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Biomedical subjects

E Gottlieb

Publications and source records attributed to E Gottlieb.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Bcl-x(L) prevents the initial decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent reactive oxygen species production during tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis.

The Bcl-2 family of proteins are involved in regulating the redox state of cells. However, the mode of action of Bcl-2 proteins remains unclear. This work analyzed the effects of Bcl-x(L) on the cellular redox state after treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) or exogenous oxidants. We show that in cells that undergo TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, TNF-alpha induces a partial decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) followed by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS scavengers delay the progression of mitochondrial depolarization and apoptotic cell death. This indicates that ROS are important mediators of mitochondrial depolarization. However, ROS scavengers fail to prevent the initial TNF-alpha-induced decrease in DeltaPsi(m). In contrast, expression of Bcl-x(L) prevents both the initial decrease in DeltaPsi(m) following TNF-alpha treatment and the subsequent induction of ROS. Bcl-x(L) itself does not act as a ROS scavenger. In addition, Bcl-x(L) does not block the initial decrease in DeltaPsi(m) following treatment with the oxidant hydrogen peroxide. However, unlike control-transfected cells, Bcl-x(L)-expressing cells can recover their mitochondrial membrane potential following the initial drop in DeltaPsi(m) induced by hydrogen peroxide. These data suggest that Bcl-x(L) plays a regulatory role in controlling the membrane potential of and ROS production by mitochondria rather than acting as a direct antioxidant.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

p53 facilitates pRb cleavage in IL-3-deprived cells: novel pro-apoptotic activity of p53.

In the interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent lymphoid cell line DA-1, functional p53 is required for efficient apoptosis in response to IL-3 withdrawal. Activation of p53 in these cells, by either DNA damage or p53 overexpression, results in a vital growth arrest in the presence of IL-3 and in accelerated apoptosis in its absence. Thus, IL-3 can control the choice between p53-dependent cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Here we report that the cross-talk between p53 and IL-3 involves joint control of pRb cleavage and degradation. Depletion of IL-3 results in caspase-mediated pRb cleavage, occurring preferentially within cells which express functional p53. Moreover, pRb can be cleaved efficiently by extracts prepared from DA-1 cells but not from their derivatives which lack p53 function. Inactivation of pRb through expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 oncogene overrides the effect of IL-3 in a p53-dependent manner. Our data suggest a novel role for p53 in the regulation of cell death and a novel mechanism for the cooperation between p53 and survival factor deprivation. Thus, p53 makes cells permissive to pRb cleavage, probably by controlling the potential activity of a pRb-cleaving caspase, whereas IL-3 withdrawal provides signals that turn on this potential activity and lead to the actual cleavage and subsequent degradation of pRb. Elimination of a presumptive anti-apoptotic effect of pRb may then facilitate conversion of p53-mediated growth arrest into apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1998

Functional similarity between archaeal and bacterial CorA magnesium transporters.

The constitutively expressed CorA Mg2+ transporter is the major Mg2+ influx system of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Genomic sequence data indicated the presence of a homolog in the archaeal organism Methanococcus jannaschii. The putative M. jannaschii CorA was expressed in an Mg2+-transport-deficient strain of S. typhimurium to determine its functional characteristics. The archaeal CorA homolog is a functional Mg2+ uptake system when expressed in S. typhimurium and has properties which are highly similar to those of the normal CorA transporter of S. typhimurium despite having a low level of sequence identity with the protein and being expressed in a lipid membrane of quite different composition than normal. This implies that the overall function of the proteins is the same and further suggests that their structures are very similar.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Transgenic mouse model for studying the transcriptional activity of the p53 protein: age- and tissue-dependent changes in radiation-induced activation during embryogenesis.

