Biomedical subjects

M Wegner

Publications and source records attributed to M Wegner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Identification of the nuclear localization signal of the POU domain protein Tst-1/Oct6.

POU domain proteins are important regulators of development and terminal differentiation based upon their transcriptional activity in the nucleus. Here, we analyzed the mechanism underlying the nuclear localization of Tst-1/Oct6, a member of this family that regulates events during neurogenesis and myelination. Nuclear localization of Tst-1/Oct6 was dependent on the POU domain, as its deletion prevented access to the nucleus, whereas its transfer to the amino terminus of beta-galactosidase was sufficient to prompt nuclear accumulation of this normally cytosolic protein. Interestingly, nuclear localization and high affinity DNA binding were two independent functions of the POU domain and could be separated in several mutants. While specific high affinity binding to DNA required the presence of both the POU-specific and the POU homeodomain, the POU-specific domain was dispensable for nuclear localization of Tst-1/Oct6. Rather, the nuclear localization function was selectively contained within the POU homeodomain. Specifically, a basic cluster (GRKRKKRT) preceding helix 1 of the homeodomain was shown by deletion mutagenesis to be involved in the nuclear localization of Tst-1/Oct6. This sequence, which is highly conserved among POU domain proteins, was by itself capable of translocating beta-galactosidase to the nucleus defining it as the bona fide nuclear localization signal of Tst-1/Oct6 and presumably other POU domain factors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Renal and antihypertensive effects of neutral endopeptidase inhibition in transgenic rats with an extra renin gene.

The cardiovascular consequences of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibition with the NEP inhibitor ecadotril were evaluated by determining acute and long-term effects of the compound on hemodynamic, hormonal, renal, and structural parameters in hypertensive transgenic rats harboring a mouse renin gene (TGR (m(Ren2)27) and in normotensive controls (Sprague-Dawley rats, SDR). Acute administration of ecadotril (10 and 30 mg/kg, orally) produced a dose-dependent decrease in systolic blood pressure with a maximal effect of -23 mm Hg between 2 and 4 h after oral administration. The NEP activity in plasma was significantly inhibited and the plasma levels of atrial (ANP) and brain (BNP) natriuretic peptides and their second messenger, cyclic GMP, were distinctly raised after oral administration. In addition, ecadotril (10 and 30 mg/kg, orally) produced a dose-dependent increase in the urinary excretion of sodium and cyclic GMP. These effects were more pronounced in TGR (mRen2)27 than in the normotensive SDR without an activated natriuretic peptide system. In the long-term study, the systolic pressure in control TG (m(Ren2)27) rats increased from 213 +/- 5 to 255 +/- 7 mm Hg, whereas, in animals treated with ecadotril (30 mg/kg, orally twice daily), the blood pressure increased only from 213 +/- 5 to 227 +/- 6 mm Hg during the observation period of 13 weeks. The increases in heart weight and in kidney weight were also delayed. At the end of the study, cyclic GMP was elevated and ANP tended to be higher, whereas plasma renin activity had decreased. These data indicate a beneficial pharmacological profile of neutral endopeptidase inhibition that could prove useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

T antigen of human papovavirus JC stimulates transcription of the POU domain factor Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP.

Human papovavirus JC exhibits a strong tropism for glial cells in vivo. To a large extent, this effect is due to the pronounced glia specificity of viral gene expression, which is mediated by the specific interaction of glial transcription factors such as Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP with viral promoter sequences. Here we show that, in return, expression of the glial transcription factor Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP can be strongly activated by T antigen, the early gene product of JC virus, in a dose-dependent manner. In transient transfection experiments, stimulation by T antigen was entirely dependent on a 335-bp segment of the Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP gene promoter that included the transcriptional start site. The same fragment was also bound by purified T antigen in immunoprecipitation assays due to the presence of three closely spaced and tandemly oriented GAGGC pentamers. However, when this array of pentamers was mutated so that binding of T antigen was strongly reduced, T-antigen-dependent transcriptional activation remained unaffected. Thus, similar to viral late gene expression, transcriptional stimulation of the Tst-1/Oct6/SCIP gene by T antigen was not dependent on binding to GAGGC pentamers present within the promoter. Nevertheless, our data provide strong support for a model in which JC virus influences gene expression of its host cell via its early gene product in a manner favourable for its own propagation.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Functional comparison of PML-type and archetype strains of JC virus.

