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E Seto

Publications and source records attributed to E Seto.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Differential effects of nuclear receptor corepressor (N-CoR) expression levels on retinoic acid receptor-mediated repression support the existence of dynamically regulated corepressor complexes.

Thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that stimulate the transcription of target genes in the presence of activating ligands and repress transcription in their absence. Transcriptional repression by the thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors has been proposed to be mediated by the nuclear receptor corepressor, N-CoR, or the related factor, SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptors). Recent studies have suggested that transcriptional repression by N-CoR involves a corepressor complex that also contains mSin3A/B and the histone deacetylase, RPD3. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that transcriptional repression by the retinoic acid receptor can be either positively or negatively regulated by changes in the levels of N-CoR expression, suggesting a relatively strict stoichiometric relationship between N-CoR and other components of the corepressor complex. Consistent with this interpretation, overexpression of several functionally defined domains of N-CoR also relieve repression by nuclear receptors. N-CoR is distributed throughout the nucleus in a nonuniform pattern, and a subpopulation becomes concentrated into several discrete dot structures when highly expressed. RPD3 is also widely distributed throughout the nucleus in a nonuniform pattern. Simultaneous imaging of RPD3 and N-CoR suggest that a subset of each of these proteins colocalize, consistent with the existence of coactivator complexes containing both proteins. In addition, a substantial fraction of both N-CoR and mSin3 A/B appear to be independently distributed. These observations suggest that interactions between RPD3 and Sin3/N-CoR complexes may be dynamically regulated.

Animals↗

XAP2, a novel hepatitis B virus X-associated protein that inhibits X transactivation.

The hepatitis B virus X protein is a promiscuous transcriptional transactivator. Transactivation by the X protein is most likely mediated through binding to different cellular factors. Using the yeast two-hybrid method, we have isolated a clone that encodes a novel X-associated cellular protein: XAP2. X and XAP2 interactions also occur in vitro. Antiserum raised against XAP2 recognizes a cytoplasmic protein with an apparent molecular mass of 36 kDa. The interaction between X and XAP2 requires a small region on X containing amino acids 13-26. From Northern blot analyses, XAP2 is ubiquitously expressed in both liver-derived and non-liver-derived cell lines as well as in normal non-liver tissues. In contrast, XAP2 is expressed in very low level in the normal human liver. In transfection assays, overexpression of XAP2 abolishes transactivation by the X protein. Based on these results, we suggest that XAP2 is an important cellular negative regulator of the X protein, and that X-XAP2 interaction may play a role in HBV pathology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcriptional repression by YY1 is mediated by interaction with a mammalian homolog of the yeast global regulator RPD3.

YY1 is a mammalian zinc-finger transcription factor with unusual structural and functional features. It has been implicated as a positive and a negative regulatory factor that binds to the CCATNTT consensus DNA element located in promoters of many cellular and viral genes. A mammalian cDNA that encodes a YY1-binding protein and possesses sequence homology with the yeast transcriptional factor RPD3 has been identified. A Gal4 DNA binding domain-mammalian RPD3 fusion protein strongly represses transcription from a promoter containing Gal4 binding sites. Association between YY1 and mammalian RPD3 requires a glycine-rich region on YY1. Mutations in this region abolish the interaction with mammalian RPD3 and eliminate transcriptional repression by YY1. These data suggest that YY1 negatively regulates transcription by tethering RPD3 to DNA as a cofactor and that this transcriptional mechanism is highly conserved from yeast to human.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Replication protein A is a component of a complex that binds the human metallothionein IIA gene transcription start site.

