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Biomedical subjects

S K Karathanasis

Publications and source records attributed to S K Karathanasis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Antagonism between apolipoprotein AI regulatory protein 1, Ear3/COUP-TF, and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 modulates apolipoprotein CIII gene expression in liver and intestinal cells.

Apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII), a lipid-binding protein involved in the transport of triglycerides and cholesterol in the plasma, is synthesized primarily in the liver and the intestine. A cis-acting regulatory element, C3P, located at -90 to -66 upstream from the apoCIII gene transcriptional start site (+1), is necessary for maximal expression of the apoCIII gene in human hepatoma (HepG2) and intestinal carcinoma (Caco2) cells. This report shows that three members of the steroid receptor superfamily of transcription factors, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4), apolipoprotein AI regulatory protein 1 (ARP-1), and Ear3/COUP-TF, act at the C3P site. HNF-4 activates apoCIII gene expression in HepG2 and Caco2 cells, while ARP-1 and Ear3/COUP-TF repress its expression in the same cells. HNF-4 activation is abolished by increasing amounts of ARP-1 or Ear3/COUP-TF, and repression by ARP-1 or Ear3/COUP-TF is alleviated by increasing amounts of HNF-4. HNF-4 and ARP-1 bind with similar affinities to the C3P site, suggesting that their opposing transcriptional effects may be mediated by direct competition for DNA binding. HNF-4 and ARP-1 mRNAs are present within the same cells in the liver and intestine, and protein extracts from hepatic tissue, HepG2, and Caco2 cells contain significantly more HNF-4 than ARP-1 or Ear3/COUP-TF binding activities. These findings suggest that the transcription of the apoCIII gene in vivo is dependent, at least in part, upon the intracellular balance of these positive and negative regulatory factors.

Apolipoprotein C-III↗
PubMed1992

Repression by ARP-1 sensitizes apolipoprotein AI gene responsiveness to RXR alpha and retinoic acid.

The gene coding for apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), a lipid binding protein involved in the transport of cholesterol and other lipids in the plasma, is expressed in mammals predominantly in the liver and the intestine. Liver-specific expression is controlled by synergistic interactions between transcription factors bound to three separate sites, sites A (-214 to -192), B (-169 to -146), and C (-134 to -119), within a powerful liver-specific enhancer located between nucleotides -222 and -110 upstream of the apoAI gene transcription start site (+1). Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that ARP-1, a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily whose ligand is unknown (orphan receptor), binds to site A and represses transcription of the apoAI gene in liver cells. In a more recent series of experiments, we found that site A is a retinoic acid (RA) response element that responds preferentially to the recently identified RA-responsive receptor RXR alpha over the previously characterized RA receptors RAR alpha and RAR beta. In this study we investigated the combined effects of ARP-1 and RXR alpha on apoAI gene expression in liver cells. Transient transfection assays showed that site A is necessary and sufficient for RXR alpha-mediated transactivation of the apoAI gene basal promoter in human hepatoma HepG2 cells in the presence of RA and that this transactivation is abolished by increasing amounts of cotransfected ARP-1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and subsequent Scatchard analysis of the data revealed that ARP-1 and RXR alpha bind to site A with similar affinities. These assays also revealed that ARP-1 and RXR alpha bind to site A as heterodimers with an affinity approximately 10 times greater than that of either ARP-1 or RXR alpha alone. Further transfection assays in HepG2 cells, using as a reporter a construct containing the apoAI gene basal promoter and its upstream regulatory elements (including site A) in their natural context, revealed that RXR alpha has very little effect on the levels of expression regardless of the presence or absence of RA. However, while ARP-1 alone or ARP-1 and RXR alpha together dramatically repress expression in the absence of RA, the repression by ARP-1 and RXR alpha together, but not ARP-1 alone, is almost completely alleviated in the presence of RA. These results indicate that transcriptional repression by ARP-1 sensitizes apoAI gene responsiveness to RXR alpha and RA and suggest that the magnitude of this responsiveness is regulated by the intracellular ratio of ARP-1 to RXR alpha. These observations raise the possibility that transcriptional repression is a general mechanism for switching gene transcription between alternative transcription activation pathways.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1992

Evolutionary distinct mechanisms regulate apolipoprotein A-I gene expression: differences between avian and mammalian apoA-I gene transcription control regions.