Isolates of the human polyomavirus JC can be grouped as either PML-type or archetype strains primarily on the basis of divergence in their regulatory regions. Only PML-type viruses have so far been found to be associated with the human demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Here we have compared the functional properties of archetype and PML-type regulatory regions with regard to DNA replication and viral gene expression. No significant differences could be detected between archetype and PML-type regions in their ability to direct episomal DNA replication in the presence of JC virus T antigen. When viral gene expression was examined, early- and late-gene promoters from all PML-type strains exhibited a significantly higher activity in glial than in nonglial cells. Surprisingly, archetype strain promoters were also preferentially active in glial cells, although this effect was less pronounced than in PML-type strains. Furthermore, all promoters from archetype strains reacted to the presence of viral T antigen or the glial transcription factor Tst-1/Oct6 in a manner similar to the promoters of the PML-type viral strain Mad-1. Interestingly, T antigen and Tst-1/Oct6 were found to function in a species-specific and cell-type-specific manner, respectively. We concluded from our experiments that the differences in the regulatory regions cannot account for the different biology of archetype and PML-type viral strains.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗

PubMed1996

Cardiorenal consequences of dual angiotensin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 inhibition in transgenic rats with an extra renin gene.

The cardiovascular consequences of mixed angiotensin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase (ACE/NEP) inhibition with alatriopril/alatrioprilat were compared with the consequences of endopeptidase (NEP) inhibition alone with (S)-thiorphan/ecadotril by determining the acute effects of the compounds on hemodynamic, hormonal, and renal parameters in hypertensive transgenic rats harboring an additional mouse renin gene (TGR(mRen2)27). Infusion of alatrioprilat and (S)-thiorphan in anesthetized TGR decreased blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner, but heart rate remained unchanged. The renal excretion of water, sodium, and cGMP also increased dose-dependently, with nearly the same maximal effects after infusion of (S)-thiorphan and alatrioprilat. At the end of infusion, plasma ANP and cGMP were elevated both after (S)-thiorphan and after alatrioprilat, whereas plasma renin activity increased only after alatrioprilat. The ACE inhibition effect was studied in ganglion-blocked rats receiving a continous infusion of angiotensin I. Alatrioprilat decreased the mean blood pressure dose-dependently, but about 30 times higher concentrations were needed to produce the same effects as the ACE inhibitor captopril. At a dose of 30 mg/kg p.o., ecadotril, the orally active prodrug of (S)-thiorphan, decreased the systolic blood pressure in conscious TGR by 22 mmHg for 6 h, whereas alatriopril (100 mg/kg p.o.) also reduced the systolic pressure in these rats with a maximal reduction of 22 mmHg. In addition, ecadotril and alatriopril significantly increased the urinary excretion of sodium. In contrast, ACE inhibition with captopril decreased the excretion of sodium dose-dependently in conscious TGR. In conclusion, combined ACE/NEP inhibition produced a comparable lowering of blood pressure and improvement in renal function as those with NEP inhibition in TGR. Dual ACE/NEP inhibition may therefore be useful in cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension or heart failure.

Alanine↗

PubMed1996

Neutral endopeptidase inhibition potentiates the effects of natriuretic peptides in renin transgenic rats.

