PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Seto

Publications and source records attributed to E Seto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Positron emission tomography detection of osseous metastases of renal cell carcinoma not identified on bone scan.

The clinical utility of positron emission tomography (PET) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been determined. We describe a case in which metastatic RCC undetected by traditional staging methods was accurately staged by PET. A 77-year-old man presented with a 20-lb weight loss and bilateral renal masses. Plain radiographs, bone scintigraphy, and alkaline phosphatase were normal. PET imaging confirmed the right renal mass and revealed several metastatic bone lesions, confirmed by biopsy. The patient died 7 months after diagnosis. This case illustrates the potential superiority of PET in evaluating skeletal metastases of RCC.

Aged↗

Changes of in vivo gastrointestinal motor pattern in pacemaker-deficient (WsRC-Ws/Ws) rats.

In vitro studies on pacemaker-deficient W-mutants have revealed a disappearance of rhythmic contraction in their gastrointestinal tracts. Their contractile force has not been diminished, however. In contrast, W-mutants often present dysmoility-like symptoms with distension of the gastrointestinal tract in vivo. Gastrointestinal motility of W-mutant rats was examined in vivo by an extraluminal strain-gauge force transducer method. We examined a normal gastrointestinal motor pattern in the rats with two distinct motor phases, digestive and interdigestive. Moreover, we detected a failure to form an interdigestive contractile complex in pacemaker-deficient rats. The interdigestive motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract is important for cleaning gastrointestinal tract in preparation for the next meal. The impairment of the interdigestive contractile complex may be related to the dysmoility-like symptoms of W-mutant rats in vivo.

Animals↗

Histone deacetylase interacts directly with DNA topoisomerase II.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) modify nucleosomal histones, have a key role in the regulation of gene transcription, and may be involved in cell-cycle regulation, differentiation and human cancer. Purified recombinant human HDAC1 protein was used to screen a cDNA expression library, and one of the clones identified encoded DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II), an enzyme known to have a role in transcriptional regulation and chromatin organization. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that HDAC1 and HDAC2 are associated with Topo II in vivo under normal physiological conditions. Complexes containing Topo II possess HDAC activities, and complexes containing HDAC1 or HDAC2 possess Topo II activities. HDAC and Topo II modify each other's activity in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate the existence of a functionally coupled complex between these two enzymes and offer insights into the potential mechanisms of action of both enzymes.

Acetylation↗

Ligand-induced recruitment of a histone deacetylase in the negative-feedback regulation of the thyrotropin beta gene.

We have investigated ligand-dependent negative regulation of the thyroid-stimulating hormone beta (TSHbeta) gene. Thyroid hormone (T3) markedly repressed activity of the TSHbeta promoter that had been stably integrated into GH(3 )pituitary cells, through the conserved negative regulatory element (NRE) in the promoter. By DNA affinity binding assay, we show that the NRE constitutively binds to the histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) present in GH(3 )cells. Significantly, upon addition of T3, the NRE further recruited the thyroid hormone receptor (TRbeta) and another deacetylase, HDAC2. This recruitment coincided with an alteration of in vivo chromatin structure, as revealed by changes in restriction site accessibility. Supporting the direct interaction between TR and HDAC, in vitro assays showed that TR, through its DNA binding domain, strongly bound to HDAC2. Consistent with the role for HDACs in negative regulation, an inhibitor of the enzymes, trichostatin A, attenuated T3-dependent promoter repression. We suggest that ligand-dependent histone deacetylase recruitment is a mechanism of the negative-feedback regulation, a critical function of the pituitary-thyroid axis.

Base Sequence↗

Unlocking the mechanisms of transcription factor YY1: are chromatin modifying enzymes the key?

The transcription factor YY1 is a complex protein that is involved in repressing and activating a diverse number of promoters. Numerous studies have attempted to understand how this one factor can act both as a repressor and an activator in such a wide set of different contexts. The fact that YY1 interacts with a number of key regulatory proteins (e.g. TBP, TFIIB, TAFII55, Sp1, and E1A) has suggested that these interactions are important for determining which particular function of YY1 is displayed at a specific promoter. Two groups of proteins, previously known to function as corepressors and coactivators, that now seem likely to modulate YY1's functions, are the histone deacetylases (HDAC) and histone acetyltransferases (HAT). These two groups of enzymes modify histones, and this modification is proposed to alter chromatin structure. Acetylated histones are typically localized to active chromatin while deacetylated histones colocalize with transcriptionally inactive chromatin. When these enzymes are directed to a promoter through a DNA binding factor such as YY1, that promoter can be activated or repressed. This review will discuss the recent work dealing with the different proteins that interact with YY1, with particular emphasis on ones that modify chromatin, and how they could be involved in regulating YY1's activities.

