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D W Nebert

Publications and source records attributed to D W Nebert.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Decreased Hnf-1 gene expression in mice homozygous for a 1.2-centiMorgan deletion on chromosome 7.

The mammalian CYP2E1 gene encodes a cytochrome P450 enzyme that is markedly increased soon after birth. In vitro evidence suggests that the rat CYP2E1 gene is positively regulated by the transcription factor HNF-1 or a protein displaying DNA-binding properties similar to HNF-1. In contrast to newborn wild-type mice and mice heterozygous for a 1.2-centiMorgan deletion on chromosome 7, newborn mice homozygous for this deletion do not show significant expression of the Cyp2e-1 and Hnf-1 genes. However, the Cyp2e-1 and Hnf-1 structural genes are not in the chromosome 7 segment deleted in these mice. Although Cyp2e-1 maps to chromosome 7, it is distal to this deletion; Hnf-1 maps to chromosome 5. These data suggest that the deleted region of chromosome 7 contains a gene encoding a trans-acting factor which is upstream (epistatic) in the regulatory cascade that includes Hnf-1 gene expression.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

The murine Cyp1a-1 gene negatively regulates its own transcription and that of other members of the aromatic hydrocarbon-responsive [Ah] gene battery.

Transcripts of the murine CYP1A1 (cytochrome P1450) mRNA are markedly elevated in mutant hepatoma cell lines that contain missense mutations in the Cyp1a-1 structural gene. This putative derepression extends to other genes in the [Ah] battery. To test whether the Cyp1a-1 gene product is involved in a mechanism of feedback regulation of transcription, we introduced expression plasmids carrying the murine wild-type Cyp1a-1 cDNA into the mutant hepatoma cells. Measurements of steady-state mRNA levels and of transcriptional rates in the transfectants reveal that expression of a functional, exogenous CYP1A1 protein is sufficient to restore the repression of the endogenous gene, as well as restore the inducibility by dioxin, and that this effect takes place primarily at the level of transcription. Similar experiments with expression plasmids that carry the human CYP1A2 cDNA indicate that the CYP1A2 protein (cytochrome P3450) can also function as a transcriptional repressor. In addition, we find that expression of the Nmo-1 [NAD(P)H:menadione oxidoreductase] gene, a third member of the [Ah] gene battery, is also repressed by the exogenous expression of either Cyp1a-1 or CYP1A2 cDNA. These results indicate that the gene product of either member of the mammalian CYP1 family has a previously unrecognized transcriptional regulatory function, which is likely to be exerted by modification of preexisting trans-acting factors. This function may help bring about a fast reprogramming of gene expression, as might be needed during detoxification of toxic foreign chemicals.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cellular responses to oxidative stress: the [Ah] gene battery as a paradigm.

A major source of oxidative stress in animals is plant stress metabolites, also termed phytoalexins. The aromatic hydrocarbon-responsive [Ah] gene battery is considered here as a model system in which we can study metabolically coordinated enzymes that respond to phytoalexin-induced oxidative stress. In the mouse, the [Ah] battery comprises at least six genes: two Phase I genes, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2; and four Phase II genes, Nmo-1, Aldh-1, Ugt-1, and Gt-1. All six genes appear to be regulated positively by inducers such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other ligands of the Ah receptor. In the absence of foreign inducer, the control of Nmo-1 gene expression is independent of the control of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 gene expression. The radiation deletion homozygote c14CoS/c14CoS mouse is lacking about 1.1 centiMorgans of chromosome 7. Although having no detectable CYP1A1 or CYP1A2 activation, the untreated c14CoS/c14CoS mouse exhibits markedly elevated transcripts of the Nmo-1 gene and three growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible (gadd) genes. These data suggest that the missing region on chromosome 7 in the c14CoS/c14CoS mouse contains a gene(s), which we propose to call Nmo-1n, encoding a trans-acting factor(s) that is a negative effector of the Nmo-1 and gadd genes. The three other [Ah] battery Phase II genes behave similarly to Nmo-1 in the c14CoS/c14CoS mouse. This coordinated response to oxidative stress and DNA damage, by way of the release of a mammalian battery of genes from negative control, bears an interesting resemblance to the SOS response in bacteria.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Selective mouse breeding for short ethanol sleep time has led to high levels of hepatic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor.