The influence of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibition with (S)-thiorphan on the hormonal, renal, and blood-pressure-lowering effects of an infusion of atrial (ANP), brain (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) was evaluated in hypertensive transgenic rats (TGR) harboring an additional mouse renin gene (TGR(m(Ren2)27)). These TGR possess an activated natriuretic peptide system as compared with Sprague-Dawley rats (SDR), used in this study as control. (S)-Thiorphan significantly decreased blood pressure in anesthetized TGR but not in anesthetized SDR during the 60-min infusion period. Exogenously administered ANP decreased blood pressure in SDR with no significant effects in TGR after 60 min. In contrast, BNP infusion significantly decreased blood pressure in TGR, while changes in SDR were not significant. The blood pressure was further decreased after combined infusion of ANP and BNP with (S)-thiorphan in TGR. No effect on blood pressure was registered during infusion of CNP in either experimental group. The plasma levels of ANP, BNP, and cGMP were higher in TGR than in SDR, whereas plasma renin activity was lower. Co-administration of ANP, BNP, or CNP with the NEP inhibitor (S)-thiorphan potentiated the plasma ANP, BNP, and cGMP. Infusion of ANP alone did not affect BNP plasma levels of TGR and vice versa. In contrast, CNP infusion increased ANP plasma levels in both TGR and SDR. Renal excretion of sodium and cGMP increased after infusion of (S)-thiorphan and ANP or BNP in both TGR and SDR. The combination of ANP and (S)-thiorphan had a slightly greater effect on urinary excretion of sodium and cGMP in TGR than either compound alone, but the effects were more pronounced in SDR than in TGR. Finally, infusion of CNP alone and in combination with (S)-thiorphan influenced the excretion of sodium and cyclic GMP only slightly. These results indicate that inhibition of neutral endopeptidase by (S)-thiorphan potentiates the hemodynamic and renal effects of natriuretic peptides ANP and BNP, and to some extent those of CNP, in hypertensive TGR and normotensive SDR. In contrast to ANP and BNP, infusion of CNP had no effect on the blood pressure in anesthetized TGR or SDR. Inhibition of NEP therefore seems to be a promising way to potentiate endogenous levels of natriuretic peptides, which may be of therapeutic benefit in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension or heart failure.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Role of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 in AV fistular rat model of heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: The aortovenocaval fistular (AVF) rat represents a model of heart failure caused by increased cardiac volume overload and reduced renal function. Both circulating vasoconstrictors like the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and vasodilators like atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) are activated in this animal model of heart failure. In addition, neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) in plasma and urine is elevated in AVF rats. In the present investigation we examined the renal and hormonal effects of the NEP inhibitor, ecadotril, in acute and chronic studies in rats with an aortovenocaval fistula (AVF). METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats (350-430 g) were prepared by introducing a shunt between abdominal aorta and the vena cava. RESULTS: Acute administration of the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, ecadotril (30 mg/kg p.o.), significantly improved the reduced renal excretion of sodium in AVF rats (83 +/- 10 to 145 +/- 14 mumol/kg/h, P < 0.01) but had no significant effect in sham-operated rats. However, neutral endopeptidase activity in urine was significantly decreased after ecadotril in both groups. Plasma ANP was increased after ecadotril only in AVF rats (275 +/- 83 to 748 +/- 187 pg/ml, P < 0.05), whereas the increase in plasma BNP was not statistically significant. After 4 weeks of observation the ANP and BNP plasma levels, renin activity (PRA), angiotensin I, and neutral endopeptidase activity were significantly higher in AVF rats than in sham-operated rats. Four weeks on ecadotril (30 mg/kg p.o., b.i.d.) increased plasma ANP (245 +/- 48 as opposed to 450 +/- 77 pg/ml, P < 0.05) and decreased PRA (11.3 +/- 1.5 as opposed to 6.8 +/- 1.2 ng/ml/h, P < 0.005) in AVF rats. Plasma NEP activity was inhibited in both groups. Ventricle weight was significantly higher in AVF rats than in sham-operated controls, and ecadotril treatment over 4 weeks decreased ventricular hypertrophy to a slight extent. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in the AVF rat model of heart failure the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, ecadotril, improves the reduced kidney function in AVF rats by raising natriuretic peptides in plasma and probably in urine. NEP inhibition with ecadotril could therefore offer useful therapeutic possibilities in the treatment of heart failure.

