In Vitro Transcriptional Regulation via Nucleic-Acid-Based Transcription Factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 2558-2565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Y. T. Chou ◽  
William M. Shih
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Nucleic Acid

scholarly journals Cell-free transcriptional regulation via nucleic-acid-based transcription factors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Y.T. Chou ◽  
William M. Shih
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Gene Networks ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Dna Nanotechnology ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Nucleic Acid Hybridization ◽  
Artificial Transcription Factors ◽  
Free Gene

AbstractCells execute complex transcriptional programs by deploying distinct protein regulatory assemblies that interact with cis-regulatory elements throughout the genome. Using concepts from DNA nanotechnology, we synthetically recapitulated this feature in cell-free gene networks actuated by T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP). Our approach involves engineering nucleic-acid hybridization interactions between a T7 RNAP site-specifically functionalized with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), templates displaying cis-regulatory ssDNA domains, and auxiliary nucleic-acid assemblies acting as artificial transcription factors (TFs). By relying on nucleic-acid hybridization, de novo regulatory assemblies can be computationally designed to emulate features of protein-based TFs, such as cooperativity and combinatorial binding, while offering unique advantages such as programmability, chemical stability, and scalability. We illustrate the use of nucleic-acid TFs to implement transcriptional logic, cascading, feedback, and multiplexing. This framework will enable rapid prototyping of increasingly complex in vitro genetic devices for applications such as portable diagnostics, bio-analysis, and the design of adaptive materials.

High resolution mapping of nucleic acid containing complexes in vitro and in situ

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 48-49
Author(s):  
D. P. Bazett-Jones ◽  
M. J. Hendzel
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Heavy Atom ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Resolution Mapping ◽  
Tata Sequence

Structural analysis of combinations of nucleosomes and transcription factors on promoter and enhancer elements is necessary in order to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of transcription initiation. Such complexes are often not amenable to study by high resolution crystallographic techniques. We have been applying electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) to specific problems in molecular biology related to transcription regulation. There are several advantages that this technique offers in studies of nucleoprotein complexes. First, an intermediate level of spatial resolution can be achieved because heavy atom contrast agents are not necessary. Second, mass and stoichiometric relationships of protein and nucleic acid can be estimated by phosphorus detection, an element in much higher proportions in nucleic acid than protein. Third, wrapping or bending of the DNA by the protein constituents can be observed by phosphorus mapping of the complexes. Even when ESI is used with high exposure of electrons to the specimen, important macromolecular information may be provided. For example, an image of the TATA binding protein (TBP) bound to DNA is shown in the Figure (top panel). It can be seen that the protein distorts the DNA away from itself and much of its mass sits off the DNA helix axis. Moreover, phosphorus and mass estimates demonstrate whether one or two TBP molecules interact with this particular promoter TATA sequence.

In vitro evaluation of hexitol nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Van Aerschot ◽  
Mark Vandermeeren ◽  
Johan Geysen ◽  
Walter Luyten ◽  
Marc Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
In Vitro Evaluation

scholarly journals Novel Transcriptional Regulons for Autotrophic Cycle Genes in Crenarchaeota

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (14) ◽  
pp. 2383-2391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Semen A. Leyn ◽  
Irina A. Rodionova ◽  
Xiaoqing Li ◽  
Dmitry A. Rodionov
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Comparative Genomics ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genome Context

ABSTRACTAutotrophic microorganisms are able to utilize carbon dioxide as their only carbon source, or, alternatively, many of them can grow heterotrophically on organics. Different variants of autotrophic pathways have been identified in various lineages of the phylumCrenarchaeota. Aerobic members of the orderSulfolobalesutilize the hydroxypropionate-hydroxybutyrate cycle (HHC) to fix inorganic carbon, whereas anaerobicThermoprotealesuse the dicarboxylate-hydroxybutyrate cycle (DHC). Knowledge of transcriptional regulation of autotrophic pathways inArchaeais limited. We applied a comparative genomics approach to predict novel autotrophic regulons in theCrenarchaeota. We report identification of two novel DNA motifs associated with the autotrophic pathway genes in theSulfolobales(HHC box) andThermoproteales(DHC box). Based on genome context evidence, the HHC box regulon was attributed to a novel transcription factor from the TrmB family named HhcR. Orthologs of HhcR are present in allSulfolobalesgenomes but were not found in other lineages. A predicted HHC box regulatory motif was confirmed byin vitrobinding assays with the recombinant HhcR protein fromMetallosphaera yellowstonensis. For the DHC box regulon, we assigned a different potential regulator, named DhcR, which is restricted to the orderThermoproteales. DhcR inThermoproteus neutrophilus(Tneu_0751) was previously identified as a DNA-binding protein with high affinity for the promoter regions of two autotrophic operons. The global HhcR and DhcR regulons reconstructed by comparative genomics were reconciled with available omics data inMetallosphaeraandThermoproteusspp. The identified regulons constitute two novel mechanisms for transcriptional control of autotrophic pathways in theCrenarchaeota.IMPORTANCELittle is known about transcriptional regulation of carbon dioxide fixation pathways inArchaea. We previously applied the comparative genomics approach for reconstruction of DtxR family regulons in diverse lineages ofArchaea. Here, we utilize similar computational approaches to identify novel regulatory motifs for genes that are autotrophically induced in microorganisms from two lineages ofCrenarchaeotaand to reconstruct the respective regulons. The predicted novel regulons in archaeal genomes control the majority of autotrophic pathway genes and also other carbon and energy metabolism genes. The HhcR regulon was experimentally validated by DNA-binding assays inMetallosphaeraspp. Novel regulons described for the first time in this work provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of autotrophic pathways inArchaea.

