. This supports the hypothesis that the BC1 gene is a master gene responsible for the amplification and evolution of ID elements. The rat ID family consists of at least four subfamilies, with the oldest subfamily having been derived from the BC1 RNA. The other three subfamilies appear to have been derived from a new master gene(s), which has been responsible for the large increase in ID element copy number within the rat genome. We have found that the guinea pig genome contains two copies of the BC1 gene, apparently the result of a DNA-mediated duplication event. Both of these guinea pig BC1 genes have a conserved TATA-like element in the 5' flanking region and have contributed to guinea pig ID amplifications.

Animals↗

Id-1 delays senescence but does not immortalize keratinocytes.

Defining the molecular basis responsible for regulating the proliferative potential of keratinocytes has important implications for normal homeostasis and neoplasia of the skin. Under current culture conditions, neonatal foreskin-derived human keratinocytes possess a relatively short replicative lifespan. Recently it was reported that forced overexpression of the helix-loop-helix protein Id-1 was capable of immortalizing keratinocytes, secondary to activation of telomerase activity and suppression of p16/Rb-mediated growth arrest pathways. To investigate the relationship between Id-1, telomerase activity, telomere length, p16, Rb cell cycle regulators, and senescence, whole populations of keratinocytes were infected with a retrovirus to induce overexpression of Id-1. In these unselected cultures, enhanced Id-1 levels clearly extended the lifespan of keratinocytes, but Id-1 did not prevent the onset of replicative senescence. Under these experimental conditions, Id-1 expression did not trigger induction of telomerase activity, and there was progressive shortening of the telomeres that was accompanied by elevated p16 levels and prevalence of active Rb. The ability of Id-1 to postpone, but not prevent, senescence may be related to partial inhibition of p16 expression, as the Id-1-overexpressing cultures displayed a decreased capacity for 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-mediated p16 induction. Thus, while no immortalization was observed, Id-1 could delay the onset of replicative senescence in unselected human keratinocyte populations.

Apoptosis↗

Id-1 stimulates serum independent prostate cancer cell proliferation through inactivation of p16(INK4a)/pRB pathway.

It has been suggested that the helix-loop-helix protein Id-1 plays an important role in tumourigenesis in certain types of human cancer. Previously, we reported that Id-1 was up-regulated during sex hormone-induced prostate carcinogenesis in a Noble rat model (Ouyang et al. (2001) Carcinogenesis, 22, 965-973). In the present study, we investigated the direct effect of Id-1 expression on human prostate cancer cell proliferation by transfecting an Id-1 expression vector into a prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Ten stable transfectant clones were isolated and the ectopic Id-1 expression resulted in both increased DNA synthesis rate and the percentage of S phase cells. To study the possible mechanisms involved in the Id-1 induced prostate cancer cell growth, we examined the expression of several factors responsible for G(1) to S phase progression. We found that Id-1 expression induced phosphorylation of RB and down-regulation of p16(INK4a) but not p21(Waf1)or p27(Kip1). Our results indicate that the Id-1 induced inactivation of p16(INK4a)/pRB pathway may be responsible for the increased cell proliferation in prostate cancer cells. Given the fact that both Id-1 over-expression and inactivation of p16(INK4a)/pRB are common events in prostate cancer, our results provide a possible mechanism on the molecular basis of prostate carcinogenesis.

Blood↗

Overexpression of Id-1 in prostate cancer cells promotes angiogenesis through the activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Androgen-independent metastatic prostate cancer is the main cause of cancer related death in men. One of the reasons for this is the lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to the metastatic progression of prostate cancer. In this study, we have demonstrated that overexpression of Id-1 (inhibitor of differentiation/DNA synthesis), a member of the helix-loop-helix family proteins, is a key factor in promoting angiogenesis through activation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in prostate cancer cells. Using prostate cancer cells ectopically transfected with the Id-1 gene, we found that upregulation of Id-1 induced VEGF secretion through activation of the VEGF gene transcription. Downregulation of Id-1, however, led to the suppression of VEGF secretion and its gene promoter activity. The association between Id-1 and VEGF was also confirmed on human xenografts by immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the growth medium generated by the Id-1 expressing cells was able to promote morphological changes as well as capillary tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) at similar degrees to the recombinant human VEGF. Furthermore, inhibition of VEGF function by the treatment with an Flk-1 inhibitor, SU1498, or with the VEGF neutralizing antibody resulted in the reverse of the angiogenic effect on HUVECs. Our results suggest that overexpression of Id-1 in prostate cancer cells may provide an autocrine signal to promote angiogenesis through the activation of VEGF. Since increased Id-1 has been reported in many types of advanced human cancers, our results indicate that downregulation of Id-1 may be a novel target to inhibit the growth of metastatic cancers through the suppression of angiogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The helix-loop-helix protein id-1 delays onset of replicative senescence in human endothelial cells.

