Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Transient Mutator”

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 1,171 records · Page 65Linked to original sources

Sox18 is transiently expressed during angiogenesis in granulation tissue of skin wounds with an identical expression pattern to Flk-1 mRNA.

Sox18 encodes a member of the Sry-related high mobility group box (SOX) family of developmental transcription factors. Examination of Sox18 expression during embryogenesis has shown that Sox18 is expressed transiently in endothelial cells of developing blood vessels, and mutations in Sox18 have been found to underlie the mouse vascular and hair follicle mutant ragged. In this study we have examined the expression of Sox18 in angiogenesis during wound healing. Full-thickness skin wounds were created in mice, and subsequent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the VEGF receptor Flk-1, alpha1 (iv) collagen (Col4a1), and Sox18 were studied using in situ hybridization. As has been previously reported, VEGF was expressed predominantly in the keratinocytes at the wound margins. Sox18 expression was found five days after wounding during capillary sprouting in granulation tissue and persisted through the proliferative phase of healing, but was not detected in fully epithelialized wounds 21 days after wounding. Sox18 mRNA expression was detected in capillaries within the granulation tissue and showed an identical pattern of distribution to Flk-1 and Col4a1 mRNA expression in endothelial cells. Immunostaining with a polyclonal anti-Sox18 antibody showed SOX18 protein localized in capillary endothelial cells within the granulation tissue. Capillaries in the subcutaneous tissue of unwounded skin showed no Sox18 expression. Sox18 may therefore represent a transcription factor involved in the induction of angiogenesis during wound healing and tissue repair, but not in the maintenance of endothelial cells in undamaged tissue.

Animals↗

Regulation of the human transforming growth factor beta type II receptor gene promoter by novel Sp1 sites.

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) type II receptor (T beta R-II) is responsible for transducing the growth inhibitory signals of TGF beta. The T beta R-II gene promoter lacks both a TATA box and a CAAT box near the transcription initiation site, and has been shown to contain binding sequences for several transcription factors (Sp1, AP1, NF-Y, Cut and ERT) which are important for T beta R-II gene promoter activity in vitro. However, it is still not clear which interactions are important for the regulation of T beta R-II gene promoter activity in vivo. Using in vivo genomic DNA footprinting of normal human epithelial cells (HaCaT), we have identified two novel identical and strongly protected sites (ggggctgg) at positions -59 and -102 of the T beta R-II gene promoter. Mutation of either site significantly reduced promoter activity in transient transfections. Protein binding to these sites, as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), was specifically competed with consensus Sp1 oligonucleotides. Furthermore, anti-Sp1/3 antibodies produced band shifts when incubated with the T beta R-II -59 and -102 DNA probes. Importantly, Sp1 protein binding was influenced by the presence of an intact NF-Y binding site at position -83. Our data suggests that both Sp1 and NF-Y may play an important role in regulating T beta R-II gene promoter basal activity in vivo.

Binding Sites↗

The GAMYB protein from barley interacts with the DOF transcription factor BPBF and activates endosperm-specific genes during seed development.

HvGAMYB, a MYB transcription factor previously shown to be expressed in barley aleurone cells in response to gibberellin during germination, also has an important role in gene regulation during endosperm development. The mRNA was detected early (10 DAF) in the seeds where it accumulates, not only in the aleurone layer, starchy endosperm, nucellar projection and vascular tissue, but also in the immature embryo as shown by in situ hybridization analysis. The HvGAMYB protein, expressed in bacteria, binds to oligonucleotides containing the 5'-TAACAAC-3' or 5'-CAACTAAC-3' sequences, derived from the promoter regions of the endosperm-specific genes Hor2 and Itr1, encoding a B-hordein and trypsin-inhibitor BTI-CMe, respectively. Binding is prevented when these motifs are mutated to 5'-TgACAAg-3' and 5'-CgACTgAC-3'. Transient expression experiments in co-bombarded developing endosperms demonstrate that HvGAMYB trans-activates transcription from native Hor2 and Itr1 promoters through binding to the intact motifs described above. Trans-activation of the Hor2 promoter also requires an intact prolamine box (PB). This suggests that HvGAMYB interacts in developing barley endosperms with the PB-binding factor BPBF, an endosperm-specific DOF transcriptional activator of the Hor2 gene. The in vivo interaction experiment between HvGAMYB and BPBF was done in the yeast two-hybrid system, where HvGAMYB potentiates the BPBF trans-activation capacity through interaction with its C-terminal domain.

