Biomedical subjects

J M Gottesfeld

Publications and source records attributed to J M Gottesfeld.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Differential kinetics of transcription complex assembly distinguish oocyte and somatic 5S RNA genes of Xenopus.

Differential transcription of the Xenopus gene families encoding the oocyte and somatic 5S ribosomal RNAs can be reproduced in vitro with cell-free extracts prepared from Xenopus oocytes and unfertilized eggs. The transcriptional activities of these genes as assayed in these in vitro systems are a consequence of large differences in the rates of assembly of active transcription complexes. The somatic 5S genes sequester limiting transcription factors much more rapidly than the corresponding oocyte 5S genes and, as a consequence, are far more active. However, once transcription complexes are formed, these complexes are stable on both of these genes. Previous studies have established that transcription factors IIIA and IIIC are sufficient to form a stable protein-DNA complex on the somatic 5S gene. The rate of formation of the stable TFIIIA+C complex for the oocyte gene is far slower than that for the somatic 5S gene. Insertion of the DNA binding site for TFIIIC2 (the B-block promoter element from tRNA genes) into the 3' flanking region of a synthetic oocyte 5S gene increases the transcription efficiency and rate of transcription complex assembly of this gene relative to the parent gene lacking the B-block element. Our results support a model in which competition for limiting transcription factors plays a pivotal role in establishing differential transcription of the two classes of 5S genes during early embryogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Repression of RNA polymerase II and III transcription during M phase of the cell cycle.

Nuclear transcription is repressed when eukaryotic cells enter mitosis. Using Xenopus egg extracts shifted to the mitotic state with recombinant cyclin B1 protein, we have been able to reproduce mitotic repression of transcription in vitro. Active RNA polymerase III transcription is observed in interphase extracts in the absence of added cyclin, but is strongly repressed by the induction of cdc2/cyclin B (maturation/mitosis promoting factor, MPF) kinase activity in the mitotic extract. Studies with protein kinase inhibitors show that protein phosphorylation is required for repression. Add-back experiments indicate that repression of class III gene transcription is due to inactivation of the transcription factor TFIIIB. TFIIIB is composed of the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors of 75 and 92 kDa. In the present study, we show that TBP and a polypeptide of 92 kDa are substrates of the mitotic kinase in highly purified TF- IIIB fractions. We also show that a phosphatase present in the Xenopus egg extract can reactivate transcription after repression by the mitotic kinases. This result suggests a mechanism for reactivation of transcription after exit from mitosis into the G1 phase of the cell cycle. As for pol III genes, purified cdc2/cyclin B kinase is sufficient to inhibit transcription by RNA polymerase II in a reconstituted transcription system containing the basal transcription factors and polymerase.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Protein and DNA requirements for the transcription factor IIIA-induced distortion of the 5 S rRNA gene promoter.

Transcription factor-induced DNA distortion has become a common theme in eukaryotic gene regulation. A number of techniques have been applied to the study of transcription factor-induced DNA bending and flexibility including electron microscopy, circular permutation gel analysis, helical phasing gel analysis and cyclisation kinetics in solution. We have applied these techniques in order to assess the role that specific DNA sequences and protein domains of transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) play in the TFIIIA-induced distortion of the Xenopus 5 S ribosomal RNA gene promoter. Electron spectroscopic imaging analysis of TFIIIA:DNA complexes indicate that TFIIIA binding involves compaction of the 5 S promoter into a precise three-dimensional hairpin-shaped structure. This compaction can be detected utilising circular permutation gel analysis and the distortion results in an apparent bend angle of 55 to 60 degrees near the centre of the TFIIIA binding site. Helical phasing analysis demonstrates that the 60 degrees bend angle as measured by circular permutation can be detected as a static bend directed towards the minor groove between bases +63 and +64 of the 5 S rRNA gene. The amplitude of the TFIIIA:5 S gene phasing signal is similar to the phasing signal obtained utilising bacterial CAP:DNA complexes with bend angles of approximately 90 degrees. These results are supported by phased ligase-mediated cyclisation kinetics in solution. Analysis of DNA deletion constructs indicate that the 5' A block of the internal 5 S gene promoter, which is required for transcriptional activity, is also required for TFIIIA-induced distortion of the 5 S gene promoter. Analysis of the N-terminal papain fragment of TFIIIA indicates that the 34 kDa zinc finger DNA binding domain is sufficient for compaction of the 5 S gene promoter. These results are discussed in relation to the modular model of TFIIIA:DNA interaction in which individual zinc fingers contribute to the protein-induced distortion of the DNA helix and overall DNA binding affinity in a complex, non-additive fashion.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Assessment of major and minor groove DNA interactions by the zinc fingers of Xenopus transcription factor IIIA.