Id proteins are negative regulators of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, which are critical for expression of genes associated with cellular differentiation. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of Id-1 delays cellular senescence in several cell types, including fibroblasts, mammary epithelial cells, and keratinocytes. Although previous studies have demonstrated the expression of Id-1 in endothelium, the regulation of Id-1 has not been studied in these cells. In this report, a retroviral vector was used to overexpress Id-1 in human endothelial cells. Sustained expression of Id-1 resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in the total number of population doublings (replicative capacity) of the cells compared with vector-treated controls, which correlated with low levels of p16, p21, and p27 expression. The cells, however, were not immortalized and did eventually undergo senescence despite elevated Id-1 levels. Senescence was characterized by a dramatic increase in p16, but not p21 and p27. Under these experimental conditions, telomerase activity was not detected and the telomeres became progressively shorter with time. These results demonstrate the importance of Id-1 in endothelial cell proliferation and indicate that Id-1 represses p16 expression, resulting in delayed senescence. These findings may have implications in the development of endothelial cell-derived tumors.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Combined use of Pastorex Staph-Plus and either of two new chromogenic agars, MRSA ID and CHROMagar MRSA, for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

We describe the search toward a fast and reliable strategy to detect and confirm the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in screening samples. First, we evaluated the sensitivities and specificities of oxacillin resistance screening agar (ORSA) with enrichment (tryptic soy broth [TSB] and ORSA [TSB-ORSA]) and without enrichment (ORSA), MRSA ID (MRSA_ID) plates, and CHROMagar MRSA (C_MRSA) plates, all of which were inoculated with equal volumes of a suspension made by emulsifying screening swabs. Whereas the sensitivities after 48 h were similar for all media tested (77% for MRSA_ID and ORSA; 73% for C_MRSA and ORSA after enrichment [TSB-ORSA]), the specificities of MRSA_ID (98% after 24 h and 94% after 48 h) and C_MRSA (98% after 24 h and 90% after 48 h) were superior to the specificities of ORSAs (92% after 24 h and 83% after 48 h) and TSB-ORSA (86% after 24 h and 81% after 48 h). Subsequently, the performance of the Pastorex Staph-Plus agglutination test with presumptive MRSA isolates taken directly from chromogenic agars (direct_Pastorex agglutination) was compared to that of the Pastorex Staph-Plus agglutination test with isolates from blood agar subcultures (conventional_Pastorex agglutination). When the direct_Pastorex agglutination test on MRSA_ID plates was combined with Gram staining, the direct_Pastorex agglutination test with samples from MRSA_ID plates was as reliable as the conventional_Pastorex agglutination test with samples from blood agar subcultures from MRSA_ID plates. In contrast, the direct_Pastorex agglutination test with samples from C_MRSA plates gave false-negative results. Finally, we calculated the processing times of the four different strategies, namely, (i) enrichment in TSB supplemented with NaCl, subsequent culture on ORSA, and the conventional_Pastorex agglutination test; (ii) direct inoculation of ORSA combined with conventional_Pastorex agglutination test; (iii) direct inoculation of MRSA_ID plates combined with Gram staining and the direct_Pastorex agglutination test; and (iv) direct inoculation of C_MRSA plates combined with Gram staining and the direct_Pastorex agglutination test. We concluded that the use of MRSA_ID in combination with Gram staining and the direct_Pastorex agglutination test is faster and more specific than the other strategies tested.

Agar↗

A novel pathway for mammary epithelial cell invasion induced by the helix-loop-helix protein Id-1.