Animals↗

trans repression of the human metallothionein IIA gene promoter by PZ120, a novel 120-kilodalton zinc finger protein.

Metallothioneins are small, highly conserved, cysteine-rich proteins that bind a variety of metal ions. They are found in virtually all eukaryotic organisms and are regulated primarily at the transcriptional level. In humans, the predominant metallothionein gene is hMTIIA, which accounts for 50% of all metallothioneins expressed in cultured human cells. The hMTIIA promoter is quite complex. In addition to cis-acting DNA sequences that serve as binding sites for trans-acting factors such as Sp1, AP1, AP2, AP4, and the glucocorticoid receptor, the hMTIIA promoter contains eight consensus metal response element sequences. We report here the cloning of a novel zinc finger protein with a molecular mass of 120 kDa (PZ120) that interacts specifically with the hMTIIA transcription initiation site. The PZ120 protein is ubiquitously expressed in most tissues and possesses a conserved poxvirus and zinc finger (POZ) motif previously found in several zinc finger transcription factors. Intriguingly, we found that a region of PZ120 outside of the zinc finger domain can bind specifically to the hMTIIA DNA. Using transient-transfection analysis, we found that PZ120 repressed transcription of the hMTIIA promoter. These results suggest that the hMTIIA gene is regulated by an additional negative regulator that has not been previously described.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

RBP1 recruits both histone deacetylase-dependent and -independent repression activities to retinoblastoma family proteins.

Retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor family proteins block cell proliferation in part by repressing certain E2F-specific promoters. Both histone deacetylase (HDAC)-dependent and -independent repression activities are associated with the RB "pocket." The mechanism by which these two repression functions occupy the pocket is unknown. A known RB-binding protein, RBP1, was previously found by our group to be an active corepressor which, if overexpressed, represses E2F-mediated transcription via its association with the pocket. We show here that RBP1 contains two repression domains, one of which binds all three known HDACs and represses them in an HDAC-dependent manner while the other domain functions independently of the HDACs. Thus, RB family members repress transcription by recruiting RBP1 to the pocket. RBP1, in turn, serves as a bridging molecule to recruit HDACs and, in addition, provides a second HDAC-independent repression function.

Binding Sites↗

Patch clamp recording of the responses to three bitter stimuli in mouse taste cells.

Although several pathways of bitter taste signal transduction have been proposed in taste cells, these mechanisms have not been elucidated in detail. To investigate the diversity of responses to bitter stimuli, we recorded the electrophysiological responses to quinine, denatonium and naringin using whole-cell patch clamp technique in isolated taste cells of C57BL/6J mice. Ten mM quinine induced depolarizing response under the current clamp mode, and inward current response under the voltage-clamp mode (holding potential -80 mV) using both K+ (with pseudo intracellular solution) and Cs+ (K+ was substituted by Cs+ in the pseudo intracellular solution) pipettes. However, when the K+ pipette was used, the membrane conductance was suppressed and activated in succession. On the other hand, the membrane conductance was only activated when the Cs+ pipette was used. Half to one mM denatonium induced depolarizing response under the current clamp mode, and outward current response under the voltage clamp mode with both pipettes. Using these pipettes, the membrane conductance was activated or suppressed in the individual case. Naringin-induced responses were not detected in these measurements. These electrophysiological recordings suggest that multiple transduction mechanisms are involved in bitter taste perception in mouse taste cells.

Animals↗

Cloning and characterization of the mouse histone deacetylase-2 gene.

Histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) is a component of a complex that mediates transcriptional repression in mammalian cells. A mouse HDAC2 cDNA was used to identify several recombinant clones containing the entire mouse HDAC2 gene. The mouse HDAC2 gene spans over 36 kilobase pairs and is composed of 14 exons (ranging from 58 to 362 nucleotides in length) and 13 introns (ranging from 75 base pairs to 19 kilobase pairs in length). Primer extension analysis with total RNA from NIH3T3 cells revealed a major transcriptional start site at 221 base pairs 5' of the ATG translational start codon. Upstream of the transcriptional start site, no canonical TATA box was found, but binding sites for several known transcription factors were identified. Transient transfection studies with 5' deletion mutants localized the promoter to no more than 76 base pairs upstream from the major transcriptional start site. Fluorescence in situ hybridization mapped mouse HDAC2 to chromosomal location 10B1, which is in close proximity to the growth factor-inducible gene fisp-12. Information concerning the genomic organization and promoter of HDAC2 will be useful in studies of the regulation of histone deacetylase activities, which in turn are important in studies of the regulation of transcriptional repression in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

Cloning, chromosomal localization and promoter analysis of the human transcription factor YY1.

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a protein that activates and represses transcription of a large number of cellular and viral genes. In addition, studies suggest that YY1 may play an important role in development and differentiation. Here, we report the isolation and analysis of a YY1 genomic clone from a lambda human liver library. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with the YY1 clone has localized the YY1 gene to chromosome 14 band q32. A major YY1 gene transcription initiation site has been mapped to 478 bp upstream of the ATG translation start site. The proximal promoter contains multiple Sp1 transcription factor binding sites but lacks a consensus TATA or CCAAT box. Transient transfections and detailed deletion analyses localized the promoter to no more than 277 bp upstream from the major transcription start site. Finally, we have found that overexpression of the adenovirus E1A protein represses expression of a reporter gene directed by the YY1 promoter.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

Targeting of the YY1 transcription factor to the nucleolus and the nuclear matrix in situ: the C-terminus is a principal determinant for nuclear trafficking.

The multifunctional transcription factor YY1 is associated with the nuclear matrix. In osteoblasts, the interaction of several nuclear matrix-associated transcription factors with the bone specific osteocalcin gene contributes to tissue-specific and steroid hormone-mediated transcription. A canonical nuclear matrix targeting signal (NMTS) is present in all members of the AML/CBFbeta transcription factor family, but not in other transcription factors. Therefore, we defined sequences that direct YY1 (414 amino acids) to the nuclear matrix. A series of epitope tagged deletion constructs were expressed in HeLa S3 and in human Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells. Subcellular distribution was determined in whole cells and nuclear matrices in situ by immunofluorescence. We demonstrated that amino acids 257-341 in the C-terminal domain of YY1 are necessary for nuclear matrix association. We also observed that sequences within the N-terminal domain of YY1 permit weak nuclear matrix binding. Our data further suggest that the Gal4 epitope tag contains sequences that affect subcellular localization, but not targeting to the nuclear matrix. The targeted association of YY1 with the nuclear matrix provides an additional level of functional regulation for this transcription factor that can exhibit positive and negative control.

Animals↗

Transactivation by expression of the hepatitis B virus X protein with an inducible system.

We describe here the conditional expression of the hepatitis B virus X protein using the inducible system controlled by a tet-responsive promoter. Induction of the X protein in Rat-2 fibroblasts activated transcription from a heterologous gene promoter and stimulated the DNA-binding activity of NFkB. The ability to produce this biologically active X protein in a stable cell line will accelerate the elucidation of the function and mechanisms of X and eventually help us understand the role of X in natural viral infection and carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

ETO, a target of t(8;21) in acute leukemia, interacts with the N-CoR and mSin3 corepressors.

t(8;21) is one of the most frequent translocations associated with acute myeloid leukemia. It produces a chimeric protein, acute myeloid leukemia-1 (AML-1)-eight-twenty-one (ETO), that contains the amino-terminal DNA binding domain of the AML-1 transcriptional regulator fused to nearly all of ETO. Here we demonstrate that ETO interacts with the nuclear receptor corepressor N-CoR, the mSin3 corepressors, and histone deacetylases. Endogenous ETO also cosediments on sucrose gradients with mSin3A, N-CoR, and histone deacetylases, suggesting that it is a component of one or more corepressor complexes. Deletion mutagenesis indicates that ETO interacts with mSin3A independently of its association with N-CoR. Single amino acid mutations that impair the ability of ETO to interact with the central portion of N-CoR affect the ability of the t(8;21) fusion protein to repress transcription. Finally, AML-1/ETO associates with histone deacetylase activity and a histone deacetylase inhibitor impairs the ability of the fusion protein to repress transcription. Thus, t(8;21) fuses a component of a corepressor complex to AML-1 to repress transcription.