Angiotensin I↗

PubMed1995

Prolonged endothelin blockade prevents hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The cardiovascular consequences of endothelin (ET) blockade with the ETA-receptor antagonist FR 139317 were evaluated by determining the long-term effects of the drug on hemodynamic, hormonal, renal and structural parameters in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Young SHR-SP on a high-sodium diet develop malignant hypertension accompanied by renovascular and cerebrovascular lesions. In control SHR-SP the systolic blood pressure increased from 196 +/- 3 to 260 +/- 4 mm Hg, whereas in animals treated with FR 139317 (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, twice daily) it increased only from 196 +/- 4 to 212 +/- 3 mm Hg during a treatment period of 6 weeks. There was also an increase in heart weight. At the end of the experiment the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly lower in the group treated with FR 139317 than in the controls. The endothelin plasma levels were significantly higher and the plasma renin activity was lower in the group treated with the endothelin receptor antagonist. These data indicate that endothelin is involved in the maintenance of high blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in malignant hypertension, as exemplified by SHR-SP.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Finding and recognition of the snail intermediate hosts by 3 species of echinostome cercariae.

Finding and recognition of snail second intermediate hosts was studied in cercariae of 3 echinostome species. The cercariae of the 3 species accumulated in snail-conditioned water (SCW) with 2 types of orientation mechanisms and responded to different small molecular weight ( < 500 Da) components of SCW. Pseudechinoparyphium echinatum and Echinostoma revolutum cercariae returned by swimming an arc, when swimming in decreasing concentration gradients of SCW (turn-back swimming). The stimulating cues of SCW were identified as hydrophilic organic molecules, probably possessing amino groups. Amino acids contributed to the attractivity of SCW, at least in P. echinatum, but they could not account for the complete attractivity of SCW. Hypoderaeum conoideum were directed chemotactically and swam along increasing concentration gradients of small peptides within SCW, but in decreasing SCW gradients they showed no turn-back swimming. Chemotactic orientation in H. conoideum only started 1 h after emission, which may assist the cercariae to leave the immediate area of their first intermediate host snails and to disperse. Attachments occurred specifically to snail hosts in the 3 species and were stimulated by macromolecular mucus compounds, probably mainly by viscoelastic properties of the mucus. The results of this study show, that host-finding mechanisms and the stimulating host cues of snail invading echinostome cercariae differ considerably from those of schistosome miracidia.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Functional interaction between the POU domain protein Tst-1/Oct-6 and the high-mobility-group protein HMG-I/Y.

The POU domain protein Tst-1/Oct-6 is a transcriptional activator of human papovavirus JC virus in transient transfections. Because of its endogenous expression in myelinating glia, Tst-1/Oct-6 might also be an important determinant for the glia specificity of JC virus in vivo. Activation of viral early and late genes depends on the ability of Tst-1/Oct-6 to interact with an AT-rich element within the viral regulatory region. Here, we show that this element not only is bound by Tst-1/Oct-6 but, in addition, serves as a binding site for the high-mobility-group protein HMG-I/Y. In the presence of HMG-I/Y, Tst-1/Oct-6 exhibited an increased affinity for this AT-rich element. The specificity of this effect was evident from the fact that no stimulation of Tst-1/Oct-6 binding was observed on a site that did not allow binding of HMG-I/Y. In addition, both proteins interacted with each other in solution. Direct contacts were identified between the POU domain of Tst-1/Oct-6 and a short stretch of 10 amino acids in the central portion of HMG-I/Y. These results point to an accessory role for HMG-I/Y in the activation of JC viral gene expression by the POU domain protein Tst-1/Oct-6. In agreement with such a role, HMG-Y synergistically supported the function of Tst-1/Oct-6 in transient transfections, measured on the early promoter of JC virus or on an artificial promoter consisting of only a TATA box and the common binding element for Tst-1 and HMG-I/Y.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Prolonged inhibition of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 by sinorphan in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The cardiovascular consequences of inhibition of the neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) with the orally active NEP inhibitor sinorphan were evaluated by determining long-term effects of the drug on hemodynamic, hormonal and structural parameters in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Systolic blood pressure increased in young SHR-SP from 194 +/- 2 to 266 +/- 7 mmHg, whereas in sinorphan (30 mg/kg p.o. bid) treated animals systolic blood pressure increased only from 193 +/- 4 to 229 +/- 4 mmHg during the treatment period of 9 weeks. The increase in relative heart weight was also delayed. Plasma ANP was higher in the sinorphan group than in the controls. The results of a second study demonstrate a substantial improvement of cardiac pump function and ventricular hypertrophy in old SHR-SP with compromised cardiac function by long-term inhibition of NEP. Thirteen-month-old SHR-SP were treated with sinorphan (30 mg/kg p.o. bid) for two weeks. At the end of experiment, the increase in ANP plasma levels did not reach statistical significance, whereas plasma cGMP was higher in sinorphan treated animals than in controls. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was markedly elevated in controls and significantly lower in sinorphan treated animals. In addition, sinorphan reduced cardiac hypertrophy in these old SHR-SP. In conclusion, the results of the present studies demonstrate that long-term NEP inhibition with sinorphan has inhibitory effects on malignant hypertension and associated cardiac hypertrophy in young SHR-SP on a high-sodium diet. NEP inhibition substantially improves cardiac pump function and reduces ventricular hypertrophy of old SHR-SP with compromised cardiac function.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Interaction of a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor with an ANP-C receptor ligand in anesthetized dogs.