Zinc finger proteins of the Cys2His2 class are DNA sequence-specific transcription factors. Previous structural studies of zinc finger protein-DNA complexes have shown that amino acids in the finger tip and alpha-helix regions within individual finger domains make base-specific contacts with the major groove of DNA. The nine finger protein transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) from Xenopus oocytes binds a 43 base pair region of the 5S RNA gene through major groove interactions with two sets of three fingers (fingers 1-3 and 7-9) and with finger 5. Previous studies have suggested that zinc fingers 4 and 6 each bind in or across the minor groove to bridge these major groove-binding zinc fingers. Here it is shown that a polypeptide containing zinc fingers 1-5 (zf1-5) binds oligonucleotides with modifications in the major groove of the finger 4 binding site with wild-type affinity. Mutagenesis and binding site selection studies were performed to determine whether high affinity DNA binding by zf1-5 requires a particular sequence in the binding site for finger 4. Several mutations in this region of the 5S gene reduced the DNA-binding affinity of zf1-5; however, selection and amplification binding assays did not recover the wild-type finger 4 binding site sequence from a pool of mixed sequence oligonucleotides. Rather, a purine-rich sequence on the top strand was highly selected within the finger 4 binding site. We suggest that high affinity DNA binding by zinc finger 4 may be dictated by a sequence-specific DNA structure rather than by a unique DNA sequence. Deletion of finger 4 from zf1-5 results in a protein with poor binding affinity, demonstrating the importance of finger 4 in proper alignment of neighboring fingers with the DNA, and/or the importance of correct protein-protein interactions between fingers.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Transcriptional activation of RNA polymerase III-dependent genes by the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 tax protein.

The human T-cell leukemia virus-encoded tax protein is a potent activator of many viral and cellular genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. We find that both chromatin and cell extracts derived from human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-infected human T lymphocytes support higher levels of 5S rRNA and tRNA gene transcription than chromatin or extracts from uninfected T lymphocytes. The viral protein Tax was likely responsible for this higher level of class II gene transcription, as purified Tax was found to stimulate both genes when added to the uninfected cell extract or in reconstituted systems. Both limiting-component transcription assays and DNA binding assays identified the class III gene transcription factor TFIIIB as the principle target of Tax activity. Surprisingly, we find that Tax increases the effective concentration of active TFIIIB molecules. These data suggest that Tax stimulates RNA polymerase III-dependent gene expression by accelerating the rate and/or extent of transcription initiation complex assembly.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1996

TATA-box DNA binding activity and subunit composition for RNA polymerase III transcription factor IIIB from Xenopus laevis.

The RNA polymerase III transcription initiation factor TFIIIB contains the TATA-box-binding protein (TBP) and polymerase III-specific TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Previous studies have shown that DNA oligonucleotides containing the consensus TATA-box sequence inhibit polymerase III transcription, implying that the DNA binding domain of TBP is exposed in TFIIIB. We have investigated the TATA-box DNA binding activity of Xenopus TFIIIB, using transcription inhibition assays and a gel mobility shift assay. Gel shift competition assays with mutant and nonspecific DNAs demonstrate the specificity of the TFIIIB-TATA box DNA complex. The apparent dissociation constant for this protein-DNA interaction is approximately 0.4 nM, similar to the affinity of yeast TBP for the same sequence. TFIIIB transcriptional activity and TATA-box binding activity cofractionate during a series of four ion-exchange chromatographic steps, and reconstituted transcription reactions demonstrate that the TATA-box DNA-protein complex contains TFIIIB TAF activity. Polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 75 and 92 kDa are associated with TBP in this complex. These polypeptides were renatured after elution from sodium dodecyl sulfate-gels and tested individually and in combination for TFIIIB TAF activity. Recombinant TBP along with protein fractions containing the 75- and 92-kDa polypeptides were sufficient to reconstitute TFIIIB transcriptional activity and DNA binding activity, suggesting that Xenopus TFIIIB is composed of TBP along with these polypeptides.

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PubMed1995

Repression of vertebrate RNA polymerase III transcription by DNA binding proteins located upstream from the transcription start site.

