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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Inducible processing of interferon regulatory factor-2.

PRDI-BFc and PRDI-BFi are proteins that bind specifically to a regulatory element required for virus induction of the human beta interferon (IFN-beta). PRDI-BFc is a constitutive binding activity, while the PRDI-BFi binding activity is observed only after cells are treated with inducers such as virus or poly(I).poly(C) plus cycloheximide or in some cells by cycloheximide alone. In this paper we report that PRDI-BFc is interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2), a known transcriptional repressor. In addition, we find that PRDI-BFi is a truncated form of IRF-2, lacking approximately 185 C-terminal amino acids. Thus, PRDI-BFi appears to be generated by inducible proteolysis. Although the affinity of PRDI-BFc/IRF-2 for the IFN-beta promoter does not appear to be affected by the removal of C-terminal amino acids, the ability of PRDI-BFi to function as a repressor in cotransfection experiments is significantly less than that of intact IRF-2. Studies have shown that IRF-2 can block the activity of the transcriptional activator IRF-1, which also binds specifically to the IFN-beta gene promoter. Thus, the inducible proteolysis of IRF-2 may be involved in the regulation of the IFN-beta gene or of other genes in which the ratio of IRF-1 to IRF-2 can affect the level of transcription.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Structurally similar but functionally distinct factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2, bind to the same regulatory elements of IFN and IFN-inducible genes.

Viral infections commonly induce expression of type I interferon (IFN) genes. The induction is transient and involves transcriptional activation wherein a positive factor, IRF-1, binds to upstream regulatory cis elements. In the present study we report the isolation of a cDNA encoding a novel factor, termed IRF-2, that interacts with the same nucleotide sequence elements as IRF-1. Both genes are inducible not only by virus but also by IFN. Unlike IRF-1, IRF-2 does not function as an activator; rather, it suppresses the function of IRF-1 under certain circumstances. Our results suggest that transcription of the IFN and IFN-inducible genes is regulated by two similar trans-acting factors that apparently compete for the same cis-acting recognition sequences, but which have opposite effects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of a novel IRF-1-deficient mutant cell line.

The transcriptional activation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes by both type I (alpha/beta) and II (gamma) interferons (IFNs) has been extensively studied, and it has been shown that the upregulation of several DNA-binding proteins is critical for this process. In our laboratory, we introduced the mouse H-2Kb gene into the AKR mouse leukaemia cell line K36.16 to effect the generation of tumor-specific immunity. Individual clones were selected and studied. Whereas the MHC class I genes in most of the clones obtained could be stimulated by interferons, one of the clones obtained, clone Kb-S27, failed to be induced, or was at best poorly induced by IFN-alpha/beta and -gamma. Both the exogenous H-2Kb and the endogenous H-2Dk genes behaved in the same manner and were not stimulated by IFNs. The lack of response to IFNs by clone Kb-S27 also resulted in its resistance to the antiproliferative effects of IFNs. This lack of IFN-induction by clone Kb-S27 was not simply due to a change in its surface interferon receptors. Gel-retardation assay and northern blot analysis both demonstrated the lack of induction of the IRF-1 DNA-binding factor in clone Kb-S27. In addition, northern blot analysis showed that the IRF-2 gene expression in clone Kb-S27 was upregulated when compared with the other IFN-inducible clones.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Absence of the type I IFN system in EC cells: transcriptional activator (IRF-1) and repressor (IRF-2) genes are developmentally regulated.

Interferons (IFNs) are a heterogeneous family of cytokines that exhibits multiple biological activities. Upon viral infection, expression of type I IFNs (i.e., IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) is induced in a variety of differentiated cells but not in cells of embryonal origin. IRF-1 and IRF-2, which bind to the same cis-elements within the promoters of type I IFN and IFN-inducible MHC class I genes, were identified previously. Here we demonstrate that the expression of both IRF and IFN genes is developmentally regulated in mouse EC cells; these genes become functional only after cell differentiation. Furthermore, cDNA-directed IRF-1 produced in undifferentiated but not differentiated EC cells efficiently activates the transfected IFN-alpha and IFN-beta and endogenous IFN-alpha genes, whereas IRF-2 represses the IRF-1 effects. These findings emphasize the dual function of the IRF-responsive cis-elements as positive and negative regulators, since they can be occupied by transcriptionally active or inactive IRF molecules. This type of regulatory mechanism might operate in other cytokine systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Activation of IFN-beta element by IRF-1 requires a posttranslational event in addition to IRF-1 synthesis.