Previous studies revealed that sequences surrounding the initiation sites in many mammalian and viral gene promoters, called initiator (Inr) elements, may be essential for promoter strength and for determining the actual transcription start sites. DNA sequences in the vicinity of the human metallothionein IIA (hMTIIA) gene transcription start site share homology with some of the previously identified Inr elements. However, in the present study we have found by in vitro transcription assays that the hMTIIA promoter does not contain a typical Inr. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified several DNA-protein complexes at the hMTIIA gene transcription start site. A partially purified protein fraction containing replication protein A (RPA) binds to the hMTIIA gene transcription start site and represses transcription from the hMTIIA promoter in vitro. In addition, overexpression of the human 70-kDa RPA-1 protein represses transcription of a reporter gene controlled by the hMTIIA promoter in vivo. These findings suggest that hMTIIA transcription initiation is controlled by a mechanism different from most mammalian and viral promoters and that the previously identified RPA may also be involved in transcription regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synergistic activation of transcription by the mutant and wild-type minimal transcriptional activation domain of VP16.

VP16 activates transcription by stimulating initiation, and for this function the aromatic residue at position 442 within its activation domain is critical. Recent studies have suggested that VP16 also stimulates transcriptional elongation. It has been shown that VP16 can activate transcription tethered downstream of the transcription start site to RNA. Here, we analyze the synergistic activation features of hybrid VP16 fusion proteins when tethered simultaneously to RNA downstream of the start site and to DNA upstream of a promoter in order to investigate its role in postinitiation control of transcription. Upon targeting the VP16 activation domain simultaneously to both DNA and RNA, high levels of transcriptional synergism is observed. Importantly, a transcription-defective VP16 minimal activation domain (amino acids 413-453) mutated at critical residue 442 (phenylalanine --> proline) maintained synergism, when bound to RNA, with the DNA-bound wild-type VP16 minimal activation domain. Targeting of this "functionally defective" VP16 minimal activation domain via RNA and an intact activation domain via DNA allowed us to uncover a postinitiation activity for VP16 not previously detected in DNA targeting studies. We suggest that, in addition to stimulating initiation, VP16 also acts at a postinitiation step involving residues other than the critical residue at position 442 within the same 41-amino acid minimal activation domain (amino acids 413-453) required for initiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

YY1 and Sp1 transcription factors bind the human transferrin gene in an age-related manner.

The iron-binding protein transferrin has major roles in transporting, delivering, and sequestering ferric ions acquired by body tissues. Yet, during aging, serum transferrin levels decrease in humans. Likewise, in transgenic mice carrying chimeric human transferrin transgenes, liver expression of transferrin transgenes decreases with age. The aging regulation is due to decreased gene transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and antibody-recognition have revealed the binding of 5' regulatory elements of the human transferrin gene by three YY1 proteins, called YY1, YY1-a, and YY1-b, and an Sp1-a transcription factor. An age-related increase in YY1-a and YY1-b binding activities and a decrease in Sp1-like binding activity were shown. Since Sp1 is a positive transcription factor and YY1 can be a negative transcription factor, the alterations in their binding with age could cause the decreased transcription of the human transferrin transgene, and also the age-related decreased serum transferrin levels in humans.

Aging↗

Cyclophilin A and FKBP12 interact with YY1 and alter its transcriptional activity.

YY1 is a zinc finger transcription factor with unusual structural and functional features. In a yeast two-hybrid screen, two cellular proteins, cyclophilin A (CyPA) and FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12), interacted with YY1. These interactions are specific and also occur in mammalian cells. Cyclosporin A and FK506 efficiently disrupt the YY1-CyPA and YY1-FKBP12 interactions. Overexpression of human CyPA and FKBP12 have different effects on YY1-regulated transcription with these effects being promoter-dependent. These results suggest that immunophilins may be mediators in the functional role of YY1.

Amino Acid Isomerases↗

Adenovirus E1A proteins interact with the cellular YY1 transcription factor.