Mammary epithelial cells undergo changes in growth, invasion, and differentiation throughout much of adulthood, and most strikingly during pregnancy, lactation, and involution. Although the pathways of milk protein expression are being elucidated, little is known, at a molecular level, about control of mammary epithelial cell phenotypes during normal tissue morphogenesis and evolution of aggressive breast cancer. We developed a murine mammary epithelial cell line, SCp2, that arrests growth and functionally differentiates in response to a basement membrane and lactogenic hormones. In these cells, expression of Id-1, an inhibitor of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, declines prior to differentiation, and constitutive Id-1 expression blocks differentiation. Here, we show that SCp2 cells that constitutively express Id-1 slowly invade the basement membrane but remain anchorage dependent for growth and do not form tumors in nude mice. Cells expressing Id-1 secreted a approximately 120-kDa gelatinase. From inhibitor studies, this gelatinase appeared to be a metalloproteinase, and it was the only metalloproteinase detectable in conditioned medium from these cells. A nontoxic inhibitor diminished the activity of this metalloproteinase in vitro and repressed the invasive phenotype of Id-1-expressing cells in culture. The implications of these findings for normal mammary-gland development and human breast cancer were investigated. A gelatinase of approximately 120 kDa was expressed by the mammary gland during involution, a time when Id-1 expression is high and there is extensive tissue remodeling. Moreover, high levels of Id-1 expression and the activity of a approximately 120-kDa gelatinase correlated with a less-differentiated and more-aggressive phenotype in human breast cancer cells. We suggest that Id-1 controls invasion by normal and neoplastic mammary epithelial cells, primarily through induction of a approximately 120-kDa gelatinase. This Id-1-regulated invasive phenotype could contribute to involution of the mammary gland and possibly to the development of invasive breast cancer.

Animals↗

Insulinotropic agent ID-1101 (4-hydroxyisoleucine) activates insulin signaling in rat.

ID-1101 (4-hydroxyisoleucine), an amino acid extracted from fenugreek seeds, exhibits an interesting glucose-dependent insulin-stimulating activity. The present study was undertaken to investigate a possible extrapancreatic effect of ID-1101 on insulin signaling and action besides its previously described insulinotropic action. Insulin-sensitizing effects of ID-1101 were investigated in rat in vivo by three different approaches: 1) using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps in two different rat models of insulin resistance, i.e., Zucker fa/fa rats and rats fed a sucrose-lipid diet; 2) measuring liver and muscle phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity after an acute injection of ID-1101 in normal and insulin-resistant diabetic rats; and 3) after chronic treatment in two rat models of insulin resistance. Euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp experiments revealed that ID-1101 can improve insulin resistance through an increase of peripheral glucose utilization rate in sucrose-lipid-fed rats and by decreasing hepatic glucose production in Zucker fa/fa rats. Moreover, we demonstrated that a single injection of ID-1101 activates the PI 3-kinase activity in liver and muscle from normal rats but also in muscle from diabetic rats. Finally, chronic ID-1101 treatment significantly reduced insulinemia in type 2 diabetic rats and reduced the progression of hyperinsulinemia in insulin-resistant obese Zucker fa/fa rats. These findings clearly demonstrate that ID-1101 can reduce insulin resistance through activation of the early steps of insulin signaling in peripheral tissues and in liver. In summary, ID-1101, besides its insulinotropic effect, directly improves insulin sensitivity, making it a potentially very valuable therapeutic agent for diabetes treatment.

Animals↗

Id-1 is not expressed in the luminal epithelial cells of mammary glands.

BACKGROUND: The family of inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding (Id) proteins is known to regulate development in several tissues. One member of this gene family, Id-1, has been implicated in mammary development and carcinogenesis. Mammary glands contain various cell types, among which the luminal epithelial cells are primarily targeted for proliferation, differentiation and carcinogenesis. Therefore, to assess the precise significance of Id-1 in mammary biology and carcinogenesis, we examined its cellular localization in vivo using immunohistochemistry. METHODS: Extracts of whole mammary glands from wild type and Id-1 null mutant mice, and tissue sections from paraffin-embedded mouse mammary glands from various developmental stages and normal human breast were subjected to immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses, respectively. In both these procedures, an anti-Id-1 rabbit polyclonal antibody was used for detection of Id-1. RESULTS: In immunoblot analyses, using whole mammary gland extracts, Id-1 was detected. In immunohistochemical analyses, however, Id-1 was not detected in the luminal epithelial cells of mammary glands during any stage of development, but it was detected in vascular endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Id-1 is not expressed in the luminal epithelial cells of mammary glands.

