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A Elbrecht

Publications and source records attributed to A Elbrecht.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Structure-function properties of the chicken progesterone receptor A synthesized from complementary deoxyribonucleic acid.

The chicken progesterone receptor (PR) cDNA has been cloned and sequenced in our laboratory. Functional receptor A was synthesized from cDNA in two independent systems, by transient transfection of receptor-negative COS M6 cells and by in vitro transcription and translation. These receptors exhibited DNA and hormone binding properties similar to the native PR from oviduct. The ability of receptor to induce target gene transcription was measured by cotransfection of receptor-negative CV-1 cells with expression vectors containing the receptor A cDNA and a progesterone-inducible promotor linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene. In these assays, receptor A produced hormone-dependent induction of CAT activity. In order to define the functional domains of receptor A, expression constructs coding for C-terminal deletion proteins were prepared. Deletion of the C-terminus resulted in loss of hormone binding activity as well as a loss of CAT induction. However, when 290 amino acids were removed from the C-terminus, this severely truncated receptor protein produced hormone-independent target gene activation. Mutant receptor proteins which retained the highly conserved cysteine-rich (C1) region were able to bind to DNA-cellulose, although removal of 290 amino acids from the C-terminus resulted in reduced affinity for DNA. Deletion of part or all of the C1 region resulted in loss of both DNA-binding and transcriptional activation capacities. These results confirm that C1 functions in DNA binding and transcriptional activation and that hormone binding activity can be localized to the C-terminal half of the protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Control of transcription initiation in vitro requires binding of a transcription factor to the distal promoter of the ovalbumin gene.

We used a cell-free HeLa cell transcription system to identify and characterize transcription factors and the promoter elements that they recognize in RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes. Deletion of the region (-71 to -83) containing the GTCAAA direct repeat resulted in a marked decrease of specific transcription of the ovalbumin gene; transcription could be competed with DNA fragments containing this sequence. Furthermore, DNase I footprinting identified a protein-binding site including this direct repeat with crude extracts and one of the partially purified protein fractions required for transcription. We propose that a soluble factor activates transcription through binding to the direct repeat of GTCAAA sequence upstream from the ovalbumin gene.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Identification by exonuclease footprinting of a distal promoter-binding protein from HeLa cell extracts.

Incubation of a HeLa cell fraction termed P1000 with genomic DNA fragments containing portions of the 5'-flanking region of the ovalbumin gene, followed by digestion with exonucleases, shows that this cell fraction contains a protein (or proteins) that binds to the distal promoter of the ovalbumin gene. The protein protects both strands and spans a minimum of 22 bp on the noncoding strand from nucleotides -68 to -90. The 5' border of the protected region on the coding strand is located at nucleotide -81. A similar site on the chick beta-globin gene is also protected by HeLa cell fraction P1000. The exonuclease footprinting methods used to identify the distal promoter-binding protein are more sensitive than the DNaseI footprinting method, and can be used to identify sequence-specific binding proteins in a mixture of DNA binding proteins.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Selective inhibitory effects of thyroid hormones on estrogen-induced protein synthesis in chick embryo liver.

We have investigated the effect of thyroid hormones on estrogen-induced responses in embryonic chick liver. Administration of thyroid hormones inhibits estrogen induction of vitellogenin, as well as of apoprotein-II of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL apo-II). A proportionate decrease in the concentration of hepatic salt-soluble nuclear estrogen receptor is also observed. In contrast, estrogen stimulation of apoprotein-B (VLDL apo-B) synthesis is relatively resistant to inhibition. The inhibitory effects of the thyroid hormones could be due to increased metabolism and clearance of estradiol-17 beta in their presence. The relative resistance of estrogen-induced VLDL apo-B synthesis to thyroid hormone inhibition can be explained by its greater sensitivity to low doses of estradiol. In addition, experiments with the antithyroid agent thiourea suggest that, in vivo, estrogen-induced responses could be balanced by the selective inhibitory effects of thyroid hormones.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Independent developmental programs for two estrogen-regulated genes.

Measurement of hepatic apolipoprotein II and vitellogenin II messenger RNA during chicken embryogenesis showed that these genes acquire estrogen responsiveness at different stages of development. Sensitive solution hybridization assays with excess complementary DNA showed that apolipoprotein II transcripts were induced to 500 molecules per cell at day 9, whereas induction of vitellogenin II messenger RNA was not found until day 11. Thus, two estrogen regulated genes of common function and coordinately regulated in the adult may be on independent developmental programs.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Hybridization of DNA to RNA in methylmercuric hydroxide agarose gels.

We describe a method for hybridization of cDNA probes to RNA directly in agarose gels which provides a practical alternative to methods involving transfer of the RNA out of the gel. Total cellular RNA is subjected to electrophoresis in agarose gels containing methylmercuric hydroxide as the denaturing agent. After removal of the methylmercuric hydroxide, the gel is dried and 32P-labeled DNA probes are hybridized to the immobilized RNA. This method is more economical in time and expense than methods involving transfer of the RNA out of the gel, while maintaining a level of sensitivity comparable to other procedures.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Estrogen receptor and the development of estrogenic responses in embryonic chick liver.

We have examined the development of responsiveness to estrogen by embryonic chick liver with a view to determining common and unique factors involved in the establishment of different genomic responses to th e hormone. The major apoproteins of chick VLDL, apo VLDL-B and apo VLDL-II, both appear to be estrogen inducible at an earlier stage of of embryonic development than is vitellogenin. Apo VLDL-B, but not vitellogenin, exhibits a significant level of hepatic synthesis in the absence of estrogen treatment. This basal synthesis in the absence of estrogen treatment. This basal synthesis is tamoxifen-resistant and is detectable at very early stages of hepatic development, well before estrogen responsiveness is seen. Immunological cross-reactivity, electrophoretic behavior and the results of limited proteolysis mapping suggest that the apo VLDL-B synthesized under basal and estrogen-stimulated conditions is the same (or a very similar) protein. Inducibility of the VLDL apoproteins appears to parallel the appearance of the hepatic estrogen receptor system at days 10-12 while vitellogenin induction is delayed by several days. Cytosol receptor concentration undergoes a gradual increase up to the 19th day of development and thereafter declines. The properties of the 19-day receptor are very similar to those of cytosol receptor in hatched chickens, but the fall in concentration does not appear to be proportionately related to inducibility of estrogenic responses, as measured by the relative rates of synthesis in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Differential ontogeny of estrogen responsiveness in the chick embryo liver.

The development of estrogen responsiveness in embryonic chicken liver has been studied in terms of specific genomic responses to the hormone. Embryonated eggs were injected with estradiol at various stages of development, and after 48 h the hepatic synthesis of the apoproteins II and B of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) was determined by incubation of liver slices with [3H]leucine and analysis of the tissue supernatant by specific immunoprecipitation. Significant estrogen induction of synthesis of apoprotein II of VLDL could be seen by the 11th day of embryonic development. The induction of apoprotein B, the other major apolipoprotein of VLDL, paralleled that of apoprotein II. It was reported earlier that the synthesis of vitellogenin did not become estrogen inducible until about the 15th day of embryonic development. The dissociation of the vitellogenin and apoprotein B responses can be confirmed by direct electrophoretic analysis of [3H]serine-labelled liver homogenates. The results are discussed in relation to the ontogeny of the estrogen receptor and the possible involvement of other controlling factors.

Animals↗