In mammals, the apolipoprotein (apo) A-I gene is expressed predominantly in liver and intestine, while in avian species it is expressed in all tissues. Although liver and intestine are the major sites of chicken apoA-I mRNA synthesis, there are appreciable amounts of apoA-I mRNA in kidney, ovary/testes, brain, lung, skeletal, and heart muscle. In this study, the nucleotide sequences of the chicken apoA-I gene and its 5' flanking region, as well as the sequences involved in the expression of this gene, have been determined. The gene spans 1.5 kilobases and contains 4 exons and 3 introns, closely resembling the mammalian apoA-I gene. To determine the sequences involved in the expression of the chicken apoA-I gene, plasmid constructs containing serial deletions of the 5' flanking region of the chicken apoA-I gene fused to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene were transfected in human hepatoma (HepG2), colon carcinoma (Caco2), epithelial (Hela), mouse embryonal fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells, and quail myoblasts (QMLA29). The shortest deletion construct, containing 60 bp of the 5' upstream region, was sufficient for maximal transcriptional activity in all cell lines tested. This region contains a short sequence (nucleotides -60 to -54) that is highly conserved in birds and mammals, and an Sp1 binding site. Although the sequence between nucleotides -232 and -101 of the 5' region of the chicken apoA-I gene is partially homologous to the hepatic cell-specific enhancer of the mammalian apoA-I gene (located between nucleotides -222 and -110 upstream of the human apoA-I gene transcription start site), this chicken sequence is transcriptionally inactive in HepG2 cells. These results suggest that differences in the cis-acting regulatory elements of the apoA-I gene play a fundamental role in determining the differences in the tissue-specific expression of this gene in avian and mammalian species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of the apolipoprotein AI gene by ARP-1, a novel member of the steroid receptor superfamily.

Apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) is a lipid-binding protein that participates in the transport of cholesterol and other lipids in the plasma. A complementary DNA clone for a protein that bound to regulatory elements of the apoAI gene was isolated. This protein, designated apoAI regulatory protein-1 (ARP-1), is a novel member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily. ARP-1 bound to DNA as a dimer, and its dimerization domain was localized to the COOH-terminal region. ARP-1 also bound to a thyroid hormone-responsive element and to regulatory regions of the apoB, apoCIII, insulin, and ovalbumin genes. In cotransfection experiments, ARP-1 downregulated the apoAI gene. The involvement of ARP-1 in the regulation of apoAI gene expression suggests that it may participate in lipid metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Synergistic interactions between transcription factors control expression of the apolipoprotein AI gene in liver cells.

The gene coding for apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), a plasma protein involved in the transport of cholesterol and other lipids in the plasma, is expressed predominantly in liver and intestine. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that different cis-acting elements in the 5'-flanking region of the human apoAI gene control its expression in human hepatoma (HepG2) and colon carcinoma (Caco-2) cells. Hepatocyte-specific expression is mediated by elements within the -256 to -41 DNA region relative to the apoAI gene transcription start site (+1). In this study it was found that the -222 to -110 apoAI gene region is necessary and sufficient for expression in HepG2 cells. It was also found that this DNA region functions as a powerful hepatocyte-specific transcriptional enhancer. Gel retardation and DNase I protection experiments showed that HepG2 cells contain proteins that bind to specific sites, sites A (-214 to -192), B (-169 to -146), and C (-134 to -119), within this enhancer. Site-directed mutagenesis that prevents binding of these proteins to individual or different combinations of these sites followed by functional analysis of these mutants in HepG2 cells revealed that protein binding to any one of these sites in the absence of binding to the others was not sufficient for expression. Binding to any two of these sites in any combination was sufficient for only low levels of expression. Binding to all three sites was essential for maximal expression. These results indicate that the transcriptional activity of the apoAI gene in liver cells is dependent on synergistic interactions between transcription factors bound to its enhancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A retinoic acid-responsive element in the apolipoprotein AI gene distinguishes between two different retinoic acid response pathways.