Base Sequence↗

Functional dissection of the promoter of the pollen-specific gene NTP303 reveals a novel pollen-specific, and conserved cis-regulatory element.

Regulatory elements within the promoter of the pollen-specific NTP303 gene from tobacco were analysed by transient and stable expression analyses. Analysis of precisely targeted mutations showed that the NTP303 promoter is not regulated by any of the previously described pollen-specific cis-regulatory elements. However, two adjacent regions from -103 to -86 bp and from -86 to -59 bp were shown to contain sequences which positively regulated the NTP303 promoter. Both of these regions were capable of driving pollen-specific expression from a heterologous promoter, independent of orientation and in an additive manner. The boundaries of the minimal, functional NTP303 promoter were determined to lie within the region -86 to -51 bp. The sequence AAATGA localized from -94 to -89 bp was identified as a novel cis-acting element, of which the TGA triplet was shown to comprise an active part. This element was shown to be completely conserved in the similarly regulated promoter of the Bp 10 gene from Brassica napus encoding a homologue of the NTP303 gene.

Base Sequence↗

A restrictive element 1 (RE-1) in the VIP gene modulates transcription in neuronal and non-neuronal cells in collaboration with an upstream tissue specifier element.

The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene has been studied extensively as a prototype neuronal gene containing multiple cis-active elements that confer responsiveness to cell lineage, neurotrophic, and activity-dependent intrinsic and extrinsic cues. However, reporter genes containing the presumptive complete regulatory region 5' to the start of transcription do not confer tissue-specific gene expression in vivo. We therefore sought cis-regulatory elements downstream of the transcriptional start that might confer additional tissue-specific and tissue-restrictive properties to the VIP transcriptional unit. We report here a repressor element, similar to the canonical restrictive element-1 (RE-1), located within the first non-coding exon of the human VIP gene. The ability of this element to regulate VIP reporter gene expression in neuroblastoma and fibroblastic cells was examined. Endogenous VIP expression is high in SH-EP neuroblastoma cells, low but inducible in SH-SY5Y cells, and absent in HeLa cells. Endogenous RE-1 silencer factor (REST) expression was highest in SH-EP and HeLa cells, and significantly lower in SH-SY5Y cells. Transient transfection of a VIP reporter gene containing a mutated RE-1 sequence revealed an RE-1-dependent regulation of VIP gene expression in all three cell types, with regulation greatest in cells (SH-EP, HeLa) with highest levels of REST expression. Serial truncation of the VIP reporter gene further revealed a specific interaction between the RE-1 and a tissue-specifier element located 5 kb upstream in the VIP gene. Thus, REST can regulate VIP gene expression in both neuroblastic and non-neuronal cells, but requires coupling to the upstream tissue specifier element.

Cell Line↗

Two mutations in the promoter region of the human protein C gene both cause type I protein C deficiency by disruption of two HNF-3 binding sites.

Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent zymogen of a serine protease that inhibits blood coagulation by the proteolytic inactivation of factors Va and VIIIa. Individuals affected with protein C deficiency are at risk for thrombosis. Genetic analyses of affected individuals, to determine the cause of the protein C deficiency, revealed a large variety of mutations in the protein C gene, including several in the promoter region of this gene. Comparison of the region around two of these mutations, A-32-->G and T-27-->A, with transcription factor consensus sequences suggested the presence of two overlapping and inversely oriented HNF-3 binding sites. Direct evidence for the presence of the two HNF-3 binding sites in the protein C promoter was obtained using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and UV cross-linking experiments. These experiments revealed that HNF-3 can bind specifically to both putative HNF-3 sites in the wild-type protein C promoter. Due to the T-27-->A mutation, one binding site is completely lost, while the other site still binds HNF-3, but with strongly reduced affinity. As a consequence of the A-32-->G mutation, the protein C promoter loses all its HNF-3 binding capacity. Transient transfection experiments demonstrated that the binding of HNF-3 to the protein C promoter is of physiological significance. This followed from experiments in which the introduction of the A-32-->G or T-27-->A mutation resulted in a 4-5-fold reduced promoter activity in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, transactivation of the wild-type protein C promoter construct with HNF-3 showed a 4-5-fold increased promoter activity in HepG2 cells. In HeLa cells, significant wild-type promoter activity was only observed after transactivation with HNF-3. When a promoter construct containing the T-->A mutation at position -27 was used, the transactivation potential of HNF-3 was 2-fold reduced in HepG2 cells, whereas in HeLa cells no transactivation was observed. With the promoter construct containing the A-32-->G mutation, no transactivation by HNF-3 was found either in HepG2 or in HeLa cells.