Expression of the Type I IFN (i.e., IFN-alpha s and IFN-beta) genes is efficiently induced by viruses at the transcriptional level. This induction is mediated by at least two types of positive regulatory elements located in the human IFN-beta gene promoter: (1) the repeated elements which bind both the transcriptional activator IRF-1 and the repressor IRF-2 (IRF-elements; IRF-Es), and (2) the kappa B element (kappa B-E), which binds NF kappa B and is located between the IRF-Es and the TATA box. In this study we demonstrate that a promoter containing synthetic IRF-E, which displays high affinity for the IRFs can be efficiently activated by Newcastle disease virus (NDV). In contrast, such activation was either very weak or nil when cells were treated by IFN-beta or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), despite the fact they both efficiently induce de novo synthesis of the short-lived IRF-1 in L929 cells. In fact, efficient activation of the IRF-E apparently requires an event in addition to de novo IRF-1 induction, which can be elicited by NDV even in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Moreover, efficient activation of the IRF-E by NDV is specifically inhibited by the protein kinase inhibitor, Staurosporin. Hence our results suggest the importance of IRF-1 synthesis and post-translational modification event(s), possibly phosphorylation for the efficient activation of IRF-Es, which are otherwise under negative regulation by IRF-2.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1992

Identification of novel factors that bind to the PRD I region of the human beta-interferon promoter.

Treatment of cells with virus or synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) leads to the transient transcriptional activation of the beta-interferon gene. Genetic analysis has revealed that the 5' regulatory sequence responsible for this induction contains multiple positive and negative elements. One of these, Positive Regulatory Domain I (PRD I), has been shown to bind the positively-acting transcription factor IRF-1. In this study we show that this element is inducible under conditions where IRF-1 cannot be detected, suggesting that additional cellular factors are involved in the induction process. To investigate the existence of such factors we have analysed the range and properties of PRD I-binding activities present in HeLa cells. In addition to the repressor protein IRF-2, several novel factors can bind to PRD I in uninduced cells: two of these have properties consistent with a role in negative regulation; levels of two others increase upon priming, and may be alternative candidates for activators. Upon induction we also observe a novel factor whose appearance does not depend upon de novo protein synthesis, and which appears to be a truncated form of IRF-2. The potential involvement of these factors in regulating the beta-interferon gene is discussed.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Function, molecular structure and gene expression of interferons].

Interferon is a key substance of the cytokine network, and is functioning not only as the virus inhibitory factor, but also as the factor for differentiation, development, and homeostasis of animals, including man. The molecular structure, induction mechanisms, interaction with receptor, and antiviral action mechanisms of IFN were reviewed. 1. Molecular structure of IFN IFNs are now divided into 4 types--alpha, beta, gamma, omega--according to antigenicities of IFN proteins, and to base sequence of their genes. The omega type was established officially on 1990 by the Nomenclature Committee of International Society for Interferon Research (ISIR). Also, the genes for HuIFNs were named as follows; HuIFN-A for HuIFN-alpha, HuIFN-B for HuIFN-beta, HuIFN-G for HuIFN-gamma, and HuIFN-W for HuIFN-omega. Nevertheless, the names of Type I IFN and Type II IFN are still valuable, since members of Type I IFN, alpha, beta, and omega, are similar in their molecular structures, and they share the common receptor (Type I IFN receptor), on the other hand, HuIFN-gamma (the only one member of Type II IFN) has different characteristics from the other IFNs, and binds to its specific receptor (Type II IFN receptor). However, it has been reported that both N-terminal and C-terminal of IFN protein of all types, participate in the binding of IFN to its receptor. 2. Induction mechanism of IFN. The factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2, were found to play an important role in IFN induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Cellular responses by cytokines--gene regulation in the IFN system].