Cell Line↗

Isolation and characterization of cDNAs corresponding to an additional member of the human histone deacetylase gene family.

Several human cDNAs encoding a histone deacetylase protein, HDAC3, have been isolated. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of HDAC3 revealed an open reading frame of 428 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 49 kDa. The HDAC3 protein is 50% identical in DNA sequence and 53% identical in protein sequence compared with the previously cloned human HDAC1. Comparison of the HDAC3 sequence with human HDAC2 also yielded similar results, with 51% identity in DNA sequence and 52% identity in protein sequence. The expressed HDAC3 protein is functionally active because it possesses histone deacetylase activity, represses transcription when tethered to a promoter, and binds transcription factor YY1. Similar to HDAC1 and HDAC2, HDAC3 is ubiquitously expressed in many different cell types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The hepatitis B virus X-associated protein, XAP3, is a protein kinase C-binding protein.

The hepatitis B virus X protein induces transcriptional activation of a wide variety of viral and cellular genes. In addition to its ability to interact directly with many nuclear transcription factors, several reports indicate that the X protein stimulates different cytoplasmic kinase signal cascades. Using the yeast two-hybrid screen, we have isolated a clone designated X-associated protein 3 (XAP3) that encodes a human homolog of the rat protein kinase C-binding protein. One of the activation domains of X (amino acids 90-122) is required for binding to XAP3, while the NH2-terminal part of XAP3 is necessary for binding to X. Both X and XAP3 bound specifically to the eta PKC isoenzyme synthesized in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Overexpression of XAP3 enhanced X transactivation activity. These results support earlier findings that one of the mechanisms of transactivation by X is through involvement with the cellular protein kinase C pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Histone deacetylases associated with the mSin3 corepressor mediate mad transcriptional repression.

Transcriptional repression by Mad-Max heterodimers requires interaction of Mad with the corepressors mSin3A/B. Sin3p, the S. cerevisiae homolog of mSin3, functions in the same pathway as Rpd3p, a protein related to two recently identified mammalian histone deacetylases, HDAC1 and HDAC2. Here, we demonstrate that mSin3A and HDAC1/2 are associated in vivo. HDAC2 binding requires a conserved region of mSin3A capable of mediating transcriptional repression. In addition, Mad1 forms a complex with mSin3 and HDAC2 that contains histone deacetylase activity. Trichostatin A, an inhibitor of histone deacetylases, abolishes Mad repression. We propose that Mad-Max functions by recruiting the mSin3-HDAC corepressor complex that deacetylates nucleosomal histones, producing alterations in chromatin structure that block transcription.

Animals↗

A complex containing N-CoR, mSin3 and histone deacetylase mediates transcriptional repression.

Transcriptional repression by nuclear receptors has been correlated to binding of the putative co-repressor, N-CoR. A complex has been identified that contains N-CoR, the Mad presumptive co-repressor mSin3, and the histone deacetylase mRPD3, and which is required for both nuclear receptor- and Mad-dependent repression, but not for repression by transcription factors of the ets-domain family. These data predict that the ligand-induced switch of heterodimeric nuclear receptors from repressor to activator functions involves the exchange of complexes containing histone deacetylases with those that have histone acetylase activity.

Animals↗

A simulation model for occupational tuberculosis transmission.

A simulation model of tuberculosis (TB) transmission among hospital employees is described. A hypothetical cohort of 1000 workers was divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. The number of TB patients admitted daily was treated as a Poisson random variable. A patient imparted a daily infection risk that was identical for all workers within a risk group but that varied between risk groups. In some scenarios, infected employees were assigned a daily risk of developing TB disease. If disease developed, the individual remained on the job for 3 calendar weeks and imparted a substantial infection risk to 25 close contacts. Simulations were run over 5-year intervals. Cumulative infection incidence increased over time and with more TB patients admitted. Given a scenario in which there were 600, 300, and 100 susceptibles in the low-, medium-, and high risk groups, respectively, 50 TB patients admitted annually and accounting for disease among infected employees, at 5 years there were approximately 100 primary infections (due to infection by patients), 40 secondary infections (due to infection by diseased coworkers), five primary disease cases, and two secondary disease cases. The input parameter values and simulation outcomes were reasonably consistent with the sparse information reported in the literature.

Humans↗