Animals↗

Endocytic properties of the M-type 180-kDa receptor for secretory phospholipases A2.

Endocytic properties of the M-type 180-kDa receptor for secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) were first investigated in rabbit myocytes that express it at high levels. Internalization of the receptor was shown to be clathrin-coated pit-mediated, rapid (ke = 0.1 min-1), and ligand-independent. The signal sequence for internalization was then identified upon transient and stable expression of various receptor constructs with mutated cytoplasmic sequences. Analysis of the internalization efficiency of the mutants suggested that the NSYY motif encodes the major endocytic signal, with the distal tyrosine residue playing the key role. Amino acid substitutions at the putative casein kinase II phosphorylation site of the receptor did not affect internalization. A chimeric protein composed of the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the rabbit sPLA2 receptor and of the cytoplasmic domain of the structurally homologous human macrophage mannose receptor retained the high affinity for sPLA2 and was internalization competent, exhibiting 50% endocytic activity of the M-type sPLA2 receptor. The results indicate the compatibility of the structural domains of the two parent proteins and provide evidence for the interchangeable character of their internalization signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Insulin-like growth factor-I regulates transcription of the elastin gene through a putative retinoblastoma control element. A role for Sp3 acting as a repressor of elastin gene transcription.

Previous studies have demonstrated that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) increases elastin gene transcription in aortic smooth muscle cells and that this up-regulation is accompanied by a loss of protein binding to the proximal promoter. Sp1 has been identified as one of the factors whose binding is lost, and in the present study we show that Sp3 binding is also abrogated by IGF-I, but in a selected manner. In functional analyses using Drosophila SL-2 cells, Sp1 expression can drive transcription from the elastin proximal promoter, while co-expression of Sp3 results in a repression of Sp1 activity. Footprint and gel shift analyses position the IGF-I responsive sequences to a putative retinoblastoma control element (RCE). Mutation of the putative RCE sequence as assessed by transient transfection of smooth muscle cells results in an increase in reporter activity equal in magnitude to that conferred by IGF-I on the wild type promoter. Together these results support the hypothesis that IGF-I-mediated increase in elastin transcription occurs via a mechanism of derepression involving the abrogation of a repressor that appears to be Sp3 binding to the RCE.

Animals↗

Activation of the megakaryocyte-specific gene platelet basic protein (PBP) by the Ets family factor PU.1.

Platelet basic protein (PBP) is a chemokine family member that is only found in platelets and their precursors megakaryocytes. The PBP gene is physically linked to the gene for another platelet-specific chemokine, platelet factor 4. While the biological basis of platelet factor 4 expression has been pursued by others, the regulatory features controlling the platelet-specific expression of PBP have not been investigated. In this article, we examined the molecular basis by which this megakaryocyte-specific gene is regulated. Transient expression studies of truncated reporter constructs containing from 4.5 to 0.1 kilobases of the functional PBP gene 5'-flanking region, demonstrated that the proximal 0.1 kilobases of the promoter was sufficient for high levels of expression in human erythroleukemia and CHRF-288 cells, two megakaryocytic cell lines. However, none of these constructs was expressed above background levels in HeLa and 293 cells, two non-megakaryocytic cell lines. Further truncation of this promoter suggested that there was an important regulatory element(s) within a pyrimidine-rich tract. Mobility shift analysis of the pyrimidine-rich tract defined a region between -85 and -64 which bound to a nuclear factor(s). This region contains sequences matching the consensus Ets-binding site from -78 to -75 base pairs. In particular, we noted that this site matched a PU.1 consensus sequence known as a PU box. Mobility shift and supershift studies with nuclear extracts as well as recombinant PU.1 protein and anti-PU.1 antibody further confirmed that PU.1 was the specific Ets family factor that bound to this site. Transient expression assays using reporter constructs which contained point mutations that abrogated PU.1 binding also significantly reduced PBP promoter activity in human erythroleukemia and CHRF cells. In addition, while all reporter gene constructs containing PBP promoters were completely inactive in HeLa cells, transactivation experiments using a PU.1 expression construct demonstrated that exogenous expression of PU.1 could increase reporter gene expression up to 8-fold in these cells. Finally, the role of PU.1 in PBP gene expression was compared between wild-type and PU.1-null embryonic stem (ES) cells that were differentiated in vitro into cells that resembled megakaryocytes both morphologically and immunologically. We found that PBP gene expression in the differentiated PU.1(-/-) null ES cells (as determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) was more than four times lower than that in the wild-type ES cells, while other platelet-specific genes were expressed equally or similarly in the two ES cell lines. Previous reports have shown that PU.1 is expressed in several hematopoietic lineages, including megakaryocytes. However, the functional role of PU.1 has only been previously demonstrated in the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Therefore, our studies are the first to show the biological importance of this nuclear factor in the regulated expression of a megakaryocyte-specific gene.