Subnuclear compartmentalization of sequence-specific transcription factors and regulation of eukaryotic gene expression

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth N Corry ◽  
D Alan Underhill
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Nuclear Architecture ◽  
Subnuclear Localization ◽  
Modular Structures

To date, the majority of the research regarding eukaryotic transcription factors has focused on characterizing their function primarily through in vitro methods. These studies have revealed that transcription factors are essentially modular structures, containing separate regions that participate in such activities as DNA binding, protein–protein interaction, and transcriptional activation or repression. To fully comprehend the behavior of a given transcription factor, however, these domains must be analyzed in the context of the entire protein, and in certain cases the context of a multiprotein complex. Furthermore, it must be appreciated that transcription factors function in the nucleus, where they must contend with a variety of factors, including the nuclear architecture, chromatin domains, chromosome territories, and cell-cycle-associated processes. Recent examinations of transcription factors in the nucleus have clarified the behavior of these proteins in vivo and have increased our understanding of how gene expression is regulated in eukaryotes. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding sequence-specific transcription factor compartmentalization within the nucleus and discuss its impact on the regulation of such processes as activation or repression of gene expression and interaction with coregulatory factors.Key words: transcription, subnuclear localization, chromatin, gene expression, nuclear architecture.

Genetically Encoded RNA Nanodevices for Cellular Imaging and Regulation

Nanoscale ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qikun Yu ◽  
Kewei Ren ◽  
Mingxu You
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Cellular Imaging ◽  
Synthetic Dna

Nucleic acid-based nanodevices have been widely used in the fields of biosensing and nanomedicine. Traditionally, the majority of these nanodevices were first constructed in vitro using synthetic DNA or RNA...

scholarly journals Role of Satb1 and Satb2 Transcription Factors in the Glutamate Receptors Expression and Ca2+ Signaling in the Cortical Neurons In Vitro

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5968
Author(s):  
Egor A. Turovsky ◽  
Maria V. Turovskaya ◽  
Evgeniya I. Fedotova ◽  
Alexey A. Babaev ◽  
Viktor S. Tarabykin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cortical Cell ◽  
Inhibitory System ◽  
Selective Agonist ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Deficient Mice

Transcription factors Satb1 and Satb2 are involved in the processes of cortex development and maturation of neurons. Alterations in the expression of their target genes can lead to neurodegenerative processes. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of regulation of neurotransmission by these transcription factors remain poorly understood. In this study, we have shown that transcription factors Satb1 and Satb2 participate in the regulation of genes encoding the NMDA-, AMPA-, and KA- receptor subunits and the inhibitory GABA(A) receptor. Deletion of gene for either Satb1 or Satb2 homologous factors induces the expression of genes encoding the NMDA receptor subunits, thereby leading to higher amplitudes of Ca2+-signals in neurons derived from the Satb1-deficient (Satb1fl/+ * NexCre/+) and Satb1-null mice (Satb1fl/fl * NexCre/+) in response to the selective agonist reducing the EC50 for the NMDA receptor. Simultaneously, there is an increase in the expression of the Gria2 gene, encoding the AMPA receptor subunit, thus decreasing the Ca2+-signals of neurons in response to the treatment with a selective agonist (5-Fluorowillardiine (FW)). The Satb1 deletion increases the sensitivity of the KA receptor to the agonist (domoic acid), in the cortical neurons of the Satb1-deficient mice but decreases it in the Satb1-null mice. At the same time, the Satb2 deletion decreases Ca2+-signals and the sensitivity of the KA receptor to the agonist in neurons from the Satb1-null and the Satb1-deficient mice. The Satb1 deletion affects the development of the inhibitory system of neurotransmission resulting in the suppression of the neuron maturation process and switching the GABAergic responses from excitatory to inhibitory, while the Satb2 deletion has a similar effect only in the Satb1-null mice. We show that the Satb1 and Satb2 transcription factors are involved in the regulation of the transmission of excitatory signals and inhibition of the neuronal network in the cortical cell culture.

scholarly journals Regulation of sarcomagenesis by the empty spiracles homeobox genes EMX1 and EMX2

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Pedro Jimenez-García ◽  
Antonio Lucena-Cacace ◽  
Daniel Otero-Albiol ◽  
Amancio Carnero
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Neural Crest ◽  
Tumor Suppressors ◽  
Homeobox Genes ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Cell Gene Expression

AbstractThe EMX (Empty Spiracles Homeobox) genes EMX1 and EMX2 are two homeodomain gene members of the EMX family of transcription factors involved in the regulation of various biological processes, such as cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, during brain development and neural crest migration. They play a role in the specification of positional identity, the proliferation of neural stem cells, and the differentiation of certain neuronal cell phenotypes. In general, they act as transcription factors in early embryogenesis and neuroembryogenesis from metazoans to higher vertebrates. The EMX1 and EMX2’s potential as tumor suppressor genes has been suggested in some cancers. Our work showed that EMX1/EMX2 act as tumor suppressors in sarcomas by repressing the activity of stem cell regulatory genes (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, MYC, NANOG, NES, and PROM1). EMX protein downregulation, therefore, induced the malignance and stemness of cells both in vitro and in vivo. In murine knockout (KO) models lacking Emx genes, 3MC-induced sarcomas were more aggressive and infiltrative, had a greater capacity for tumor self-renewal, and had higher stem cell gene expression and nestin expression than those in wild-type models. These results showing that EMX genes acted as stemness regulators were reproduced in different subtypes of sarcoma. Therefore, it is possible that the EMX genes could have a generalized behavior regulating proliferation of neural crest-derived progenitors. Together, these results indicate that the EMX1 and EMX2 genes negatively regulate these tumor-altering populations or cancer stem cells, acting as tumor suppressors in sarcoma.

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