Following a selective breeding program of heterogeneous mice for more than 30 generations, SS ("short sleep") and LS ("long sleep") lines have been developed on the basis of their sleep times when challenged with a single intraperitoneal dose of ethanol. The aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness (Ah) locus encodes the Ah receptor, which regulates the induction of certain drug-metabolizing enzymes by polycyclic aromatic compounds such as 3-methylcholanthrene and tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. The C57BL/6 inbred mouse strain (B6; Ahb/Ahb) has a high-affinity Ah receptor, while the DBA/2 inbred mouse strain (D2; Ahd/Ahd) has a low-affinity Ah receptor. We show here that the SS inbred mouse line exhibits markedly elevated hepatic levels of the high-affinity Ah receptor, while the LS outbred mouse line contains the low-affinity Ah receptor. Among progeny of (B6D2)F1 X D2 backcross, the b/d heterozygote (having the high-affinity Ah receptor) was found to be several times more resistant than the d/d homozygote to a single dose of intraperitoneal ethanol. The D2.B6-Ahb congenic line is also several times more resistant to intraperitoneal ethanol than the B6.D2-Ahb congenic line is also several times more resistant to intraperitoneal ethanol than B6.D2-Ahd congenic line. We found that the waking blood ethanol levels are the same in b/d and d/d mice, suggesting that the relative ethanol resistance in b/d mice cannot be explained on the basis of a difference in central nervous system sensitivity. There are no differences between SS and LS mice or between b/d and d/d mice with regard to (i) blood acetaldehyde levels after a single intraperitoneal dose of ethanol, or (ii) hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activities. There is a difference in the rate of ethanol elimination: SS more rapid than LS; b/d more rapid than d/d. Although SS mice have lower hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities (cytosolic, mitochondrial low-Km: and mitochondrial high-Km forms) than LS mice, b/d and d/d do not show this difference. These data suggest that a selected mouse breeding program, based on resistance to a single intraperitoneal dose of ethanol, selects concurrently for the hepatic high-affinity Ah receptor. This selective advantage cannot be explained on the basis of changes in alcohol dehydrogenase or aldehyde dehydrogenase activities and might provide insight into the nature of the endogenous ligand for the Ah receptor.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Marked increases in hepatic NAD(P)H:oxidoreductase gene transcription and mRNA levels correlated with a mouse chromosome 7 deletion.

The NAD(P)H:menadione oxidoreductase gene (Nmo-1) codes for a quinone reductase (also called DT diaphorase; EC 1.6.99.2) believed to play a central role in protection against oxidative stress. We have studied mice with a radiation-induced chromosomal deletion involving the albino locus (c) on chromosome 7 and found that Nmo-1 mRNA levels and the rate of Nmo-1 gene transcription are markedly increased (greater than 100-fold and greater than 12-fold, respectively) in the untreated c14CoS/c14CoS deletion homozygote, compared with the untreated Cch/Cch wild-type and the Cch/C14CoS heterozygote. These data suggest that a gene located on chromosome 7 encodes a trans-acting regulatory factor that might be a negative effector of the Nmo-1 gene, which we show here is located on chromosome 8 approximately 1.4 centimorgans (about 1000 kilobase pairs) from the Es-2 gene. Conversely, there are no detectable basal levels of cytochrome P1450 (Cyp1a1 gene) or cytochrome P3450 (Cyp1a2 gene) mRNA, indicating that the regulation of basal expression of the Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 genes is distinct from that of the Nmo-1 gene. Moreover, the Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 genes and the Nmo-1 gene are induced by tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the cch/cch, cch/c14CoS, and c14CoS/c14CoS mice. The mechanism of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin inducibility of the Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, and Nmo-1 genes is, therefore, independent of the mechanism of Nmo-1 gene activation in untreated c14CoS/c14CoS mice.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Cell-specific induction of mouse Cyp1a1 mRNA during development.

The dioxin-inducible cytochrome P(1)450 (Cyp1a1 gene) and P(3)450 (Cyp1a2 gene) enzymes have been implicated in the metabolism of numerous polycyclic hydrocarbons and arylamines, respectively. The prototypic inducer 3-methylcholanthrene was given to the pregnant mouse, and the intrauterine response was examined with the use of in situ hybridization. During the early postimplantation stage, inducible Cyp1a1 mRNA is detected in specific cell types in the extraembryonic tissues only. This selective expression along with the lack of detectable constitutive Cyp1a1 and constitutive or inducible Cyp1a2 gene transcripts between 5.3 and 14.5 days of gestation suggest that (i) these two genes appear to play no endogenous role during differentiation and (ii) the metabolic activity of the inducible Cyp1a1 enzyme may be important to the embryo and fetus from the standpoint of protection against toxic foodstuff and other environmental chemicals.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Isolation and sequence of cDNA encoding a cytochrome P-450 from an insecticide-resistant strain of the house fly, Musca domestica.