Binding Sites↗

Kruppel-like factors regulate the Lama1 gene encoding the laminin alpha1 chain.

Laminin-1 (alpha1beta1gamma1), a basement membrane (BM) constituent, has been associated with differentiation processes and also with malignant progression. In the intestinal tissue, the alpha1 chain is expressed and secreted in the subepithelial BM during the developmental period; in the adult rodent tissue, it is restricted to the BM of the dividing cells. To understand how laminin alpha1 chain expression is regulated, we cloned and characterized a 2-kb promoter region of the Lama1 mouse gene. Analysis of the promoter was conducted in the Caco2-TC7 intestinal epithelial cells by transient transfection of serially deleted and site-directed mutated promoter constructs, by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and expression of selected transcription factors. We determined that a proximal region, which includes an Sp1-binding GC box and a Krüppel-like element, was important for the promoter activity. This region is conserved between the human and mouse genes. Interestingly, two Krüppel-like factors KLF4 and KLF5 exhibit opposing effects on the Lama1 promoter activity that are decreased and increased, respectively, in the intestinal epithelial cells. These data corroborate the complementary expression of KLF4 and KLF5 along the intestinal crypt-villus axis and the parallel expression of KLF5 and laminin alpha1 chain in the crypt region. Finally, we showed that glucocorticoids stimulate the promoter activity. This study is the first characterization of the Lama1 promoter; we identified regulatory elements that may account for the expression pattern of the endogenous protein in the mouse intestine.

Animals↗

The anaerobic responsive element contains two GC-rich sequences essential for binding a nuclear protein and hypoxic activation of the maize Adh1 promoter.

We have identified a protein (GCBP-1) in nuclear extracts from maize suspension cell cultures that binds to specific sequences within the Anaerobic Responsive Element (ARE) of the maize Adh1 promoter. Competition analyses show that the GCBP-1 binding activity distinguishes ARE sequence motifs from other enhancer elements or pUC19 sequences. The binding activities of several mutant ARE sequences define two regions of the ARE important for GCBP-1 binding in vitro, between nucleotides -135 to -131 and nucleotides -120 to -112 of the maize Adh1 promoter. Both regions are required for efficient GCBP-1 binding to occur in vitro. The minimum consensus binding site for GCBP-1 is 5'-GC(G/C)CC-3'. This sequence is similar to a part of the binding site of the human transcription factor Sp1 (1). We demonstrate that maize GCBP-1 and human Sp1 have similar recognition properties. Using ARE mutants in a transient assay in maize protoplasts we have shown that mutation of the GCBP-1 binding sites prevents significant hypoxic activation of the maize Adh1 promoter. These results suggest a direct role for GCBP-1 in the hypoxic activation of Adh1 gene expression. GCBP-1 is present in both uninduced and induced nuclei, indicating that inducible gene expression is not dependent upon synthesis of GCBP-1 and suggesting that post-translational modification of bound GCBP-1 may be important for enhanced transcription to occur.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Restoration of wild-type PTEN expression leads to apoptosis, induces differentiation, and reduces telomerase activity in human glioma cells.

