scholarly journals The amino-terminal region of the retinoblastoma gene product binds a novel nuclear matrix protein that co-localizes to centers for RNA processing.

1994 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Durfee ◽  
M A Mancini ◽  
D Jones ◽  
S J Elledge ◽  
W H Lee

The tumor suppressing capacity of the retinoblastoma protein (p110RB) is dependent on interactions made with cellular proteins through its carboxy-terminal domains. How the p110RB amino-terminal region contributes to this activity is unclear, though evidence now indicates it is important for both growth suppression and regulation of the full-length protein. We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to screen for cellular proteins which bind to the first 300 amino acids of p110RB. The only gene isolated from this screen encodes a novel 84-kD nuclear matrix protein that localizes to subnuclear regions associated with RNA processing. This protein, p84, requires a structurally defined domain in the amino terminus of p110RB for binding. Furthermore, both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that p84 binds preferentially to the functionally active, hypophosphorylated form of p110RB. Thus, the amino terminus of p110RB may function in part to facilitate the binding of growth promoting factors at subnuclear regions actively involved in RNA metabolism.

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 537-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
JoEllen Welsh

1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the active metabolite of vitamin D, is a potent inhibitor of breast cancer cell growth both in vivo and in vitro. We have shown that MCF-7 cells treated with 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D3 exhibit characteristic apoptotic morphology (pyknotic nuclei, chromatin and cytoplasmic condensation, nuclear matrix protein reorganization) within 48 h. In the experiments reported here, we examined the interactions between 1,25(OH)2D3 and the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen (TAM), which also induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Our data suggest that TAM significantly potentiates the reduction in cell number induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 alone. Combined treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 and TAM enhances the degree of apoptosis assessed using morphological markers that identify chromatin and nuclear matrix protein condensation. We have selected a subclone of MCF-7 cells resistant to 1,25(OH)2D3 (MCF-7D3Res). These cells express the vitamin D receptor and exhibit doubling times comparable to the parental MCF-7 cells, even when grown in 100 mM 1,25(OH)2D3. Treatment of both parental and resistant MCF-7 cells with TAM induces apoptosis and clusterin. These data emphasize that apoptosis can be induced in MCF-7 cells either by activation of vitamin-D-mediated signalling or disruption of estrogen-dependent signalling.Key words: apoptosis, breast, vitamin D, antiestrogen, gene expression, clusterin.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 2863-2874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Tubon ◽  
William P. Tansey ◽  
Winship Herr

ABSTRACT The general transcription factor TFIIB is a highly conserved and essential component of the eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription initiation machinery. It consists of a single polypeptide with two conserved structural domains: an amino-terminal zinc ribbon structure (TFIIBZR) and a carboxy-terminal core (TFIIBCORE). We have analyzed the role of the amino-terminal region of human TFIIB in transcription in vivo and in vitro. We identified a small nonconserved surface of the TFIIBZR that is required for pol II transcription in vivo and for different types of basal pol II transcription in vitro. Consistent with a general role in transcription, this TFIIBZR surface is directly involved in the recruitment of pol II to a TATA box-containing promoter. Curiously, although the amino-terminal human TFIIBZR domain can recruit both human pol II and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) pol II, the yeast TFIIB amino-terminal region recruits yeast pol II but not human pol II. Thus, a critical process in transcription from many different promoters—pol II recruitment—has changed in sequence specificity during eukaryotic evolution.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 3477-3488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Onishi ◽  
Syuji Hanai ◽  
Tomoya Ohno ◽  
Yasuhiro Hara ◽  
Norio Ishida

ABSTRACT Although Bmal1 is a key component of the mammalian clock system, little is understood about the actual mechanism of circadian Bmal1 gene transcription, particularly at the chromatin level. Here we discovered a unique chromatin structure within the Bmal1 promoter. The RORE region, which is a critical cis element for the circadian regulation of the Bmal1 gene, is comprised of GC-rich open chromatin. The 3′-flanking region of the promoter inhibited rhythmic transcription in the reporter gene assay in vitro even in the presence of RORα and REV-ERBα. We also found that the nuclear matrix protein SAF-A binds to the 3′-flanking region with circadian timing, which was correlated with Bmal1 expression by footprinting in vivo. These results suggest that the unique chromatin structure containing SAF-A is required for the circadian transcriptional regulation of the Bmal1 gene in cells.