Derivatives of yeast tRNA and Xenopus tRNA and 5 S RNA genes have been constructed in which natural 5' flanking sequences have been replaced by the binding sites for either the yeast transcription activator protein GCN4 or the three amino-terminal zinc fingers of the Xenopus factor TFIIA (zf1-3). The binding sites for these proteins have been placed at various distances upstream from the start site for transcription initiation in the parent genes. Each of these plasmid DNAs is actively transcribed in both an unfractionated transcription extract prepared from unfertilized Xenopus eggs and in a reconstituted Xenopus transcription system. Binding of the test proteins to plasmid DNAs harboring the cognate binding sites severely represses transcription when these binding sites are located less than approximately 40 base-pairs upstream from the transcription start site. The DNA-binding proteins are without effect on the transcription of plasmids lacking binding sites or when the binding sites are located further upstream. Assembly of DNA templates into a complete transcription complex prior to addition of the DNA-binding proteins prevents repression. Proteins present in a fraction containing TFIIIB are necessary for this reversal of repression. These data suggest that vertebrate TFIIIB binds upstream from class III genes and this binding can be prevented by occlusion of the TFIIIB binding site by the test proteins GCN4 and zf1-3.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Interaction of the RNA binding fingers of Xenopus transcription factor IIIA with specific regions of 5 S ribosomal RNA.

Zinc fingers 4 to 7 of Xenopus transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) represent the minimal polypeptide necessary for high-affinity binding to 5 S RNA. Mutations covering the entire 5 S RNA structure have been compared for their effects on the binding affinity of full-length TFIIIA and a polypeptide consisting of fingers 4 to 7 of TFIIIA (zf4-7). In addition, ribonuclease footprinting was used to compare the binding sites of TFIIIA and zf4-7 on 5 S RNA. The consistency between the data obtained from these two approaches provided a clear indication that zinc fingers 4 to 7 of TFIIIA bind to a central core region on the 5 S RNA molecule consisting of loop B/helix II/loop A/helix V/region E. This information was used to design a truncated 75-nucleotide-long RNA molecule that retains high affinity for zf4-7. Therefore, we conclude that the specific interaction of TFIIIA with 5 S RNA can be represented by a complex formed between a four zinc finger polypeptide and a truncated 5 S RNA molecule.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Relative contributions of the zinc fingers of transcription factor IIIA to the energetics of DNA binding.

We have expressed and purified a series of recombinant zinc finger polypeptides derived from the cDNA for the Xenopus 5 S gene-specific transcription factor TFIIIA. Dissociation constants for the interaction of each of the truncated polypeptides with the 5 S gene promoter have been measured using gel mobility shift assays. DNase I footprinting and proteolysis experiments provide additional insights into the interactions of individual fingers within complexes of the truncated proteins. These results are discussed in terms of recently proposed models for the TFIIIA-DNA interaction. The effects of mutations in two of the strongly binding proteins, zf1-3 and zf1-7, on DNA binding affinity have been investigated. Mutations have been made both in putative DNA-contact residues and in the linker regions between zinc fingers. The observed decreases in binding affinity cannot be explained simply in terms of loss of protein-DNA contacts. Our results support a model in which DNA binding is accomplished through sets of interacting zinc fingers that make different energetic contributions to the overall binding of the protein and different contacts with the DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Mitotic repression of RNA polymerase III transcription in vitro mediated by phosphorylation of a TFIIIB component.

Interphase cytosol extracts prepared from Xenopus laevis eggs are active in RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcription. Addition of recombinant B1 cyclin to these extracts activates mitotic protein kinases that repress transcription. Affinity-purified p34cdc2-cyclin B kinase (mitosis-promoting factor) is sufficient to effect this repression in a simplified Pol III transcription system. This mitotic repression involves the direct phosphorylation of a component of the Pol III transcription initiation factor TFIIIB, which consists of the TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and associated Pol III-specific factors. The transcriptional activity of the TFIIIB-TBP fraction can be modulated in vitro by phosphorylation with mitotic kinases and by dephosphorylation with immobilized alkaline phosphatase.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1994

Role of maturation-promoting factor (p34cdc2-cyclin B) in differential expression of the Xenopus oocyte and somatic-type 5S RNA genes.