PTEN is a candidate tumor suppressor gene identified on human chromosome 10q23.3 that is frequently mutated or deleted in 30% to 44% of glioblastomas. Transient expression study of PTEN in glioma cells indicates that PTEN plays an important role in cellular proliferation, tumorigenicity, cell migration, and focal adhesions. In this study, we examined the biological consequences on U87MG glioma cells after stable gene transfer of wild-type PTEN. Cells stably expressing wild-type PTEN protein were found to have suppressed proliferation, as determined by cell counting and Ki-67 staining, as well as inhibited anchorage-independent growth. The PTEN-expressing cells also showed higher expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and changed morphologically from spindle-shaped to elongated cell bodies with multiple slender processes, suggesting that these cells have undergone differentiation. In addition, telomerase activity decreased more than 10-fold in PTEN-expressing cells when compared with control cells. More importantly, apoptosis was detected in about 5% of PTEN-expressing cells, representing a 17-fold (p < 0.01) increase over the control cells. Taken together, these results suggest that PTEN plays an important role in regulation of cell homeostasis by maintaining a balance between proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

Glycosylation of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor and its effect on expression, G protein coupling, and receptor modulatory processes.

Many gastrointestinal G protein-coupled receptors are glycosylated; however, which potential glycosylation sites are actually glycosylated and their role in receptor transduction or receptor modulation (internalization, down-regulation, desensitization) is largely unknown. We used site-directed mutagenesis to address these issues with the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R). Each of the four potential glycosylation sites was mutated by converting the Asn (N) to Gln (Q). Transient expression in CHOP cells demonstrated that changing Asn(24) or Asn(191) inhibited GRP-R cell surface expression, whereas elimination of Asn(5) and Asn(20) had no effect. Using ligand cross-linking studies in stable mutants expressed in Balb 3T3 cells, all four potential extracellular sites were glycosylated with carbohydrate residues of approximately 13 kDa on Asn(5), 10 kDa on Asn(20), 5 kDa on Asn(24), and 9 kDa on Asn(191). Removal of three glycosylation sites (N5,20,24,Q mutant) did not alter receptor affinity or G protein coupling; therefore, it could be speculated that deglycosylation at Asn(191) might be responsible for the altered G protein coupling seen with complete enzymatic deglycosylation of the native receptor previously reported. Removal of any single glycosylation site did not interfere with GRP-R induced chronic desensitization or down-regulation. However, elimination of all three NH(2)-terminal sites (N5,20,24) markedly attenuated both processes, with no effect on acute homologous desensitization and with only a minimal alteration of GRP-R internalization, supporting the findings of other studies that suggest that chronic desensitization and down-regulation are functionally coupled, distinct from acute desensitization and distinct from internalization. These data show that separate and specific glycosylation sites are important for GRP-R trafficking to the cell surface, ligand binding, G protein coupling, chronic desensitization, and down-regulation.

3T3 Cells↗

BRCA1 inhibition of estrogen receptor signaling in transfected cells.

Mutations of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 confer increased risk for breast, ovarian, and prostatic cancers, but it is not clear why the mutations are associated with these particular tumor types. In transient transfection assays, BRCA1 was found to inhibit signaling by the ligand-activated estrogen receptor (ER-alpha) through the estrogen-responsive enhancer element and to block the transcriptional activation function AF-2 of ER-alpha. These results raise the possibility that wild-type BRCA1 suppresses estrogen-dependent transcriptional pathways related to mammary epithelial cell proliferation and that loss of this ability contributes to tumorigenesis.

BRCA1 Protein↗

Gene-specific inhibition of reovirus replication by RNA interference.

Mammalian reoviruses contain a genome of 10 segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Reovirus replication and assembly occur within distinct structures called viral inclusions, which form in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Viral nonstructural proteins muNS and sigmaNS and core protein mu2 play key roles in forming viral inclusions and recruiting other viral proteins and RNA to these structures for replication and assembly. However, the precise functions of these proteins in viral replication are poorly defined. Therefore, to better understand the functions of reovirus proteins associated with formation of viral inclusions, we used plasmid-based vectors to establish 293T cell lines stably expressing small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific for transcripts encoding the mu2, muNS, and sigmaNS proteins of strain type 3 Dearing (T3D). Infectivity assays revealed that yields of T3D, but not those of strain type 1 Lang, were significantly decreased in 293T cells stably expressing mu2, muNS, or sigmaNS siRNA. Stable expression of siRNAs specific for any one of these proteins substantially diminished viral dsRNA, protein synthesis, and inclusion formation, indicating that each is a critical component of the viral replication machinery. Using cell lines stably expressing muNS siRNA, we developed a complementation system to rescue viral replication by transient transfection with recombinant T3D muNS in which silent mutations were introduced into the sequence targeted by the muNS siRNA. Furthermore, we demonstrated that muNSC, which lacks the first 40 amino residues of muNS, is incapable of restoring reovirus growth in the complementation system. These results reveal interdependent functions for viral inclusion proteins and indicate that cell lines stably expressing reovirus siRNAs are useful tools for the study of viral protein structure-function relationships.