Interferon (IFNs), as a class of antiviral cytokines, are also known as "negative growth regulators," they inhibit the growth of a variety of normal and malignant cells. Normally, Type I IFNs (i.e. IFN-alpha, -beta) are not induced, but viruses and a number of other cytokines transiently activate the IFN genes. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses by viruses and cytokines, we have identified two nuclear factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2, both bind to the regulatory cis-elements of IFN and IFN-responsive genes. The genes encoding IRF-1 and IRF-2, have been cloned and extensively characterized. The IRF cDNA expression studies in factor-negative cells have revealed IRF-1 and IRF-2 to function as transcriptional activator and repressor, respectively. In normal cells, the IRF genes are subject to induction through stimuli such as viruses and cytokines including IFNs per se. The findings provide evidence for the presence of an elaborate network of cytokines system wherein the IRFs play a crucial role for the cytokine-mediated cellular responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Identification of a new interferon-alpha/beta-inducible DNA-binding protein that interacts with the regulatory element A of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase ME-12 gene.

A new interferon (IFN)-stimulated response factor (ISRF) has been identified in nuclear extracts of IFN-alpha/beta-treated murine BALB/c-3T3 fibroblasts by the mobility-shift electrophoresis assay. The factor, ISRF-2, displays murine 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase ME-12 gene 5' regulatory element A specificity and differs from the previously described IFN response element B-specific factor ISRF-1 in several aspects. ISRF-2 is restricted to the nucleus, whereas ISRF-1 exists in the cytoplasm and translocates into the nucleus upon treatment of cells with IFN-alpha/beta. The ionic strength requirement of ISRF-2 for maximal DNA-binding activity is lower than that of ISRF-1. The DNA-binding activity of ISRF-2, but not that of ISRF-1, is markedly suppressed by Mg2+. In common with ISRF-1, the phosphorylated form of ISRF-2 appears to be required for DNA-binding activity. A model is proposed for the mechanism whereby murine IFN-alpha/beta regulates 2-5A synthetase ME-12 gene expression.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗
PubMed1992

Double-stranded RNA and interferon-alpha induce transcription through different molecular mechanisms.

Double-stranded (ds) RNA stimulates the synthesis of several mRNAs known to be induced by type I interferons (IFNs). In this report, it is shown that the IFN-alpha stimulated genes (ISGs) 15, 54, 56, and GBP are transcriptionally induced by dsRNA. Transcriptional stimulation occurred in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX), indicating that inducibility was directly mediated by dsRNA through the action of preformed proteins. ISGF-3, the protein complex mediating primary transcriptional induction of ISGs by IFN-alpha, was not activated by dsRNA in the presence of CHX. Additionally, DNA-binding activity of ISGF-2/IRF-1, a protein involved in the regulation of the IFN-beta gene and ISGs, did not correlate with dsRNA-induced transcriptional induction of ISGs. This suggests that dsRNA and IFN-alpha induce ISGs through different molecular mechanisms.

Cycloheximide↗
PubMed1994

Structure and regulation of the human interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2 genes: implications for a gene network in the interferon system.

Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2 are structurally similar DNA-binding factors which were originally identified as regulators of the type I interferon (IFN) system; the former functions as a transcriptional activator, and the latter represses IRF-1 function by competing for the same cis elements. More recent studies have revealed new roles of the two factors in the regulation of cell growth; IRF-1 and IRF-2 manifest antioncogenic and oncogenic activities, respectively. In this study, we determined the structures and chromosomal locations of the human IRF-1 and IRF-2 genes and further characterized the promoters of the respective genes. Comparison of exon-intron organization of the two genes revealed a common evolutionary structure, notably within the exons encoding the N-terminal portions of the two factors. We confirmed the chromosomal mapping of the human IRF-1 gene to 5q31.1 and newly assigned the IRF-2 gene to 4q35.1, using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The 5' regulatory regions of both genes contain highly GC-rich sequences and consensus binding sequences for several known transcription factors, including NF-kappa B. Interestingly, one IRF binding site was found within the IRF-2 promoter, and expression of the IRF-2 gene was affected by both transient and stable IRF-1 expression. In addition, one potential IFN-gamma-activated sequence was found within the IRF-1 promoter. Thus, these results may shed light on the complex gene network involved in regulation of the IFN system.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Signal transduction and gene control.

Extracellular signals regulate gene expression by triggering signal transduction cascades that result in the modulation of transcription factor activity. This is most commonly achieved by changes in the phosphorylation state of these nuclear proteins. Phosphorylation affects transcription factor activity at several distinct levels. It can modulate their intracellular localization by controlling the association with other proteins, have both negative and positive effects on their DNA-binding activity, and modulate the activity of their transcriptional activation domains. In addition to phosphorylation, protein-protein interactions also have an important role in mediating a crosstalk at the nuclear level between different signalling pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Overlapping and CpG methylation-sensitive protein-DNA interactions at the histone H4 transcriptional cell cycle domain: distinctions between two human H4 gene promoters.