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is a sequence-specific transcriptional activator of target genes. Exposure of cells to DNA damage results in accumulation of biochemically active p53, with consequent activation of p53-responsive promoters. In order to study how the transcriptional activity of the p53 protein is regulated in vivo, a transgenic mouse strain was generated. These mice harbor the p53-dependent promoter of the mdm2 gene, fused to a lacZ reporter gene. Induction of lacZ activity by DNA damage (ionizing radiation) was monitored in embryos of different p53 genotypes. The transgenic promoter was substantially activated in vivo following irradiation; activation required functional p53. The activation pattern became more restricted with increasing embryo age, as well as with the state of differentiation of a given tissue. Generally, maximal p53 activation occurred in rapidly proliferating, relatively less differentiated cells. A striking extent of haploinsufficiency was revealed-induction of promoter activity was far less efficient in mice carrying only one wild-type p53 allele. This suggests that normal levels of cellular p53 are limiting, and any further reduction already compromises the p53 response significantly. Thus, the activation potential of p53 is tightly controlled in vivo, both spatially and temporally, and an important element in this control is the presence of limiting basal levels of activatable p53.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

p53 plays a regulatory role in differentiation and apoptosis of central nervous system-associated cells.

This study demonstrated the involvement of the tumor suppressor protein p53 in differentiation and programmed cell death of neurons and oligodendrocytes, two cell types that leave the mitotic cycle early in development and undergo massive-scale cell death as the nervous system matures. We found that primary cultures of rat oligodendrocytes and neurons, as well as of the neuronal PC12 pheochromocytoma cell line, constitutively express the p53 protein. At critical points in the maturation of these cells in vitro, the subcellular localization of p53 changes: during differentiation it appears mainly in the nucleus, whereas in mature differentiated cells it is present mainly in the cytoplasm. These subcellular changes were correlated with changes in levels of immunoprecipitated p53. Infection of cells with a recombinant retrovirus encoding a C-terminal p53 miniprotein (p53 DD), previously shown to act as a dominant negative inhibitor of endogenous wild-type p53 activity, inhibited the differentiation of oligodendrocytes and of PC12 cells and protected neurons from spontaneous apoptotic death. These findings suggest that p53, upon receiving appropriate signals, is recruited into the nucleus, where it plays a regulatory role in directing primary neurons', oligodendrocytes, and PC12 cells toward either differentiation or apoptosis in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Relationship of sequence-specific transactivation and p53-regulated apoptosis in interleukin 3-dependent hematopoietic cells.

The p53 tumor suppressor has been implicated in the control of apoptosis in response to various signals, including DNA damage, oncogene activation, and survival factor withdrawal. The p53 protein is a transcription factor capable of sequence-specific transactivation of target genes. The relationship between p53-mediated transactivation and apoptosis was probed in interleukin 3 (IL-3)-dependent DA-1 lymphoma cells. DA-1 cells express endogenous wild-type p53, which is required for the efficient induction of apoptosis by IL-3 deprivation. IL-3 withdrawal caused no detectable increase in p53 and no concomitant activation of p53-responsive promoters. Conversely, high levels of transfected, transcriptionally active p53 did not elicit any apoptosis as long as IL-3 was present; instead, the cells underwent a viable G1 arrest. IL-3 protected DA-1 cells from the apoptotic effect of low doses of radiation. However, higher doses triggered p53-dependent apoptosis, even in the presence of IL-3. Irrespective of their different effects on viability, sublethal and lethal radiation caused a comparable augmentation of p53-dependent transactivation. Lethal radiation induced an initial p53-dependent G1 arrest, but subsequent apoptosis was preceded by cell cycle re-entry. Our data support the conjecture that activities of p53 distinct from specific transcriptional activation may contribute to apoptosis, although activation of genes such as Bax is also likely to play a role.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Direct involvement of p53 in programmed cell death of oligodendrocytes.

A covalent dimer of interleukin (IL)-2, produced in vitro by the action of a nerve-derived transglutaminase, has been shown previously to be cytotoxic to mature rat brain oligodendrocytes. Here we report that this cytotoxic effect operates via programmed cell death (apoptosis) and that the p53 tumor suppressor gene is involved directly in the process. The apoptotic death of mature rat brain oligodendrocytes in culture following treatment with dimeric IL-2 was demonstrated by chromatin condensation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The peak of apoptosis was observed 16-24 h after treatment, while the commitment to death was already observed after 3-4 h. An involvement of p53 in this process was indicated by the shift in location of constitutively expressed endogenous p53 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, as early as 15 min after exposure to dimeric IL-2. Moreover, infection with a recombinant retrovirus encoding a C-terminal p53 miniprotein, shown previously to act as a dominant negative inhibitor of endogenous wild-type p53 activity, protected these cells from apoptosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Regulation of mdm2 expression by p53: alternative promoters produce transcripts with nonidentical translation potential.