The gene coding for apolipoprotein AI, a plasma protein involved in the transport of cholesterol and other lipids in the plasma, is expressed predominantly in liver and intestine. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that hepatocyte-specific expression is determined by synergistic interactions between transcription factors bound to three separate sites, sites A (-214 to -192), B (-169 to -146), and C (-134 to -119), within a powerful liver-specific enhancer located in the region -222 to -110 nucleotides upstream of the apolipoprotein AI gene transcription start site (+1). In this study, it was found that site A is a highly selective retinoic acid-responsive element (RARE) that responds preferentially to the recently identified retinoic acid receptor RXR alpha over the previously characterized retinoic acid receptors RAR alpha and RAR beta. Control experiments indicated that a RARE in the regulatory region of the laminin B1 gene responds preferentially to RAR alpha and RAR beta over RXR alpha, while a previously described palindromic thyroid hormone-responsive element responds similarly to all three of these receptors. Gel retardation experiments showed that the activity of these RAREs is concordant with receptor binding. These results indicate that different RAREs may play a fundamental role in defining distinctive retinoic acid cellular response pathways and suggest that retinoic acid response pathways mediated by RXR alpha play an important role in cholesterol and retinoid transport and metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Apolipoprotein A1 Baltimore (Arg10----Leu), a new ApoA1 variant.

A new apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) gene variant has been identified in a family ascertained through a proband undergoing coronary angiography. The variant, ApoA1 Baltimore, was due to a mutation at codon 34 of the third exon of the APOA1 gene (CGA to CTA) that resulted in an arginine-to-leucine substitution at the tenth amino acid of the mature ApoA1 and a change in charge of -1. The mutation abolishes a TaqI restriction site and it is easily detectable after polymerase chain reaction amplification of genomic DNA. The proband was heterozygous for the mutation. Eight other members of the pedigree had the same ApoA1 variant. Cosegregation of the variant with hypoalphalipoproteinemia could not be demonstrated and the association of this mutation with hypoalphalipoproteinemia was confined to three affected members of the nuclear family. No effect of the mutant on any lipoprotein phenotype could be established.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Genetic linkage of the human apolipoprotein AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster and the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) gene.

The genes encoding apolipoproteins AI, CIII, and AIV, three plasma proteins involved in lipid metabolism, are clustered within a 15-kb DNA segment (apoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster) located on human chromosome 11 at band q23. The gene encoding the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a cell surface glycoprotein involved in cell-cell recognition during morphogenesis, is also located on chromosome 11, band q23. In this report, 12 previously described restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in the apoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster were tested for cosegregation with a newly identified BamHI RFLP in the NCAM gene using 13 families. The results show that the apoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster and the NCAM gene loci are linked with a maximum lod score of 15.9 at a recombination fraction of 0.028. In addition, an approach for the most efficient use of the apoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster polymorphisms, based on the evaluation of their individual and cumulative heterozygosities, is presented.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1988

DNA polymorphism haplotypes of the human apolipoprotein APOA1-APOC3-APOA4 gene cluster.

The genes coding for apolipoproteins A1, C3, and A4 (APOA1, APOC3, APOA4) are closely linked and tandemly organized within a 15-kilobase (kb) DNA segment on the long arm of human chromosome 11. The nucleotide variability of a 61-kb DNA segment containing these genes and their flanking sequences was studied by restriction analysis of a sample of 18 unrelated Northern Europeans using seven different genomic DNA probes. Eleven restriction site polymorphisms located within this DNA segment were used for haplotype analysis of 129 Mediterranean and 67 American black chromosomes. Estimation of the extent of nonrandom association between these polymorphisms indicated considerable linkage disequilibrium within the APOA1-APOC3-APOA4 gene cluster. Several haplotypes arose by recombination, and the rate of recombination within this gene cluster was estimated to be at least 4 times greater than that expected based on uniform recombination. The polymorphism information content of each of these polymorphisms, taken individually, ranges between 0.053 and 0.375, while that of their haplotypes ranges between 0.858 and 0.862. Therefore, DNA polymorphism haplotypes in the APOA1-APOC3-APOA4 gene cluster constitute a highly informative genetic marker on the long arm of human chromosome 11.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1988

Different cis-acting DNA elements control expression of the human apolipoprotein AI gene in different cell types.