A cDNA expression library from phenobarbital-treated house fly (Musca domestica) was screened with rabbit antisera directed against partially purified house fly cytochrome P-450. Two overlapping clones with insert lengths of 1.3 and 1.5 kilobases were isolated. The sequence of a 1629-base-pair (bp) cDNA was obtained, with an open reading frame (nucleotides 81-1610) encoding a P-450 protein of 509 residues (Mr = 58,738). The insect P-450 protein contains a hydrophobic NH2 terminus and a 22-residue cysteine-containing fragment near the COOH terminus that is known to bind the heme; both of these features have been found in the more than five dozen vertebrate P-450 proteins of which the sequences are presently known. Interestingly, the termination codon UAA may be contained in a putative polyadenylylation signal (AAUAAA) of the mRNA. This P-450 protein exhibits the most similarity (27% amino acid positional identity) with mammalian proteins of the P450III family but qualifies as a member of another family, which we propose to designate the P450VI gene family. This cDNA and deduced protein sequence should provide important information in the study of evolution of the P-450 gene superfamily, as well as provide an important probe for studying the regulation of insect P-450 and understanding the molecular genetics of insecticide resistance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Transcriptional start site in the mouse Cyp1a1 (cytochrome P1450) gene.

Two transcriptional initiation sites have been described by different laboratories for the mouse Cyp1a1 (cytochrome P1450) gene: start site TI, at the beginning of the nontranslated 87-bp first exon, and start site TII, 635 bp downstream from site TI within the 2,380-bp first intron. Site TI was characterized in normal C57BL/6 mouse liver, whereas site TII was described in a high activity variant line (HAV cells) derived from the mouse hepatoma Hepa-1c1c7 wild type (wt) established cell line. It is conceivable that a tumor-specific promoter might be used in the Cyp1a1 gene in malignant tissue, as compared with an alternative transcriptional start site in normal tissue. To test this hypothesis, we constructed fusion plasmids containing the two putative transcription initiation sites and performed transcriptional mapping on the Cyp1a1 transcripts from control and tetrachlorobenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treated wt and HAV cells; Cyp1a1 mRNA sequencing was also carried out in the TCDD-treated wt and HAV cell lines. We conclude that the Cyp1a1 transcription initiation site in both of these hepatoma-derived cell lines is the same (start site TI) as that used in normal mouse liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Mammalian genes coordinately regulated by growth arrest signals and DNA-damaging agents.

More than 20 different cDNA clones encoding DNA-damage-inducible transcripts in rodent cells have recently been isolated by hybridization subtraction (A. J. Fornace, Jr., I. Alamo, Jr., and M. C. Hollander, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8800-8804, 1988). In most cells, one effect of DNA damage is the transient inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell growth. We now show that five of our clones encode transcripts that are increased by other growth cessation signals: growth arrest by serum reduction, medium depletion, contact inhibition, or a 24-h exposure to hydroxyurea. The genes coding for these transcripts have been designated gadd (growth arrest and DNA damage inducible). Two of the gadd cDNA clones were found to hybridize at high stringency to transcripts from human cells that were induced after growth cessation signals or treatment with DNA-damaging agents, which indicates that these responses have been conserved during mammalian evolution. In contrast to results with growth-arrested cells that still had the capacity to grow after removal of the growth arrest conditions, no induction occurred in HL60 cells when growth arrest was produced by terminal differentiation, indicating that only certain kinds of growth cessation signals induce these genes. All of our experiments suggest that the gadd genes are coordinately regulated: the kinetics of induction for all five transcripts were similar; in addition, overexpression of gadd genes was found in homozygous deletion c14CoS/c14CoS mice that are missing a small portion of chromosome 7, suggesting that a trans-acting factor encoded by a gene in this deleted portion is a negative effector of the gadd genes. The gadd genes may represent part of a novel regulatory pathway involved in the negative control of mammalian cell growth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of mouse CYP1A1 gene expression by dioxin: requirement of two cis-acting elements during induction.