1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Michalak ◽  
Susan Y. Fu ◽  
Rachel E. Milner ◽  
Jody L. Busaan ◽  
Jacqueline E. Hance

Dystrophin is a protein product of the gene responsible for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The protein is localized to the inner surface of sarcolemma and is associated with a group of membrane (glyco)proteins. Dystrophin links cytoskeletal actins via the dystrophin-associated protein complex to extracellular matrix protein, laminin. This structural organization implicates the role of dystrophin in stabilizing the sarcolemma of muscle fibers. Precisely how dystrophin functions is far from clear. The presence of an array of isoforms of the C-terminal region of dystrophin suggests that dystrophin may have functions other than structural. In agreement, many potential phosphorylation sites are found in the C-terminal region of dystrophin, and the C-terminal region of dystrophin is phosphorylated both in vitro and in vivo by many protein kinases, including MAP kinase, p34cdc2 kinase, CaM kinase, and casein kinase, and is dephosphorylated by calcineurin. The C-terminal domain of dystrophin is also a substrate for hierarchical phosporylation by casein kinase-2 and GSK-3. These observations, in accordance with the finding that the cysteine-rich region binds to Ca2+, Zn2+, and calmodulin, suggest an active involvement of dystrophin in transducing signals across muscle sarcolemma. Phosphorylation–dephosphorylation of the C-terminal region of dystrophin may play a role in regulating dystrophin–protein interactions and (or) transducing signal from the extracellular matrix via the dystrophin molecule to the cytoskeleton.Key words: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, protein phosphorylation, protein kinases, calcineurin, cytoskeleton.


2002 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuba Erdemir ◽  
Bilada Bilican ◽  
Dilhan Oncel ◽  
Colin R. Goding ◽  
Ugur Yavuzer

The nuclear matrix protein C1D is an activator of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which is essential for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and V(D)J recombination. C1D is phosphorylated very efficiently by DNA-PK, and its mRNA and protein levels are induced upon γ-irradiation, suggesting that C1D may play a role in repair of DSBs in vivo. In an attempt to identify the biological function of C1D, we have employed the yeast two-hybrid system and found that C1D interacts specifically with Translin-associated factor X, TRAX. Although the biological function of TRAX remains unknown, its bipartite nuclear targeting sequences suggest a role for TRAX in the movement of associated proteins, including Translin, into the nucleus. We show that C1D and TRAX interact specifically in both yeast and mammalian cells. Interestingly, however, interaction of these two proteins in mammalian cells only occur following γ-irradiation, raising the possibility of involvement of TRAX in DNA double-strand break repair and providing evidence for biological functions of the nuclear matrix protein C1D and TRAX. Moreover, we show, using fluorescently tagged proteins, that the relative expression levels of TRAX and Translin affect their subcellular localization. These results suggest that one role for C1D may be to regulate TRAX/Translin complex formation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan McCracken ◽  
Mark Lambermon ◽  
Benjamin J. Blencowe

ABSTRACT Individual steps in the processing of pre-mRNA, including 5′-end cap formation, splicing, and 3′-end processing (cleavage and polyadenylation) are highly integrated and can influence one another. In addition, prior splicing can influence downstream steps in gene expression, including export of mRNA from the nucleus. However, the factors and mechanisms coordinating these steps in the maturation of pre-mRNA transcripts are not well understood. In the present study we demonstrate that SRm160 (for serine/arginine repeat-related nuclear matrix protein of 160 kDa), a coactivator of constitutive and exon enhancer-dependent splicing, participates in 3′-end formation. Increased levels of SRm160 promoted the 3′-end cleavage of transcripts both in vivo and in vitro. Remarkably, at high levels in vivo SRm160 activated the 3′-end cleavage and cytoplasmic accumulation of unspliced pre-mRNAs, thereby uncoupling the requirement for splicing to promote the 3′-end formation and nuclear release of these transcripts. Consistent with a role in 3′-end formation coupled to splicing, SRm160 was found to associate specifically with the cleavage polyadenylation specificity factor and to stimulate the 3′-end cleavage of splicing-active pre-mRNAs more efficiently than that of splicing-inactive pre-mRNAs in vitro. The results provide evidence for a role for SRm160 in mRNA 3′-end formation and suggest that the level of this splicing coactivator is important for the proper coordination of pre-mRNA processing events.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 6784-6793 ◽  
Author(s):  
C S Bangur ◽  
T S Pardee ◽  
A S Ponticelli