In mammals, the gene coding for apolipoprotein AI (apoAI), a protein of the plasma lipid transport system, is expressed only in the liver and the intestine. A series of plasmids containing various lengths of sequences flanking the 5' end of the human apoAI gene were constructed and assayed for transient expression after introduction into cultured human hepatoma (HepG2), colon carcinoma (Caco-2), and epithelial (HeLa) cells. The results showed that while most of these constructs are expressed in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells, none of them is expressed in HeLa cells. In addition, the results indicated that a DNA segment located between nucleotides -256 and -41 upstream from the transcription start site of this gene is necessary and sufficient for maximal levels of expression in HepG2 but not in Caco-2 cells, while a DNA segment located between nucleotides -2052 and -192 is required for maximal levels of expression in Caco-2 cells. Moreover, it was shown that the -256 to -41 DNA segment functions as a hepatoma cell-specific transcriptional enhancer with both homologous and heterologous promoters. These results indicate that different cis- and possibly trans-acting factors are involved in the establishment and subsequent regulation of expression of the apoAI gene in the mammalian liver and intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

DNA inversion within the apolipoproteins AI/CIII/AIV-encoding gene cluster of certain patients with premature atherosclerosis.

The genes coding for apolipoproteins (apo) AI, CIII, and AIV, designated APOA1, APOC3, and APOA4, respectively, are closely linked and tandemly organized in the long arm of the human chromosome 11. A DNA rearrangement involving the genes encoding apoAI and apoCIII in certain patients with premature atherosclerosis has been associated with deficiency of both apoAI and apoCIII in the plasma of these patients. Structural characterization of the genes for apoAI and apoCIII in one of these patients indicates that this rearrangement consists of a DNA inversion containing portions of the 3' ends of the apoAI and apoCIII genes, including the DNA region between these genes. The breakpoints of this DNA inversion are located within the fourth exon of the apoAI gene and the first intron of the apoCIII gene. Thus, this DNA inversion results in reciprocal fusion of the apoAI and apoCIII gene transcriptional units. Expression of these gene fusions in cultured mammalian cells results in stable mRNA transcripts with sequences representing fusions of the apoAI and apoCIII mRNAs. These results indicate that absence of transcripts with correct apoAI and apoCIII mRNA sequences causes apoAI and apoCIII deficiency in the plasma of these patients and suggest that these apolipoproteins are involved in cholesterol homeostasis and protection against premature atherosclerosis.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1986

Linkage, evolution, and expression of the rat apolipoprotein A-I, C-III, and A-IV genes.

The genes coding for three of the proteins of the lipid transport system, apolipoproteins A-I (apoA-I), C-III (apoC-III), and A-IV (apoA-IV), are closely linked and tandemly organized as a multigene family in the human genome. The evolution of this multigene family was studied by cloning and extensive restriction mapping analysis of an approximately 20-kilobase genomic DNA fragment containing the rat apoA-I gene. Low stringency hybridization blotting analysis of this DNA fragment using human apoC-III and apoA-IV cDNA probes revealed that the apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-IV genes are also closely linked and tandemly organized in the rat genome. Complete characterization of the rat apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-IV genes showed that their relative location, size, direction of transcription, and intron-exon organization are remarkably similar to those of the corresponding human genes. The relative steady state apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-IV mRNA levels in various rat tissues were determined by quantitative dot blot hybridization of tissue total RNA using the corresponding gene probes. Adult liver and intestine, but not colon, brain, spleen, muscle, heart, lung, and kidney, contain apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-IV mRNAs. Fetal liver and intestine contain apoA-I but not apoC-III or apoA-IV mRNAs. During neonatal development the liver contains apoA-I and apoC-III but not apoA-IV while the intestine contains apoA-I, apoC-III, and substantial amounts of apoA-IV mRNAs. In adulthood and during aging both liver and intestine contain all three apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-IV mRNAs. These results indicate that the apolipoprotein A-I/C-III/A-IV multigene family was established before mammalian radiation and suggest that these genes are similarly organized in the genomes of all mammals. In addition, these results indicate that expression of the rat apoA-I, apoC-III, and apoA-IV genes is liver- and intestine-specific and regulated by fetal-, neonatal-, and aging-related factors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Structure, evolution, and tissue-specific synthesis of human apolipoprotein AIV.