The adenovirus 12S and 13S E1A proteins have been shown to relieve repression mediated by the cellular transcription factor YY1. The 13S E1A protein not only relieves repression but also activates transcription through YY1 binding sites. In this study, using a variety of in vivo and in vitro assays, we demonstrate that both E1A proteins can bind to YY1, although the 13S E1A protein binds more efficiently than the 12S E1A protein. Two domains on the E1A proteins interact with YY1: an amino-terminal sequence (residues 15 to 35) that is present in both E1A proteins and a domain that includes at least a portion of conserved region 3 (residues 140 to 188) that is present in the 13S but not the 12S E1A protein. Two domains on YY1 interact with E1A proteins: one is contained within residues 54 to 260, and the other is contained within the carboxy-terminal domain of YY1 (residues 332 to 414). Cotransfection of a plasmid expressing carboxy-terminal amino acids 332 to 414 of YY1 fused to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain can inhibit expression from a reporter construct with GAL4 DNA binding sites in its promoter, and inclusion of a third plasmid expressing E1A proteins can relieve the repression. Thus, we find a correlation between the ability of E1A to interact with the carboxy-terminal domain of YY1 and its ability to relieve repression caused by the carboxy-terminal domain of YY1. We propose that E1A proteins normally relieve YY1-mediated transcriptional repression by binding directly to the cellular transcription factor.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

Relief of YY1-induced transcriptional repression by protein-protein interaction with the nucleolar phosphoprotein B23.

Previous studies have shown that the transcription factor YY1 can both activate and repress transcription of many mammalian genes (reviewed by Hahn (Hahn, S. (1992) Curr. Biol. 2, 152-154)). Given the diverse effects of the YY1 protein, it seems likely that its function depends on interaction with other cellular factors. We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to isolate mouse cDNAs encoding proteins capable of directly binding to YY1. Sequence analysis of one clone revealed it had an open reading frame with the potential to code for a protein nearly identical to the previously published mouse nucleolar phosphoprotein B23. The YY1.B23 complex is specific, and occurs in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of the B23 protein can reverse the transcriptional repression exerted by YY1. These results suggest a role for a nucleolar protein as a component in transcription and provide a possible mechanism for transcriptional regulation by YY1.

Animals↗

Interaction between transcription factors Sp1 and YY1.

A basal level of transcription is usually observed when all but a small region of DNA has been deleted from a eukaryotic gene promoter. These promoter elements, which are necessary and sufficient for specific transcription initiation, are referred to as minimal or core promoter elements. One element that is commonly present in a core promoter is the initiator. It has been demonstrated that the presence of Sp1 binding sites can greatly enhance the level of transcription initiation at initiator elements. A binding site for the YY1 transcription factor, located at the initiation site of the adeno-associated virus P5 promoter, functions as an initiator element; a synergistic enhancement of its activity is observed in vitro when upstream Sp1 binding sites are present. Here we report that this synergistic activation probably occurs through protein-protein interactions.

Animals↗

Wild-type p53 binds to the TATA-binding protein and represses transcription.

p53 activates transcription of genes with a p53 response element, and it can repress genes lacking the element. Here we demonstrate that wild-type but not mutant p53 inhibits transcription in a HeLa nuclear extract from minimal promoters. Wild-type but not mutant p53 binds to human TATA-binding protein (TBP). p53 does not bind to yeast TBP, and it cannot inhibit transcription in a HeLa extract where yeast TBP substitutes for human TBP. These results suggest a model in which p53 binds to TBP and interferes with transcriptional initiation.

Animals↗

YY1 is an initiator sequence-binding protein that directs and activates transcription in vitro.

Regulation of eukaryotic messenger RNA transcription is governed by DNA sequence elements that serve as binding sites for sequence-specific transcription factors. These include upstream and downstream promoter-proximal elements, enhancers, repressors, and silencers, which modulate the rate of specific initiation by RNA polymerase II. In addition, the promoter-proximal region between -45 and +30 (relative to the start of initiation) contains two highly conserved motifs, the TATA sequence at around -30 and CA at +1. Although the TATA element-binding factor TFIID has been purified and cloned from several organisms and has provided invaluable insight into the process of transcription initiation and its regulation, little is known about factors that interact at the +1 region. We have recently shown that the adeno-associated virus type 2 P5 promoter +1 region (P5 + 1 element) binds transcription factor YY1. We report here that this sequence is necessary and sufficient for accurate basal transcription. Further, partially purified YY1 can restore basal level transcription from a P5 + 1 element in a HeLa extract depleted for YY1 or a Drosophila embryo extract devoid of YY1 activity, whereas a YY1-specific antibody can block the reactivation. Finally, using electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we have identified YY1-related factors that bind to two other transcription initiators in cellular genes.

