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R Gherzi

Publications and source records attributed to R Gherzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

AU binding proteins recruit the exosome to degrade ARE-containing mRNAs.

Inherently unstable mammalian mRNAs contain AU-rich elements (AREs) within their 3' untranslated regions. Although found 15 years ago, the mechanism by which AREs dictate rapid mRNA decay is not clear. In yeast, 3'-to-5' mRNA degradation is mediated by the exosome, a multisubunit particle. We have purified and characterized the human exosome by mass spectrometry and found its composition to be similar to its yeast counterpart. Using a cell-free RNA decay system, we demonstrate that the mammalian exosome is required for rapid degradation of ARE-containing RNAs but not for poly(A) shortening. The mammalian exosome does not recognize ARE-containing RNAs on its own. ARE recognition requires certain ARE binding proteins that can interact with the exosome and recruit it to unstable RNAs, thereby promoting their rapid degradation.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2000

Nucleolin and YB-1 are required for JNK-mediated interleukin-2 mRNA stabilization during T-cell activation.

Regulated mRNA turnover is a highly important process, but its mechanism is poorly understood. Using interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA as a model, we described a role for the JNK-signaling pathway in stabilization of IL-2 mRNA during T-cell activation, acting via a JNK response element (JRE) in the 5' untranslated region (UTR). We have now identified two major RNA-binding proteins, nucleolin and YB-1, that specifically bind to the JRE. Binding of both proteins is required for IL-2 mRNA stabilization induced by T-cell activation signals and for JNK-induced stabilization in a cell-free system that duplicates essential features of regulated mRNA decay. Nucleolin and YB-1 are required for formation of an IL-2 mRNP complex that responds to specific mRNA stabilizing signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Altered response to stimuli of the AP-1/DNA binding activity in a syndrome of precocious ageing (geroderma osteodysplastica hereditaria).

Cell senescence produces changes in the expression of specific genes, suggesting that senescent cells express an altered pattern of transcription factors. Here we describe how the DNA binding activity of the activator protein 1(AP-1) complex is altered in the fibroblasts of a geroderma osteodysplastica patient in response to extracellular stimuli.

Aging↗
PubMed1998

Structure of 5' region of human tenascin-R gene and characterization of its promoter.

The tenascin-R (TN-R) gene encodes a multidomain extracellular matrix protein belonging to the tenascin family, previously detected only in the central nervous system. In this report, we describe the structure of the 5' region of the human TN-R gene and characterize the activity of its promoter. We cloned two previously unreported nontranslated exons (exons 1 and 2, 539 and 101 bp in length, respectively) separated by a large (> or = 40-kb) intron. The intron between exons 2 and 3 (containing the ATG codon) is 122 kb in length. Tenascin-R transcripts in fetal, adult, and neoplastic human brain contain both exons 1 and 2, as demonstrated by S1 nuclease analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The human TN-R promoter displays relatively unusual features in terms of sequence in that it lacks any TATA box, CAAT box, GC-rich regions, or initiator element. The promoter displays its activity only in cultured cells of neural and glial origin, not in transformed epithelial cells and melanoma cells. All the elements required for the full and cell-specific activity of the promoter are contained in the 57-bp sequence closest to the transcription startpoint.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Rat tenascin-R gene: structure, chromosome location and transcriptional activity of promoter and exon 1.

Tenascin-R is an extracellular matrix protein expressed exclusively in the central nervous system where it is thought to play a relevant role in regulating neurite outgrowth. We have i) cloned the cDNA of the rat tenascin-R 5' region; ii) defined its genomic organization, obtaining the sequence of two novel untranslated exons; iii) mapped the gene to rat chromosome 13q23 and suggested a previously unreported synteny between rat chromosome 13q23, human chromosome 1q24, and mouse chromosome 4E; and iv) sequenced and characterized the elements responsible for its neural cell-restricted transcription. We found that two discrete regions of the rat gene (the first in the proximal promoter, the second in the first exon) are independently able to activate to a high degree the transcription of a reporter gene in either human or rat neuroblastoma cell lines but not in other cell lines. Based on this observation, we re-evaluated the arrangement of transcriptionally active regions in the human tenascin-R gene we recently cloned and found that the human gene also contains an exon sequence able to initiate and sustain transcription independently of promoter sequences.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed1997

The human homeodomain protein OTX2 binds to the human tenascin-C promoter and trans-represses its activity in transfected cells.

Homeodomain-containing proteins mediate many transcriptional processes in eukaryotes during development. Recently, mammalian homeodomain proteins involved in the anterior head formation have been discovered, but their effect on gene transcription has never been investigated. Here we report on the ability of the human homeodomain protein OTX2 to bind with high affinity to a target sequence present in the promoter of the gene encoding the human extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C and to repress its transcriptional activity in transiently transfected cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The c-Jun-induced transformation process involves complex regulation of tenascin-C expression.

