PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Donovan-Peluso

Publications and source records attributed to M Donovan-Peluso.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Trans acting regulation of beta globin gene expression in erythroleukemia (K562) cells.

K562 cells are induced by hemin to produce gamma and epsilon globin but not beta globin, although the beta globin gene is intact, and when isolated is expressed in a transient expression assay (1, 2). We have previously shown that an epsilon globin gene transferred into K562 cells is expressed and inducible (3). In this paper, we report the stable transfer of a sickle or betaS globin gene into K562 cells. Thirty-six different transformed lines were tested; 24 of 36 lines contained an intact betaS globin gene. However, using S1 nuclease, Dot blot, and Northern blotting analyses, none of these lines showed beta globin mRNA expression. These results indicate that trans acting factors are responsible for the lack of expression of the beta globin gene in K562 cells.

Cell Line↗

Abnormal globin gene structure and expression in beta-thalassemia.

Over the past five years, several new defects in the beta-thalassemias have been described from this laboratory using both restriction enzyme and sequencing analyses of cloned beta-thalassemia genes. The enzyme HphI has been shown to recognize a single nucleotide change at the 5' end of beta-IVS 2, and, using restriction enzyme analysis, demonstrated for the first time a specific defect associated with beta(0)-thalassemia. Cloning and sequencing of a beta-thalassemia gene have identified a single base change within IVS 2 at a position 705 nucleotides from the 5' end of IVS 2 that results in a beta(0)-thalassemia phenotype; no normal splicing occurs in this gene despite the fact that both the 5' and 3' ends of IVS 2 are unchanged. A unique and strong cryptic 3' acceptor splice site present in the normal gene at a position 580 nucleotides from the 5' end is used extensively in the mutant gene. Studies of this gene have indicated that there are sequences within IVS that are responsible for optimal expression of this gene; changes in these sequences can lead to markedly abnormal patterns of splicing. In addition, beta-globin gene expression has been evaluated in human erythroleukemia cells, K562 cells, and, although stable transformants with integrated beta-globin genes have been obtained, none of these transformants expressed the added beta-globin genes. This is presumably due to trans-acting factors or distal cis-acting effects that suppress the expression of these added beta-globin genes. In addition, a low epsilon-producing cell line, Bos cells, was used as a recipient for an exogenous epsilon-globin gene. A neomycin resistance gene was cotransfected into these cells, and a neomycin analogue (G418) was used to select cells containing both the neomycin resistance and epsilon-globin genes. Using Southern blotting, 10 of 11 stably transformed G418-resistant lines, which contain intact epsilon-globin genes, express epsilon-globin mRNA at much higher levels than the Bos cells into which they were transfected. Two of these lines express the epsilon-globin genes at a level comparable to that of wild-type K562 cells. These results indicate that the transfer and expression of human globin genes in human erythroid cells is feasible, and can occur at a high level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Cell Line↗

Structure and expression of two beta genes in a beta thalassemia homozygote.

Two beta globin gene alleles have been cloned and characterized from a patient with beta + thalassemia. Both beta genes have single base mutations in the small intervening sequence (IVS 1); one 6 nucleotides and the other 110 nucleotides from the 5' end of IVS 1. Both genes lead to abnormal splicing of beta globin mRNA precursors when expressed in HeLa cells. Despite the fact that both alleles produce some normal beta globin mRNA transcripts, the patient has clinically severe beta + thalassemia (Cooley's anemia).

Base Sequence↗

Stable transfer and expression of exogenous human globin genes in human erythroleukemia (K562) cells.

To study the expression of globin genes in human cells, human epsilon-globin genes were transferred into a K562 cell line, Bos, which synthesizes very low amounts of epsilon-globin mRNA. A plasmid (pSV2neo-epsilon) containing a complete epsilon-globin gene and 2 kilobases (kb) of 5' flanking DNA as well as a neomycin-resistance gene and a simian virus 40 origin of replication was transfected into Bos cells; the compound G418, a neomycin analogue, was used to select transformed cells. The presence of unique bands by DNA restriction analysis shows that 11 of 14 of the G418-resistant clones have at least one copy of an integrated epsilon-globin gene. RNA expression measured by RNA blotting shows significantly more epsilon-globin mRNA sequences than in untransfected Bos cells in 10 of 11 lines; in most lines, epsilon-globin mRNA was additionally increased in the presence of hemin. In two lines, epsilon-globin mRNA expression with hemin was comparable to that of a high epsilon-globin producing cell line, K562 clone 2. The one G418-resistant line without epsilon-globin genes had no epsilon-mRNA expression. The high epsilon-mRNA expression in several of the lines suggests that exogenous epsilon-globin genes with only 2-kb 5' flanking DNA may be sufficient to be appropriately expressed in these homologous erythroid cells. These results have implications for the potential success of transfer of normal human genes to human bone marrow cells as an approach to the treatment of inherited anemias.

Base Sequence↗

Erythroleukemia (K562) cells contain a functional beta-globin gene.

K562 cells are human erythroid cells that synthesize embryonic and fetal globins but not adult beta-globin. A cloned beta-globin gene was isolated from K562 cells and transfected into HeLa cells. The RNA transcripts produced were comparable in both amount and size to those obtained with a normal beta-globin gene.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Five nucleotide changes in the large intervening sequence of a beta globin gene in a beta+ thalassemia patient.

A beta globin gene from a patient with homozygous beta+ thalassemia has been cloned and completely sequenced. No changes from normal are found in the 200 nucleotides 5' to the cap site, in the 3' untranslated region up to the poly A addition site, in the small intervening sequence (IVS 1), or in the coding sequence except for a third base change in codon 2. The only other differences are in the large intervening sequence (IVS 2). One of these, at a position 16 nucleotides from the 5' end of IVS 2, has been reported previously in normal individuals, and is probably a polymorphism. Four other changes, at positions 74, 81, 666, and 705 are also seen in IVS 2. Abnormal beta globin mRNA precursors detected in the bone marrow cells of this patient, and abnormal beta globin RNA splicing observed when this gene is transcribed in a tissue culture system taken together with these IVS 2 changes, suggest that the beta+ thalassemia phenotype is produced by a decrease in normal beta globin mRNA processing.

Base Sequence↗