The mdm2 proto-oncogene product binds to the p53 tumor suppressor protein and inhibits its ability to trans-activate target genes. One such target gene is mdm2 itself, which is therefore considered a component of a p53 negative feedback loop. Two tandem p53-binding motifs residing within the first intron of the murine mdm2 gene confer upon it p53-mediated activation. We now report that in murine cells p53 activates an internal mdm2 promoter (P2) located near the 3' end of intron 1, resulting in mRNA whose transcription starts within exon 2. P2 is activated by p53 within artificial constructs, as well as within the context of the chromosomal mdm2 gene. Activation follows either the introduction of overexpressed wild-type p53 into cells or the induction of endogenous wild-type p53 by ionizing radiation. The upstream, constitutive (P1) mdm2 promoter is only mildly affected by p53, if at all. The p53-derived mdm2 transcripts lack exon 1 and a few nucleotides from exon 2. As the first in-frame AUG of mdm2 is located within exon 3, the two types of mdm2 transcripts should possess similar coding potentials. Nevertheless, in vitro conditions, where each of these transcripts yields a distinct translation profile, reflect the differential usage of translation initiation codons. Initiation of translation at internal AUG codons, which occurs also in vivo, gives rise to MDM2 polypeptides incapable of binding to p53. In vitro translation profiles of the various mdm2 transcripts could be manipulated by changing the amounts of input RNA. Thus, p53 can modulate both the amount and the nature of MDM2 polypeptides through activation of the internal P2 promoter.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Down-regulation of wild-type p53 activity interferes with apoptosis of IL-3-dependent hematopoietic cells following IL-3 withdrawal.

Overexpression of wild-type p53 in p53-deficient leukemic cells induces apoptosis, which can be inhibited by hematopoietic survival factors. This suggests that p53 may contribute to survival factor dependence. To assess the role of wild-type p53 in mediating apoptosis following survival factor withdrawal, we interfered with endogenous p53 activity in interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cells. Extended survival without IL-3 was conferred by recombinant retroviruses encoding either a full-length p53 mutant or a C-terminal p53 miniprotein, both of which can act as negative-dominant inhibitors of wild-type p53. On the other hand, excess wild-type p53 activity failed to elicit apoptosis as long as IL-3 was present. We propose that p53 is a positive, though not exclusive, mediator of survival factor dependence in hematopoietic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The 3' untranslated region of localized maternal messages contains a conserved motif involved in mRNA localization.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) localization is emerging as a means of regulating gene expression. This process is operational in fly and frog development, where a subset of maternally inherited RNAs are asymmetrically distributed and thought to impart axial polarity to the embryo. Since most maternal mRNAs are uniformly distributed, an apparatus must exist to recognize and specifically transport these rare localized species. Here I report the identification of a nine-nucleotide motif, YUGUUYCUG, common to the 3' untranslated regions of four sequenced messages of this class: Drosophila bicoid and nanos mRNAs and Xenopus An2 and Vg1 mRNAs. To test the role of this nonamer sequence in the localization process, a Drosophila transient assay has been established. The assay reveals that bicoid mRNA specifically lacking this nonamer is partially mislocalized. In contrast, nonamer deletion is inconsequential to message stability. The existence of specific and general mRNA localization signals is proposed and it is suggested that this conserved motif belongs to the latter category.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Simian virus 40 can overcome the antiproliferative effect of wild-type p53 in the absence of stable large T antigen-p53 binding.

In simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed cells, a tight complex is formed between the viral large T antigen (large T) and p53. It has been proposed that this complex interferes with the antiproliferative activity of p53. This notion was tested in primary rat fibroblasts by assessing the ability of SV40-mediated transformation to be spared from the inhibitory effect of wild-type (wt) p53. The data indicate that relative to transformation induced by myc plus ras, SV40-plus-ras-mediated focus formation was indeed much less suppressed by p53 plasmids. A majority of the resultant cell lines made a p53 protein with properties characteristic of a wt conformation. Furthermore, cell lines expressing stably both SV40 large T and a temperature-sensitive p53 mutant continued to proliferate at a temperature at which this p53 assumes wt-like properties and normally causes a growth arrest. Surprisingly, at least partial resistance to the growth-inhibitory effect of wt p53 was also evident when transformation was mediated by an SV40 deletion mutant, encoding a large T which does not bind p53 detectably. In addition to supporting the idea that SV40 can overcome the growth-restrictive activity of wt p53, these findings strongly suggest that at least part of this effect does not require a stable association between p53 and large T.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The RNA binding protein La influences both the accuracy and the efficiency of RNA polymerase III transcription in vitro.