Inhibition of important degradative pathways of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in vivo could be a valuable therapeutic tool for regulating endogenous levels of ANP. The aim was to investigate the in vivo effects of both blockade of atrial natriuretic peptide clearance receptor and inhibition of neutral endopeptidase 24.11, an enzyme shown to be involved in ANP breakdown. Therefore, we infused a specific neutral endopeptidase inhibitor ((S)-thiorphan) and an ANP-C receptor ligand (AP 811) alone or in combination into anaesthetized beagle dogs. Compared with vehicle controls, coadministration of (S)-thiorphan and AP 811 (100 micrograms/kg/min and 10 micrograms/kg/min, resp.) had greater effects on endocrine and renal parameters than administration of either substance alone. Coadministration of both compounds increased urinary excretion of volume and sodium, cGMP and ANP. We found also increased plasma cGMP, plasma ANP and decreased plasma renin activity. No effects were observed with respect to blood pressure, left ventricular pressure or heart rate during the infusion period of 2 h. We conclude from these investigations, that blocking both degrading pathways of ANP with the ANP-C receptor ligand AP 811 and the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor (S)-thiorphan is more effective than inhibition of either system alone. Such a combination might therefore be a useful therapeutic tool in cardiovascular diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Prolonged endothelin blockade reduces hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in SHR-SP.

The cardiovascular consequences of endothelin (ET) blockade with the ETA receptor antagonist FR 139317 were evaluated by determining long-term effects of the drug on hemodynamic, hormonal, and structural parameters in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Young SHR-SP on a high-sodium diet develop malignant hypertension accompanied by renovascular and cerebrovascular lesions. In control SHR-SPs the systolic blood pressure increased from 196 +/- 3 to 260 +/- 4 mm Hg, whereas in animals treated with FR 139317 (20 mg/kg, i.p., b.i.d.) blood pressure increased only from 196 +/- 4 to 212 +/- 3 mm Hg during a treatment period of 6 weeks. The increase in heart weight was also delayed. At the end of the experiment, the plasma levels of ANP and BNP were significantly lower in the group treated with FR 139317 than in the controls. The plasma ET levels were significantly higher and the plasma renin activity was lower in the group treated with the ET receptor antagonist. These data indicate that ET is involved in the maintenance of high blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in malignant hypertension, as exemplified by an SHR-SP rat model.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

The POU domain protein Tst-1 and papovaviral large tumor antigen function synergistically to stimulate glia-specific gene expression of JC virus.