The mouse cytochrome P1450 (CYP1A1) gene is responsible for the metabolism of numerous carcinogens and toxic chemicals. Induction by the environmental contaminant tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) requires a functional aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. We examined the 5'-flanking region of the CYP1A1 gene in mouse hepatoma Hepa-1 wild-type cells and a mutant line having a defect in chromatin binding of the TCDD-receptor complex. We identified two cis-acting elements (distal, -1071 to -901 region; proximal, -245 to -50 region) required for constitutive and TCDD-inducible CYP1A1 gene expression. Three classes of DNA-protein complexes binding to the distal element were identified: class I, found only in the presence of TCDD and a functional Ah receptor, that was heat labile and not competed against by simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter DNA; class II, consisting of at least three constitutive complexes that were heat stable and bound to SV40 DNA; and class III, composed of at least three constitutive complexes that were thermolabile and were not competed against by SV40 DNA. Essential contacts for these proteins were centered at -993 to -990 for the class I complex, -987, -986, or both for the class II complexes, and -938 to -927 for the class III complexes. The proximal element was absolutely essential for both constitutive and TCDD-inducible CYP1A1 gene expression, and at least two constitutive complexes bound to this region. These data are consistent with the proximal element that binds proteins being necessary but not sufficient for inducible gene expression; interaction of these proteins with those at the distal element was found to be required for full CYP1A1 induction by TCDD.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Human CYP1A2: sequence, gene structure, comparison with the mouse and rat orthologous gene, and differences in liver 1A2 mRNA expression.

We have sequenced the human CYP1A2 (cytochrome P(3)450) gene, 1,906 basepairs (bp) of the 5' flanking region, and 113 bp of the 3' flanking region. The gene spans almost 7.8 kilobases, comprising seven exons and six introns. The transcriptional start site was determined by both primer extension and S1 mapping. Including the first noncoding exon of 55 bp, the entire mRNA is 3,121 bp in length, and the open reading frame, starting with nucleotide 10 of exon 2, encodes 515 amino acids (mol wt = 58,294). Between the human CYP1A2 and CYP1A1 (cytochrome P(1)450) genes, exons 2, 4, 6, and especially 5 are strikingly conserved in both nucleotide similarity and total number of bases. Alignment of the upstream sequences and exon 1 of human CYP1A2 with that of mouse or rat CYP1A2 revealed two possibly significant regions of similarity: 1) 68% in the approximately 150 bases immediately 5' from the mRNA cap site and 2) 80% identify between the human -841 to -758 segment and the mouse -1,529 to -1,439 segment. The canonical 5-bp box (CACGC), found upstream of all mammalian CYP1A1 genes to date and believed to interact with the inducer.aromatic hydrocarbon receptor complex, was not found on either strand in the 1,906 bp of the 5' flanking region of human CYP1A2. In contrast, alignment of the upstream sequences, exon 1, and intron 1 of human CYP1A1 with that of mouse or rat CYP1A1 revealed large, highly conserved regions. Conserved regions were found in intron 1 of the human, mouse, and rat CYP1A2 gene. These data suggest that the regulatory elements controlling the CYP1A2 gene might differ in location from those controlling the CYP1A1 gene. Among 12 human liver samples, striking differences (greater than 15-fold) in the 3.3-kilobase 1A2 mRNA levels were seen. This result may reflect significant genetic differences in constitutive and/or inducible CYP1A2 gene expression that could play an important role in individual risk of environmental toxicity or cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evolution of the cytochrome P450 genes.

1. The P450 gene superfamily is presently known to contain more than 78 members, divided into 14 families. 2. The superfamily has undergone divergent evolution, and the ancestral gene is probably more than 2 billion years old. 3. The recent 'burst' in new P450 genes, particularly in the II family during the past 800 million years, appears to be the result of 'animal-plant warfare'. 4. Due to the presence or absence of a particular P450 gene in one species but not the other, it may not be correct to extrapolate toxicity or cancer data from rodent to human. 5. Increases in the P450 gene product (enzyme induction) almost always reflect an elevated rate in gene transcription, although there are several exceptions. 6. The mechanisms of P450 gene regulation (induction) by classes of inducers might become better understood through the comparison of different phyla that differ in response to a particular class of inducers. 7. Amongst several carefully selected phyla, delineation between which electron donor (presence of Fe2S2 protein or NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase, or both) interacts with P450 may provide valuable information about the evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Altered regulation of P-450IA1 expression in a multidrug-resistant MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.

MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, selected for resistance to adriamycin (AdrR), exhibit the phenotype of multidrug resistance (MDR). Previous studies have shown that resistance in AdrR MCF-7 cells is associated with several biochemical changes that are similar to those induced in rat hyperplastic nodules, preneoplastic liver lesions which display broad spectrum resistance to carcinogens and hepatotoxins. In this report, we show that these changes in the AdrR MCF-7 cells are also associated with the development of cross-resistance to the procarcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and are associated with a marked defect in the conversion of BP to its cytotoxic, carcinogenic metabolites by AdrR cells. Since aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase is the principle enzyme activity which converts benzo(a)pyrene to toxic hydroxylated forms, the regulation of cytochrome P-450IA1 expression, the gene encoding this enzyme activity in MCF-7 cells, was examined. Incubation with 100 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 24 h results in a marked increase in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in wild type (WT) but not AdrR MCF-7 cells. The alteration in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase expression in the AdrR cells is not overcome by incubation either with higher concentrations of TCDD (1 microM) or for longer periods of time (4 days). Northern blot analysis indicates that this defect in AdrR MCF-7 cells involves a regulatory defect at the level of P-450IA1 RNA. Following transfection of a construct containing the normal mouse P-450IA1 promoter fused to a reporter gene (bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) into WT and AdrR MCF-7 cells, TCDD induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in WT MCF-7 cells only. Furthermore, TCDD also induces both DT-diaphorase and UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities in WT, but not AdrR cells. These data suggest that the defect in the AdrR MCF-7 cells is not due to a structural P-450IA1 gene mutation, but rather involves a product regulating the polycyclic hydrocarbon-inducible expression of several drug-metabolizing enzyme activities. This defect in the AdrR MCF-7 cells is also associated with the development of resistance to ellipticine, an anticancer agent which is converted to more toxic hydroxylated species by aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase or a similar mixed function oxidase. The WT and AdrR MCF-7 cells represent a useful model to study the regulation of the P-450IA1 gene in human cells.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗
PubMed1988

Human dioxin-inducible cytosolic NAD(P)H:menadione oxidoreductase. cDNA sequence and localization of gene to chromosome 16.

NAD(P)H:menadione oxidoreductase (NMOR1) is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the two-electron reduction of various redox dyes and quinones. It has been proposed that this enzyme may have a protective effect against cancer caused by quinones and their metabolic precursors. We show that tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment of the human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep-G2 produces a 5-fold induction of NMOR activity. Several overlapping human NMOR1 cDNAs were isolated from a human liver lambda gt 11 expression library, and their composite sequence corresponds to an mRNA of 2448 nucleotides containing a continuous open reading frame encoding a protein of 274 residues (molecular weight, 30,880). The corresponding human NMOR1 mRNA has an unusually long 3'-untranslated region (1679 base pairs) with four potential polyadenylation signals (I-IV) at positions 986, 1460, 1838, and 2419 and a single copy of human Alu repetitive sequence between polyadenylation sites II and III. Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA suggests the presence of a single NMOR1 gene approximately 10 kilobases (KB) in length. The use of three of the aforementioned polyadenylation signals is likely to account for the three different species (2.7, 1.7, and 1.2 kb) of mRNA hybridizing to NMOR1 cDNA in Hep-G2 cells. Indeed several partial cDNA clones were isolated that corresponded to the mRNA derived by use of the proximal polyadenylation signal. Interestingly, the longest (2.7 kb) mRNA species was induced severalfold by TCDD, whereas the other two mRNAs (1.7 and 1.2 kb) were induced to a much lesser extent by TCDD treatment. The human NMOR1 cDNA and protein are 83 and 85% similar to rat liver cytosolic NMOR1 cDNA and protein, respectively. Southern analysis of DNA from 54 human x mouse and 39 human x hamster somatic cell hybrids shows that the NMOR1 gene resides on human chromosome 16.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Characterization of the common genetic defect in humans deficient in debrisoquine metabolism.

In population studies of individuals given the antihypertensive drug debrisoquine, two distinct phenotypes have been described: extensive metabolizers excrete 10-200 times more of the urinary metabolite 4-hydroxydebrisoquine than poor metabolizers. In family studies the poor-metabolizer phenotype behaves as an autosomal recessive trait with an incidence between 5% and 10% in the white population of Europe and North America, and extends to the deficient metabolism of more than 20 commonly prescribed drugs. Clinical studies have shown that such individuals are at high risk for the development of adverse side effects from these and probably many other drugs. Here we show that poor metabolizers have negligible amounts of the cytochrome P450 enzyme P450db1. We have cloned the human P450db1 complementary DNA and expressed it in mammalian cell culture. Furthermore, by directly cloning and sequencing cDNAs from several poor-metabolizer livers, we have identified three variant messenger RNAs that are products of mutant genes producing incorrectly spliced db1 pre-mRNA, providing a molecular explanation for one of man's most commonly defective genes (frequency of mutant alleles 35-43%).

Base Sequence↗