Transcription of 5S rRNA and tRNA genes by RNA polymerase III (pol III) in cytosolic extracts of unfertilized Xenopus eggs and in a reconstituted system derived from Xenopus oocytes is repressed by the action of one or more mitotic protein kinases. Repression is due to the phosphorylation of a component of the pol III transcription apparatus. We find that the maturation/mitosis-promoting factor kinase (MPF, p34cdc2-cyclin B) can directly mediate this repression in vitro. Affinity-purified MPF and immune complexes formed with antibodies to the protein subunits of MPF (p34cdc2 and cyclin B) retain both histone H1 kinase activity and the capacity to repress transcription in the reconstituted transcription system. Transcription complexes of oocyte-type 5S RNA genes and tRNA genes are quantitatively more sensitive to MPF repression than the corresponding transcription complexes of the somatic-type 5S RNA gene. The differential transcription of oocyte- and somatic-type genes observed during early Xenopus embryogenesis has been reproduced with the reconstituted transcription system and affinity-purified MPF. This differential transcription may be due to the instability of transcription complexes on the oocyte-type genes and the heightened sensitivity of soluble transcription factors to inactivation by mitotic phosphorylation. Our results suggest that MPF may play a role in vivo in the establishment of the embryonic pattern of pol III gene expression.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Molecular basis for specific recognition of both RNA and DNA by a zinc finger protein.

Transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) from Xenopus oocytes binds both the internal control region of the 5S ribosomal RNA genes and the 5S RNA transcript itself. The nucleic acid binding domain of TFIIIA contains nine tandemly repeated zinc finger motifs. A series of precisely truncated forms of this protein have been constructed and assayed for 5S RNA and DNA binding. Different sets of zinc fingers were found to be responsible for high affinity interactions with RNA and with DNA. These results explain how a single protein can exhibit equal affinities for these two very different nucleic acids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Definition of the binding sites of individual zinc fingers in the transcription factor IIIA-5S RNA gene complex.

A series of polypeptides containing increasing numbers of zinc fingers of Xenopus transcription factor IIIA has been generated and binding to the 5S RNA gene internal control region has been studied in order to elucidate the mode of interaction of the individual fingers with DNA. By using a combination of DNase I footprinting, methylation interference, and differential binding to mixtures of DNA fragments differing in length by single base pairs, the binding sites for individual fingers have been defined. These results have led to a model for the interaction of transcription factor IIIA with the internal control region in which fingers 1-3 bind in the major groove of the promoter C block, fingers 7-9 bind in the major groove of the A block, and finger 5 binds in the major groove of the intermediate element. Fingers 4 and 6 each bind across the minor groove, spanning these promoter elements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Interaction of Xenopus TFIIIC with the TFIIIA.5 S RNA gene complex.

The general transcription factor TFIIIC is necessary for transcription initiation by RNA polymerase III. TFIIIC binds predominantly to the B-Block promoter element, which is present in tRNA genes, several viral RNA genes and repetitive DNA elements, and to the TFIIIA.DNA complex on 5 S RNA genes. Here we report a characterization of Xenopus laevis TFIIIC and its interaction with the TFIIIA.5 S RNA gene complex. A polypeptide with apparent molecular mass of 85 kDa was specifically cross-linked to a B-Block oligonucleotide by UV light. This polypeptide was present in the partially purified TFIIIC fraction and in a complex with a B-Block double-stranded oligonucleotide isolated by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. TFIIIC.TFIIIA.DNA gel mobility shift complexes were obtained using B-Block DNA affinity-purified TFIIIC and buffer conditions employing low Mg2+ (1 mM) and high dithiothreitol (7 mM) concentrations. Three TFIIIC.TFIIIA.5 S RNA gene complexes were observed by gel mobility shift analysis. One of these complexes was resistant to dissociation by the addition of competing DNA, but the formation of all three complexes was prevented by the inclusion of excess specific competitor DNA in the initial binding reactions. The apparent affinity of TFIIIC for the TFIIIA.5 S DNA complex was 5-fold higher for the somatic-type 5 S RNA gene than for the oocyte-type 5 S RNA gene. Mutations near the 5' boundary of the TFIIIA binding site alter the DNase I footprint of the TFIIIA.DNA complex and reduce the affinity of TFIIIA-mutant 5 S gene complexes for TFIIIC. Differences in TFIIIC affinity for the two classes of 5 S RNA genes may play a role in the developmental regulation of these gene families.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Specific interaction of the first three zinc fingers of TFIIIA with the internal control region of the Xenopus 5 S RNA gene.