Animals↗

[Effects of l-methyl-5-(O-fluorophenyl)-7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-One (ID-540) on operant behavior in rats].

Effects of ID-540, a new benzodiazepine derivative, on operant behavior were studied and compared with those of diazepam in rats for the purpose of determining the characteristics on behavioral pharmacology. Four schedules used were as follows: Fixed interval (FI-60sec) of food reinforcement and differential food reinforcement of low rate (DRL20sec) for positively reinforced behavior, Sidman-type avoidance response for negatively reinforced behavior and conflict behavior induced by simultaneously rewarding with food and punishing with electric shock. In the experiments on FI-60sec schedule, the responses at the early stage (0 approximately 30 min after administration of the drug) were increased by both ID-540 and diazepam at lower doses (0.5 approximately 4 mg/kg p.o.), but inhibited at higher doses (8 approximately 32 mg/kg p.o.). The effect of ID-540 lasted longer than that of diazepam. In the experiments on DRL20sec schedule, neither drug accelerated the responses, but decreased the lever-press response and total number of reinforcements at higher doses (4 mg/kg or more) showing the disturbance of discrimination on time. In Sidman-type avoidance responses, ID-540 did not show any inhibitory effect, thus a neuroleptic-like effect of ID-540 was not demonstrated. In experiments on FI-60sec and Sidman-type avoidance schedules, the effect of ID-540 was not changed by a consecutive administration for 10 days. Conflict behavior is considered to resemble the anxiety states in humans, and in related experiments, ID-540 increased the lever-press response which delivered a food-pellet and an electric shock simultaneously at a dose of 0.0625 mg/kg (i.p.). Change in other behavior was not observed at this dose level. Maximum effect of ID-540 was observed at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (i.p.). Maximum effect of diazepam on conflict behavior was seen at a dose of 4 mg/kg (i.p.). The potency of ID-540 on conflict behavior was estimated to be about 8 times that of diazepam.

Animals↗

Id proteins are dynamically expressed in normal epidermis and dysregulated in squamous cell carcinoma.

Helix-loop-helix genes regulate many developmental pathways, and growing evidence associates dysregulated expression with tumorigenesis. We observed Id-1, Id-2, and Id-3 mRNA expression in proliferating human keratinocytes in vitro with subsequent down-regulation with differentiation. Immunohistochemical analysis of human tissue sections identified cytoplasmic Id-1 expression and nuclear Id-2 and Id-3 expression in the proliferating layers of the epidermis. Furthermore, we observed a columnar pattern of Id-2 and Id-3 staining, which may relate to the epidermal proliferative unit. In squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, Id protein immunoreactivity was observed in the majority of malignant keratinocytes in the most poorly differentiated sections, with reduced staining in well-differentiated disease.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Expression of a chimeric helix-loop-helix gene, Id-SCL, in K562 human leukemic cells is associated with nuclear segmentation.

We have designed a chimeric gene, Id-SCL, in which the 3' helix-loop-helix encoding portion of the presumptive oncogene SCL/tal is joined to the 5' coding portion of Id, an inhibitory helix-loop-helix gene. The predicted protein product of this chimeric gene contains the helix-loop-helix dimerization domain of SCL/tal, but, lacking a basic DNA binding domain, is predicted to have the inhibitory function of the Id product. Expression of the Id-SCL fusion gene in stably transfected K562 cells reproducibly resulted in nuclear segmentation and depressed growth rates; both of these phenotypic effects demonstrated a dosage dependence on the levels of Id-SCL mRNA and protein expressed in the various clones. Electron microscopy of cells expressing high levels of Id-SCL mRNA showed a significant increase in cytoplasmic perinuclear thin filaments and diminution of marginal heterochromatin in the nuclei. No other changes in hematopoietic differentiation status were observed in association with Id-SCL expression. Expression of intact Id and SCL/tal genes, as well as deletion mutants of Id and SCL/tal, independently transfected into K562 cells, indicated that the nuclear segmentation effect is dependent on the presence of a protein possessing a helix-loop-helix domain but lacking a basic domain. Our studies suggest that the balance of transcriptional inhibitory and stimulatory helix-loop-helix proteins in cells may be important determinants of proliferation and of structural organization within cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