In cooperation with an activated ras oncogene, the site-dependent AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun transforms primary rat embryo fibroblasts (REF). Although signal transduction pathways leading to activation of c-Jun proteins have been extensively studied, little is known about c-Jun cellular targets. We identified c-Jun-upregulated cDNA clones homologous to the tenascin-C gene by differential screening of a cDNA library from REF. This tightly regulated gene encodes a rare extracellular matrix protein involved in cell attachment and migration and in the control of cell growth. Transient overexpression of c-Jun induced tenascin-C expression in primary REF and in FR3T3, an established fibroblast cell line. Surprisingly, tenascin-C synthesis was repressed after stable transformation by c-Jun compared to that in the nontransformed parental cells. As assessed by using the tenascin-C (-220 to +79) promoter fragment cloned in a reporter construct, the c-Jun-induced transient activation is mediated by two binding sites: one GCN4/AP-1-like site, at position -146, and one NF-kappaB site, at position -210. Furthermore, as demonstrated by gel shift experiments and cotransfections of the reporter plasmid and expression vectors encoding the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB and c-Jun, the two transcription factors bind and synergistically transactivate the tenascin-C promoter. We previously described two other extracellular matrix proteins, SPARC and thrombospondin-1, as c-Jun targets. Thus, our results strongly suggest that the regulation of the extracellular matrix composition plays a central role in c-Jun-induced transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The human tenascin-R gene.

The human tenascin-R gene encodes a multidomain protein belonging to the tenascin family, until now detected only in the central nervous system. During embryo development, tenascin-R is presumed to play a pivotal role in axonal path finding through its adhesive and repulsive properties. Recently, the primary structure of human tenascin-R has been elucidated (Carnemolla, B., Leprini, A., Borsi, L., Querzé, G., Urbini, S., and Zardi, L. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 8157-8160). As a further step to investigate the role of human tenascin-R, we defined the structure of its gene. The gene, which spans a region of chromosome 1 approximately 85 kilobases in length, consists of 21 exons, ranging in size from 90 to >670 base pairs. The sequence analysis of intron splice donor and acceptor sites revealed that the position of introns in human tenascin-R are precisely conserved in the other two tenascin family members, tenascin-C and tenascin-X. The determination of intronic sequences flanking the exon boundaries will allow investigation of whether mutations may be responsible for altered function of the gene product(s) leading to central nervous system development defects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

The first untranslated exon of the human tenascin-C gene plays a regulatory role in gene transcription.

The transcription of the human tenascin-C (TN-C) gene is directed by a single promoter. Here we demonstrate, in transiently transfected cells, that two distinct regions of the untranslated 179 bp-long exon 1 play antagonistic roles in transcriptional regulation: bases from 1 to 20 strongly increase the transcription of the reporter gene CAT directed by the human TN-C gene promoter, while bases from 79 to 179 significantly reduce this activation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Human tenascin gene. Structure of the 5'-region, identification, and characterization of the transcription regulatory sequences.

This report describes the genomic organization of the 5'-region of the human tenascin-C (TN) gene and the functional characterization of its promoter. Approximately 2300 base pairs of the TN gene 5'-flanking region have been cloned and sequenced. This genomic region contains several potential binding sites for transcription factors. By primer extension and S1 nuclease analysis we have localized the transcription start site. The first exon of the TN gene (179 base pairs long) is present in the two major TN transcripts, showing that the expression of these two mRNAs is regulated by a single promoter. The 220 bases upstream to the transcription start site are equally active in directing the expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene in TN producer and nonproducer cells. Using deletion fragments of the human 5'-flanking region we have shown the presence of putative "silencer" elements in the -220 to -2300 region active in both TN producer and nonproducer cell lines. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the selective transcription in TN producing cells requires the presence of a 1.3-kilobase portion of the TN gene intron 1 in the CAT expression vectors. These findings indicate that complex mechanisms control the transcriptional regulation of TN gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The glucagon gene is transcribed in beta-like pancreatic cells.