Animals↗

Transcriptional repression by YY1, a human GLI-Krüppel-related protein, and relief of repression by adenovirus E1A protein.

A sequence within the transcription control region of the adeno-associated virus P5 promoter has been shown to mediate transcriptional activation by the adenovirus E1A protein. We report here that this same element mediates transcriptional repression in the absence of E1A. Two cellular proteins have been found to bind to overlapping regions within this sequence element. One of these proteins, YY1, is responsible for the repression. E1A relieves repression exerted by YY1 and further activates transcription through its binding site. A YY1-specific cDNA has been isolated. Its sequence reveals YY1 to be a zinc finger protein that belongs to the GLI-Krüppel gene family. The product of the cDNA binds to YY1 sites. When fused to the GAL4 DNA-binding domain, it is capable of repressing transcription directed by a promoter that contains GAL4-binding sites, and E1A proteins can relieve the repression and activate transcription through the fusion protein.

Adenoviridae↗

Mutual functional antagonism of the simian virus 40 T antigen and the hepatitis B virus trans activator.

The hepatitis B virus X protein (pX) trans activates transcription of a wide variety of viral and cellular genes, apparently by interacting with multiple cellular transcription factors. It has been shown previously that the simian virus 40 early-region gene products (large-T and small-t antigens) prevent trans activation by pX. We show here that this phenomenon can be ascribed solely to the large-T antigen and that T antigen binds to pX in vitro. Mapping studies reveal that the region of large-T antigen around residues 125 and 126 is critical for this binding and also for the ability of T antigen to prevent trans activation by pX. Furthermore, pX in turn interferes with two of the known functions of T antigen, transcriptional trans activation and simian virus 40 DNA replication. We propose that pX and T antigen inactivate each other by forming a nonfunctional complex in vivo.

Animals↗

Transactivation by the hepatitis B virus X protein depends on AP-2 and other transcription factors.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene product (pX) could be important in disease pathogenesis because it is known to transactivate transcription from many viral and cellular gene promoters, including the HBV core gene promoter, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) long terminal repeat, and the c-myc promoter. We have previously shown that only a subset of the promoters that can be transactivated by pX is transactivated in any particular cell line, and have proposed that pX acts through multiple, cell type-specific transcription factors. We show here that pX acts through both AP-1 and AP-2 sites, and that pX has a transcription activation domain. We conclude that transactivation by pX depends on at least two distinct cellular DNA-binding transcription factors and we present a model for the action of pX.

Animals↗

trans-activation by the hepatitis B virus X protein shows cell-type specificity.

The hepatitis B virus X protein can trans-activate transcription from many viral promoters. We show here that this trans-activation is cell-type but not species specific, and that only a subset of promoters is trans-activated in any particular cell type. Furthermore, the T/t-antigens from simian virus 40 suppress this trans-activation. We hypothesize that the X protein acts via cellular factors which are phylogenetically conserved and developmentally regulated and whose effects are blocked by the T/t-antigens.

Animals↗

Trans-activation of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat by the hepatitis B virus X protein.

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 has been implicated as the main etiologic agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. However, other infectious agents may accelerate the progression of this disease. In particular, hepatitis B virus has been suggested as one such cofactor. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of hepatitis B virus gene products on expression of the human immunodeficiency virus I in transient transfection studies of Jurkat lymphoblastic T cells, using as reporter the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene coupled to the long terminal repeat of human immunodeficiency virus I. As measured by the amount of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity, gene expression directed by the human immunodeficiency virus I long terminal repeat increased approximately 10-fold in response to the hepatitis B virus X protein. This trans-activation by the X protein is multiplicative with the effect of phorbol esters and can be accounted for by an increase in the steady-state level of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase mRNA. Analysis of deletion and clustered point mutants in the long terminal repeat indicated that the X protein exerts its effect through multiple cis-acting sites. These results provide a possible molecular basis for the association of hepatitis B virus and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and confirm that the X protein is a transcriptional transactivator.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