Apolipoprotein AIV (apoAIV) is a protein of the lipid transport system found associated with chylomicrons, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and the lipoprotein-free fraction of the plasma. The gene coding for the human apoAIV is closely linked with the genes coding for apolipoproteins AI (apoAI) and CIII (apoCIII). In this paper a nearly full-length apoAIV cDNA clone has been isolated by screening an adult human liver DNA library using a human apoAIV gene probe. In-frame translation of the cDNA sequence in this clone indicated that the human apoAIV consists of 396 amino acid residues including a 20 residue long signal peptide. The coding region of this cDNA sequence contains 15 nucleotide repeats, 11 of which code for amino acid repeats with potentials of forming amphipathic helices. Alignment and comparison of the human and rat apoAIV amino acid sequences indicated a five-residue deletion near the carboxy terminus of the rat protein. This comparison also indicated that these proteins are 61.8% homologous, suggesting that the rate of evolution of apoAIV is 65 accepted point mutations (PAMs) per 100 residues per 100 million years. The rates of evolution of certain amino acid repeats in apoAIV are higher than the rate of evolution of the entire protein. However, the corresponding, computer-generated, secondary structures and hydropathy profiles of these repeats are very similar between the human and rat apoAIV. The relative steady-state levels of apoAIV mRNA in various human and monkey tissues were determined by hybridization blotting analysis of total RNA from these tissues using a human apoAIV cDNA probe.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Apolipoprotein A-I gene polymorphism associated with premature coronary artery disease and familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia.

Decreased plasma high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels have been associated with premature coronary artery disease. We identified a PstI restriction-endonuclease site flanking the human apolipoprotein A-I gene at its 3' end that is polymorphic. The absence and presence of this site, as determined by genomic blotting analysis of PstI-digested chromosomal DNA with the use of an apolipoprotein A-I gene probe, were associated with 3.3-kb and 2.2-kb hybridization bands, respectively. The 3.3-kb band appeared in 4.1 percent of 123 randomly selected control subjects and in 3.3 percent of 30 subjects with no angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. In contrast, among 88 patients who had severe coronary disease before the age of 60, as documented by angiography, the 3.3-kb band occurred in 32 percent (P less than 0.0001). It was also found in 8 of 12 index cases (P less than 0.0001) of kindreds with familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia. In the two patient groups, the allele frequencies of the site that produced the 3.3-kb band were 17 and 42 percent, respectively, as compared with an allele frequency of only 2 percent in the control populations. Within kindreds with familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia and among first-degree relatives of patients with coronary artery disease, the 3.3-kb band was associated with decreased HDL cholesterol levels. Among all patients with coronary artery disease, 58 percent had HDL cholesterol levels below the 10th percentile of normal values; however, this frequency increased to 73 percent when patients with the 3.3-kb band were considered. These findings indicate that the polymorphism in the region between the apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein C-III genes may be a useful marker for the risk of premature coronary artery disease and familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Intra- and extracellular modifications of apolipoproteins.

This chapter outlined the methods used to study intra- and extracellular modifications of apolipoproteins. These and other related studies have shown that several of the apolipoproteins undergo a series of intra- and extracellular modifications as follows: All apolipoproteins studied contain an 18-26 long signal peptide which is cleaved cotranslationally by the signal peptidase of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. ApoE is further modified intracellularly with carbohydrate chains containing sialic acid and is secreted in the modified form designated apoEs. The modified apoE is subsequently desialated in plasma. ApoA-I is secreted in a proapoA-I form, which consists of 249 amino acids. The N-terminal hexapeptide of proapoA-I is cleaved extracellularly by a proapoA-I to plasma apoA-I converting protease. This cleavage generates the plasma apoA-I form which consists of 243 amino acids. Other known apolipoprotein modifications include the modification of apoB, apoC-III, and apoD with carbohydrate chains that contain sialic acid and the proteolytic cleavage of the proapoA-II segment. At the present time we are able to distinguish several isoprotein forms for a particular apolipoprotein. In addition, we began to understand the biochemical changes which lead to a few of these isoproteins. Future research should be directed toward a better understanding not only of the structure but most importantly of the physiological significance of the different apolipoprotein forms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