In this report we demonstrate that approximately 1.1 kb of the rat glucagon gene promoter upstream of the transcriptional start site specifically directs the transcription of the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) (p[-1.1]GLU-CAT) in insulinoma beta-TC1 cells. On the contrary, the 350 bp closest to the transcription start site (p[-0.35]GLU-CAT) are ineffective in beta-TC1 cells. Both constructs are transcriptionally active in InR1-G9 glucagonoma cells. While protein kinase A and protein kinase C activators, acting through independent pathways, strongly increase both the transcription of p[-1.1]GLU-CAT and the accumulation of glucagon transcript in beta-TC1 cells, they are weaker activators in InR1-G9 cells. Our experiments suggest that some positive transcription control elements, necessary for the glucagon gene transcription in insulinoma beta-TC1 cells, are localized in the -350/-1100 region of the glucagon gene. Furthermore, our data indicate that glucagon gene transcription can be strongly activated through the protein kinase A pathway in some specific cellular contexts.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Ras antagonizes cAMP stimulated glucagon gene transcription in pancreatic islet cell lines.

Ras, a GTP-binding protein, converts membrane tyrosine kinase signalling to changes in gene expression patterns. Utilising a rat glucagon promoter-CAT construct (p[-1.1]GLU-CAT) we demonstrate in transient transfection experiments that the oncogenic Ras inhibits cAMP-dependent activation of p[-1.1]GLU-CAT in both glucagonoma InR1-G9 and insulinoma beta-TC1 cells. Conversely, the expression of a dominant negative mutant of Ras enhances the cAMP-induced activation of p[-1.1]GLU-CAT transcription in these cells. Our data suggests a functional interference of Ras with the cAMP-dependent transcription of the glucagon gene.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗
PubMed1994

Expression, intracellular localization, and gene transcription regulation of the secretory protein 7B2 in endocrine pancreatic cell lines and human insulinomas.

7B2 is a 23-kDa protein encoded by a single gene that is expressed in a variety of neuroendocrine tissues. Although its physiological role has not yet been elucidated, its presence in secretory granules suggests a function in the secretory machinery of certain neuronal and endocrine cells in various species. The present study characterizes the expression of 7B2 in endocrine pancreatic cells. We demonstrate that: (i) 7B2 is highly expressed in human insulinomas; (ii) its ultrastructural localization, associated with secretory granules of A and B cells of the islets, suggests a participation of 7B2 in the secretion of insulin and glucagon; (iii) sequences located in the first intron of the 7B2 gene are required for its transcription in either insulinoma or glucagonoma cell lines; and (iv) in a B cell-like insulinoma cell line, the transcription of 7B2 is regulated by protein kinase A and protein kinase C activators, while in an A-like insulinoma cell line, 7B2 gene transcription seems to be constitutively activated.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

AP-1 activity during normal human keratinocyte differentiation: evidence for a cytosolic modulator of AP-1/DNA binding.

Increased levels of c-fos and c-jun expression have been observed in differentiating epithelial cells. However, no data are available on activator protein 1 (AP-1) activity during keratinocyte differentiation. In this work we investigated c-fos and c-jun gene expression and AP-1-(12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-responsive enhancer element (TRE) binding activity during keratinocyte differentiation utilizing both authentic and in culture-reconstituted human epidermis. We demonstrate that: (i) in reconstituted epidermis, non-differentiated and differentiated keratinocytes express equivalent levels of c-Jun, while in reconstituted epidermis permanently grafted onto athymic mice, as well as in authentic epidermis, c-Jun is predominantly expressed in the granular layer of the tissue. Equivalent levels of c-fos expression have been found in all the layers of both reconstituted and authentic epidermis. (ii) Nuclear extracts from cultures enriched in differentiated keratinocytes display an 80-90% reduction of AP-1 activity when compared to extracts from cultures enriched in nondifferentiated cells. (iii) Cytosolic extracts obtained from cultures enriched in differentiated cells reduce, in a concentration-dependent manner, the AP-1 activity present in nuclear extracts of both mammalian and Drosophila cells. (iv) The specific TRE binding activity of a recombinant c-Jun protein is significantly reduced by cytosolic extracts of differentiated keratinocytes, while the specific DNA binding of the purified recombinant human homeoprotein HOX4B is not. (v) The dephosphorylation, by alkaline phosphatase, of cytosolic extracts increases the inhibitory activity already present or makes evident a latent activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Protein kinase C mRNA levels and activity in reconstituted normal human epidermis: relationships to cell differentiation.

Although keratinocytes are a major target of phorbol ester actions, the activity and the expression of the eight cloned protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes have not been studied in detail in human epidermis. Starting from normal human keratinocytes, we reconstituted in culture a multilayered epithelial tissue which presents many hystological, biochemical, and molecular features of the authentic epidermis and we used it as a model to investigate the PKC activity and mRNA levels. We found that i) PKC activity is higher in differentiated than in non-differentiated cells; ii) the mRNA levels of PKC delta and -eta/L, while are differently affected by spontaneous keratinocyte differentiation, are down-regulated during phorbol esters-induced cell differentiation. Our findings could represent a basis to investigate the involvement of PKC isoforms in the keratinocyte differentiation process.

Base Sequence↗