Synergism between transcriptional activators is a powerful way of potentiating their function. Here we show that the glial POU domain protein Tst-1 (also known as Oct-6 and SCIP) and large tumor antigen (T antigen) synergistically increased transcription from both the early and the late promoters of papovavirus JC in glial cells. Synergism between both proteins did not require T-antigen-mediated DNA replication or direct binding of T antigen to the promoter. The ability of T antigen to functionally cooperate with Tst-1 was contained within its N-terminal region, shown by the fact that small tumor antigen (t antigen) could substitute for T antigen in transfection experiments. In addition to this functional synergism, a direct interaction between Tst-1 and T antigen was observed in vitro. Using deletion mutants of Tst-1 and T antigen, the POU domain of Tst-1 and the N-terminal region of T antigen were found to participate in this interaction. Because of the low levels of Tst-1 present in oligodendrocytes, synergism between Tst-1 and T antigen could be an important factor in establishing the lytic infection of oligodendrocytes by JC virus during the course of the fatal demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗

PubMed1993

Regulation of JC virus by the POU-domain transcription factor Tst-1: implications for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy results from an opportunistic infection of myelin-producing oligodendrocytes by the glia-specific human papovavirus JC. In this report, evidence is presented that the glial transcription factor Tst-1, a member of the POU-domain family, stimulates transcription of both early and late viral genes. Stimulation was dependent on site-specific binding of Tst-1 to the JC viral regulatory region and on the presence of an intact amino-terminal transactivation domain within Tst-1. Because of its ability to increase the expression of viral large tumor antigen, Tst-1 stimulated viral DNA replication, without participating directly in the replication event. Our results suggest that Tst-1 is one of the determining factors in the glia specificity of JC virus.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Large T-antigen and sequences within the regulatory region of JC virus both contribute to the features of JC virus DNA replication.

The requirements for the DNA replication of the human papovavirus JC were analyzed using JC T-antigen as well as the T-antigens of the related viruses SV40 and BK. With all three T-antigens, the boundary of the core origin mapped on the early side to position 5093 of the viral genome. In conjunction with earlier studies, the core origin of DNA replication was therefore defined as a 68-bp region which, similar to the SV40 core origin, contains three major structural elements, early palindrome, T-antigen binding site II, and A/T-rich tract. Replication was stimulated by sequences flanking the core origin on the early side. Specifically, the stimulating sequences on the early side were identified as T-antigen binding site I. The degree to which flanking sequences were able to stimulate viral DNA replication was dependent on the T-antigen used in the experiment, with JC T-antigen relying most and BK T-antigen relying least on the flanking sequences. SV40 T-antigen showed an intermediate dependence. The same hierarchy was observed when replication activities were compared. BK T-antigen was more active in replicating DNA than SV40 T-antigen, which in turn was more effective than JC T-antigen. Dependence on flanking sequences is, thus, inversely correlated to the replicating activity of the respective T-antigen, showing that, in addition to the origin, the T-antigen contributes to the characteristics of JC virus DNA replication.

Antigens, Viral, Tumor↗

PubMed1993

POU-domain proteins: structure and function of developmental regulators.

POU-domain proteins are a group of developmental regulators found in organisms as distant as worm and man. The sequence conservation of the POU-domain has allowed the characterization of increasing numbers of proteins containing the domain, many of which act to control the generation and maintenance of differentiated cell phenotypes in organs as diverse as skin and brain. Analysis of the means by which POU-domain proteins regulate transcription has led to a further understanding of how this group initiates specific developmental programs.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Calcium-regulated phosphorylation within the leucine zipper of C/EBP beta.

Alterations in intracellular calcium levels activate several signal transduction pathways resulting in distinct patterns of gene expression. Here, a pathway for calcium-mediated signals is demonstrated that involves C/EBP beta, a member of the bZip family of transcription factors. In pituitary cells C/EBP beta was phosphorylated in response to increased intracellular calcium concentrations as a consequence of the activation of a calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of serine at position 276 within the leucine zipper of C/EBP beta appeared to confer calcium-regulated transcriptional stimulation of a promoter that contained binding sites for C/EBP beta.

Amino Acid Sequence↗