A DNA plasmid encoding the first 101 amino acid residues of the Xenopus 5 S RNA gene-specific transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) was derived by polymerase chain reaction amplification of this region from the cDNA for TFIIIA. This polypeptide includes the first three zinc fingers of the TFIIIA DNA binding domain. The polypeptide was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to greater than 95% homogeneity. The three finger polypeptide binds the internal control region of the 5 S RNA gene with sequence specificity and high affinity. Binding is metal-dependent and treatment of the polypeptide with EDTA abolishes binding. Polypeptide-DNA complexes exhibit a dissociation constant of 5.6(+/- 0.9) nM, while that for full-length Xenopus TFIIIA is 2.2(+/- 0.4) nM, measured under the same conditions. This suggests that the majority of the free energy of TFIIIA binding resides in these amino-terminal zinc fingers. The polypeptide protects 21 base-pairs of the internal control region from attack by DNase I, with protection from nucleotides +75 to +95 of the 120 base-pair gene. This region includes the C-block promoter element and several guanine residues that are essential for TFIIIA binding. Methylation interference experiments suggest that the mode of binding of the polypeptide and TFIIIA are similar. The minimal DNA sequences required for polypeptide binding were determined using a series of synthetic double-stranded deoxyribo-oligonucleotides. A 13 base-pair oligonucleotide spanning nucleotides +80 to +92 of the 5 S RNA gene retained specific and high-affinity binding, although the latter was reduced sixfold relative to longer DNA fragments. Polypeptides containing fingers 1 and 2, or fingers 2, 3 and 4 of TFIIIA do not exhibit sequence-specific DNA binding. Overall, these studies provide strong support for a model in which the first three zinc fingers of TFIIIA bind with high affinity between nucleotides +80 and +92 of the internal control region of the 5 S RNA gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Zinc is required for folding and binding of a single zinc finger to DNA.

A synthetic peptide corresponding to zinc finger 31 of the Xenopus protein Xfin adopts a folded conformation in the presence of zinc. The same peptide in the absence of zinc is not folded in a stable tertiary conformation, as determined by NMR. Binding experiments have shown that the peptide binds non-specifically to DNA only in the presence of zinc. Moreover, competitive DNA binding experiments indicate interaction with 3.9 +/- 0.4 base pairs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

TFIIIA induced DNA bending: effect of low ionic strength electrophoresis buffer conditions.

We have used a circular permutation gel shift assay to show that the 5S gene transcription factor, TFIIIA, induces a bend at the internal promoter of the Xenopus oocyte-type 5S gene. The degree of bending is comparable to what we have previously observed for TFIIIA induced bending of the Xenopus somatic-type gene [Schroth, G.P. et al. (1989) Nature 340, 487-488]. In addition, we show that TFIIIA induced DNA bending is dramatically affected by the ionic conditions used during gel electrophoresis. By modifying the conditions of the electrophoresis, we can detect two distinct conformations for the TFIIIA/DNA complex. In very low ionic strength buffers, the degree of DNA bending in the complex is estimated to be about 25 to 30 degrees, whereas in higher ionic strength buffers it is about 60 to 65 degrees. These data explain the apparent discrepancy between our results and the results of another study in which it was claimed that TFIIIA did not 'substantially' bend DNA [Zweib, C. and Brown, R.S. (1990) Nucleic Acid Res. 18, 583-587]. These results also demonstrate that the TFIIIA/DNA complex has a large degree of conformational flexibility. Both DNA bending and conformational flexibility are structural features which may provide a key insight into the function of TFIIIA as a positive transcription factor.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Chromosomal footprinting of transcriptionally active and inactive oocyte-type 5S RNA genes of Xenopus laevis.

The chromatin structure of the Xenopus oocyte-specific 5S rRNA genes was examined at high resolution in immature oocyte and somatic cell chromosomes by DNase I footprinting. On oocyte chromatin, where the genes are active, the cleavage preferences over the entire gene region showed a periodic pattern of sensitivity and were dramatically different from the patterns obtained with deproteinized DNA or somatic cell chromatin. Further, the normal binding site for TFIIIA over the internal promoter region was preferentially sensitive to cleavage, indicating that TFIIIA was not bound in the manner predicted by in vitro experiments. In somatic cell chromatin, the oocyte-type 5S genes displayed a cleavage pattern largely similar to deproteinized DNA suggesting the absence of positioned nucleosomes on these inactive genes, although the presence of uncharacterized repressor complexes could not be ruled out. These data are discussed in terms of potential forms of the chromatin structure and alternative mechanisms of oocyte-type gene activation.

Animals↗