The general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) plays an essential role in transcription of protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to assess the role of conserved amino acids in several important regions of yeast TFIIB. These include residues in the highly conserved amino-terminal region and basic residues in the D1 and E1 core domain alpha-helices. Acidic substitutions of residues K190 (D1) and K201 (E1) resulted in growth impairments in vivo, reduced basal transcriptional activity in vitro, and an inability to form stable TFIIB-TATA-binding protein-DNA (DB) complexes. Significantly, these mutants retained the ability to respond to acidic activators in vivo and to the Gal4-VP16 activator in vitro, supporting the view that these basic residues play a role in basal transcription. In addition, 14 single-amino-acid substitutions were introduced in the conserved amino-terminal region. Three of these mutants, the L50D, R64E, and R78L mutants, displayed altered growth properties in vivo and were compromised for supporting transcription in vitro. The L50D mutant was impaired for RNA polymerase II interaction, while the R64E mutant exhibited altered transcription start site selection both in vitro and in vivo and, surprisingly, was more active than the wild type in the formation of stable DB complexes. These results support the view that the amino-terminal domain is involved in the direct interaction between yeast TFIIB and RNA polymerase II and suggest that this domain may interact with DNA and/or modulate the formation of a DB complex.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (7) ◽  
pp. 2279-2285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgeta N. Basturea ◽  
Maria D. Bodero ◽  
Mario E. Moreno ◽  
George P. Munson

ABSTRACT Most members of the AraC/XylS family contain a conserved carboxy-terminal DNA binding domain and a less conserved amino-terminal domain involved in binding small-molecule effectors and dimerization. However, there is no evidence that Rns, a regulator of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli virulence genes, responds to an effector ligand, and in this study we found that the amino-terminal domain of Rns does not form homodimers in vivo. Exposure of Rns to the chemical cross-linker glutaraldehyde revealed that the full-length protein is also a monomer in vitro. Nevertheless, deletion analysis of Rns demonstrated that the first 60 amino acids of the protein are essential for the activation and repression of Rns-regulated promoters in vivo. Amino-terminal truncation of Rns abolished DNA binding in vitro, and two randomly generated mutations, I14T and N16D, that independently abolished Rns autoregulation were isolated. Further analysis of these mutations revealed that they have disparate effects at other Rns-regulated promoters and suggest that they may be involved in an interaction with the carboxy-terminal domain of Rns. Thus, evolution may have preserved the amino terminus of Rns because it is essential for the regulator's activity even though it apparently lacks the two functions, dimerization and ligand binding, usually associated with the amino-terminal domains of AraC/XylS family members.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2406-2415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meera Patturajan ◽  
Xiangyun Wei ◽  
Ronald Berezney ◽  
Jeffry L. Corden

ABSTRACT Yeast two-hybrid screening has led to the identification of a family of proteins that interact with the repetitive C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (A. Yuryev et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:6975–6980, 1996). In addition to serine/arginine-rich SR motifs, the SCAFs (SR-like CTD-associated factors) contain discrete CTD-interacting domains. In this paper, we show that the CTD-interacting domain of SCAF8 specifically binds CTD molecules phosphorylated on serines 2 and 5 of the consensus sequence Tyr1Ser2Pro3Thr4Ser5Pro6Ser7. In addition, we demonstrate that SCAF8 associates with hyperphosphorylated but not with hypophosphorylated RNA polymerase II in vitro and in vivo. This result suggests that SCAF8 is not present in preinitiation complexes but rather associates with elongating RNA polymerase II. Immunolocalization studies show that SCAF8 is present in granular nuclear foci which correspond to sites of active transcription. We also provide evidence that SCAF8 foci are associated with the nuclear matrix. A fraction of these sites overlap with a subset of larger nuclear speckles containing phosphorylated polymerase II. Taken together, our results indicate a possible role for SCAF8 in linking transcription and pre-mRNA processing.


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