Transcriptional regulation of vertebrate histone genes during the cell cycle is mediated by several factors interacting with a series of cis-acting elements located in the 5' regions of these genes. The arrangement of these promoter elements is different for each gene. However, most histone H4 gene promoters contain a highly conserved sequence immediately upstream of the TATA box (H4 subtype consensus sequence), and this region in the human H4 gene FO108 is involved in cell cycle control. The sequence-specific interaction of nuclear factor HiNF-D with this key proximal promoter element of the H4-FO108 gene is cell cycle regulated in normal diploid cells (J. Holthuis, T.A. Owen, A.J. van Wijnen, K.L. Wright, A. Ramsey-Ewing, M.B. Kennedy, R. Carter, S.C. Cosenza, K.J. Soprano, J.B. Lian, J.L. Stein, and G.S. Stein, Science, 247:1454-1457, 1990). Here, we show that this region of the H4-FO108 gene represents a composite protein-DNA interaction domain for several distinct sequence-specific DNA-binding activities, including HiNF-D, HiNF-M, and HiNF-P. Factor HiNF-P is similar to H4TF-2, a DNA-binding activity that is not cell cycle regulated and that interacts with the analogous region of the H4 gene H4.A (F. LaBella and N. Heintz, Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:5825-5831, 1991). The H4.A gene fails to interact with factors HiNF-M and HiNF-D owing to two independent sets of specific nucleotide variants, indicating differences in protein-DNA interactions between these H4 genes. Cytosine methylation of a highly conserved CpG dinucleotide interferes with binding of HiNF-P/H4TF-2 to both the H4-FO108 and H4.A promoters, but no effect is observed for either HiNF-M or HiNF-D binding to the H4-FO108 gene. Thus, strong evolutionary conservation of the H4 consensus sequence may be related to combinatorial interactions involving overlapping and interdigitated recognition nucleotides for several proteins, whose activities are regulated independently. Our results also suggest molecular complexity in the transcriptional regulation of distinct human H4 genes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

TAR RNA-binding protein is an inhibitor of the interferon-induced protein kinase PKR.

A cDNA encoding a double-stranded-RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein was isolated by screening a HeLa cell cDNA expression library for proteins that bind the HIV-1 Rev-responsive-element RNA. The cDNA encoded a protein that was identical to TRBP, the previously reported cellular protein that binds the transactivation response element (TAR) RNA of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. TRBP inhibited phosphorylation of the interferon-induced ribosome-associated protein kinase PKR and of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-2 alpha in a transient-expression system in which the translation of a reporter gene was inhibited by the localized activation of PKR. TRBP expression in HeLa cells complemented the growth and protein-synthesis defect of a vaccinia virus mutant lacking the expression of the dsRNA-binding protein E3L. These results implicate TRBP as a cellular regulatory protein that binds RNAs containing specific secondary structure(s) to mediate the inhibition of PKR activation and stimulate translation in a localized manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The cellular 68,000-Mr protein kinase is highly autophosphorylated and activated yet significantly degraded during poliovirus infection: implications for translational regulation.

We investigated the possible translational regulatory roles played by the interferon-induced, double-stranded-RNA-activated protein kinase (P68) and its natural substrate, eucaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2), in poliovirus-infected cells. We demonstrated that protein kinase P68 was both highly autophosphorylated and activated during poliovirus infection. In accordance with these results, immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that phosphorylation of the endogenous eIF-2 alpha subunit also increased in poliovirus-infected cells. We found that double-stranded RNA synthesized during infection likely induced the high levels of P68 autophosphorylation. To determine whether the increase in kinase activity also could be attributed to induction of P68 synthesis, physical levels of protein kinase were measured. It was unexpectedly found that P68 protein levels did not increase but rather dramatically declined in poliovirus-infected cells. Pulse-chase experiments confirmed that the protein kinase was significantly degraded during virus infection. We corroborated our in vivo observations by developing an in vitro assay for P68 degradation using cell extracts. The possible consequences of P68 degradation and increased eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation for protein synthesis regulation in poliovirus-infected cells are discussed.

Enzyme Activation↗