The autoantigen La binds the U-rich 3' ends of all nascent RNA polymerase III transcripts. Here, we demonstrate that this abundant nuclear phosphoprotein not only binds these RNAs but appears to be required for their synthesis. HeLa cell extracts immunochemically depleted of La by either patient or mouse monoclonal antibodies lose greater than 99% of their transcription activity on class III genes. The few transcripts synthesized in the absence of La have fewer uridylate residues at their 3' ends than those made in its presence. Reconstitution of La-depleted extracts with biochemically purified HeLa La protein stimulates transcription levels and completely restores transcript length. A model coupling transcription levels to the action of La at the RNA polymerase III termination signal is presented.

Autoantigens↗
PubMed1989

Function of the mammalian La protein: evidence for its action in transcription termination by RNA polymerase III.

We have tested the hypothesis that the mammalian La protein, which appears to be required for accurate and efficient RNA polymerase III transcription, is a transcription termination factor. Our data suggest that 3' foreshortened transcripts generated in La's absence are components of a novel transcription intermediate containing a paused polymerase. These transcripts are produced by fractionated transcription complexes, are synthesized with kinetics different from full-length transcripts, and are chasable to completion from the stalled transcription complexes. Together, these findings argue that termination by RNA polymerase III requires auxilliary factor(s) and implicate La as such a factor. Since La appears to facilitate transcript completion and release and also binds the resulting RNA product, it may be a regulator of RNA polymerase III transcription.

Autoantigens↗
PubMed1984

The structure of mammalian small nuclear ribonucleoproteins. Identification of multiple protein components reactive with anti-(U1)ribonucleoprotein and anti-Sm autoantibodies.

The Sm small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) from mammalian cells have been characterized as containing U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 RNA associated with some subset of at least 10 distinct polypeptides (called 68K, A, A', B, B', C, D, E, F, and G) that range in molecular weight from 68,000 to 11,000. Whereas this entire collection of snRNP particles is precipitated by patient anti-Sm autoantibodies, anti-(U1)RNP autoantibodies specifically recognize U1 snRNPs. Here, we have performed immunoblots using the sera from 29 patients and a mouse anti-Sm monoclonal antibody to identify which HeLa cell snRNP proteins carry anti-Sm or anti-(U1)RNP antigenic determinants. Strikingly, every serum surveyed, as well as the monoclonal antibody, recognizes determinants on two or more snRNP protein components. The three proteins, 68K, A, and C, that uniquely fractionate with U1 snRNPs are specifically reactive with anti-(U1)RNP sera in blots. Anti-Sm patient sera and the mouse monoclonal antibody react with proteins B, B', D, and sometimes E, one or more of which must be present on all Sm snRNPs. The blot results combined with data obtained from a refined 32P-labeled RNA immunoprecipitation assay reveal that, in our collection of the sera from 29 patients, anti-Sm rarely exists in the absence of equal or higher titers of anti-(U1)RNP; moreover, (U1)RNP sera often contain detectable levels of anti-Sm. Our findings further define the protein composition of the Sm snRNPs and raise intriguing questions concerning the relatedness of snRNP polypeptides and the mechanism of autoantibody induction.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Structure and function of small ribonucleoproteins from eukaryotic cells.

Autoantibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other related diseases have been used to identify and study small RNA-protein complexes from mammalian cells. Properties of three previously described and several new classes of small ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) are reviewed. The sequence of Drosophila U1 RNA reveals that the region proposed to pair with 5' splice junctions is conserved, while that proposed to interact with 3' junctions diverges; this forces some revision of the model for U1 small nuclear (sn)RNP participation in hnRNA splicing. Further characterization of the Ro and La small RNPs has shown that the Ro small cytoplasmic (sc)RNPs are a subclass of La RNPs. Both tRNA and 5S rRNA precursors are at least transiently associated with the La protein. This raises the possibility that the La protein may be an RNA polymerase III transcription factor.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