Animals↗

Adenovirus protein V induces redistribution of nucleolin and B23 from nucleolus to cytoplasm.

Adenovirus infection inhibits synthesis and processing of rRNA and redistributes nucleolar antigens. Adenovirus protein V associates with nucleoli in infected cells. This study delineates regions of protein V independently capable of nucleolar targeting. Also, evidence is presented that protein V has the unique property of relocating nucleolin and B23 to the cytoplasm when transiently expressed on its own in uninfected cells. Point mutation analysis indicates a role for the C terminus of protein V in the redirection of nucleolin and B23 to the cytoplasm. This is the first time an adenovirus protein has been shown to have a direct effect on nucleolar antigens in isolation from viral infection. Moreover, adenovirus protein V is the first protein demonstrated to be capable of redirecting nucleolin and B23 to the cytoplasm.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗

Doxorubicin-induced Id2A gene transcription is targeted at an activating transcription factor/cyclic AMP response element motif through novel mechanisms involving protein kinases distinct from protein kinase C and protein kinase A.

We have recently shown that doxorubicin (Dox), an antineoplastic drug and an inhibitor of terminal differentiation of myogenic and adipogenic cells, induces expression of Id, a gene encoding a helix-loop-helix transcriptional inhibitor. In this study we have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying Dox-induced Id2A expression. We have also attempted to determine whether the genetic responses to Dox are related to the UV response, a well-characterized set of reactions to UV and DNA-damaging compounds that is partly mediated by AP-1. Transient transfection of a series of deletions and point mutation derivatives of the human Id2A promoter sequence shows that two closely spaced and inverted short elements similar to an activating transcription factor (ATF) binding site or a cyclic AMP response element (CRE) are necessary and sufficient for a full response to Dox. We refer to this element as the IdATF site. Sequences containing an IdATF site conferred Dox inducibility on a minimal heterologous promoter. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed nuclear proteins specifically interacting with the IdATF sequence. While oligonucleotides containing either legitimate ATF/CRE or AP-1 binding sequences competed for binding, antibody supershift experiments suggested that neither CREB/ATF-1 nor AP-1 are major factors binding to IdATF. Several independent criteria suggest that Dox inducibility was independent of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A), and tyrosine kinase. Moreover, we found that Dox also induces transcription from promoters of immediate-early genes through an AP-1-independent pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that Dox elicits a novel genetic response distinct from the classical UV response.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

The proto-oncogene ERG in megakaryoblastic leukemias.

Aneuploidy is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Acquired additions of chromosome 21 are a common finding in leukemias, suggesting a contributory role to leukemogenesis. About 10% of patients with a germ line trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) are born with transient megakaryoblastic leukemia. We and others have shown acquired mutations in the X chromosome gene GATA1 in all these cases. The gene or genes on chromosome 21 whose overexpression promote the megakaryoblastic phenotype are presently unknown. We propose that ERG, an Ets transcription factor situated on chromosome 21, is one such candidate. We show that ERG is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells, megakaryoblastic cell lines, and in primary leukemic cells from Down syndrome patients. ERG expression is induced upon megakaryocytic differentiation of the erythroleukemia cell lines K562 and UT-7, and forced expression of ERG in K562 cells induces erythroid to megakaryoblastic phenotypic switch. We also show that ERG activates the gpIb megakaryocytic promoter and binds the gpIIb promoter in vivo. Furthermore, both ERG and ETS2 bind in vivo the hematopoietic enhancer of SCL/TAL1, a key regulator of hematopoietic stem cell and megakaryocytic development. We propose that trisomy 21 facilitates the occurrence of megakaryoblastic leukemias through a shift toward the megakaryoblastic lineage caused by the excess expression of ERG, and possibly by other chromosome 21 genes, such as RUNX1 and ETS2, in hematopoietic progenitor cells, coupled with a differentiation arrest caused by the acquisition of mutations in GATA1.

Base Sequence↗