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Tumor necrosis factor-alpha promotes human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 RNA expression and cyclin-dependent kinase activity in HPV-immortalized keratinocytes by a ras-dependent pathway.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibits growth of normal cervical keratinocytes but stimulates proliferation of human papillomavirus (HPV)-immortalized and cervical carcinoma-derived cell lines when mitogens such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) or serum are depleted. Current work identifies the mechanism of growth stimulation. TNF-alpha promoted cell cycle progression by increasing expression of HPV-16 E6/E7 RNAs and enhancing activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)2 and cdc2 after 3 d. Increased kinase activity was mediated by upregulation of cyclins A and B and decreases in cdk inhibitors p21(waf) and p27(kip). TNF-alpha stimulated these changes in part by increasing transcription and stabilization of RNA for amphiregulin, an EGF receptor ligand, and amphiregulin directly increased HPV-16 E6/E7 and cyclin A RNAs. To define which components of the EGF receptor signaling pathway were important, HPV-immortalized cells were transfected with activated or dominant negative mutants of Ha-ras, raf, or MAPKK. Expression of activated Ha-ras maintained HPV-16 and cyclin gene expression and promoted rapid growth in the absence of EGF. Furthermore, ras activation was necessary for TNF-alpha mitogenesis as transfection with a dominant negative ras mutant (Asn-17) strongly inhibited growth. Thus, activation of ras promotes expression of HPV-16 E6/E7 RNAs, induces cyclins A and B, and mediates growth stimulation of immortal keratinocytes by TNF-alpha. These studies define a pathway by which ras mutations, which occur in a subset of cervical cancers, may contribute to pathogenesis. Mol. Carcinog. 27:97-109, 2000. Published by Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Cell Cycle↗

Polyadenylylated RNA complementary to a mouse retrovirus-like multigene family is rapidly and specifically induced by epidermal growth factor stimulation of quiescent cells.

Complementary DNA probes prepared from total polysomal poly(A)+RNA populations were used to identify clones of mouse DNA containing sequences whose expression is specifically enhanced after epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of quiescent mouse embryo cells in culture. Three such clones were isolated and used to study changes in the levels of clone-specific poly(A)+RNA in the polysomes of cells after mitogenic stimulation by EGF. RNA complementary to sequences present in these clones increased approximately equal to 10-fold as a fraction of the total poly(A)+RNA by 6 hr after stimulation. All three clones were found by hybridization criteria to contain sequences related to the class of mouse retrovirus or transposon-like elements termed VL30. These VL30-related sequences were further found to be complementary to EGF-inducible poly(A)+RNAs and enhanced expression was detectable as early as 1 hr after EGF stimulation. In contrast, nine additional clones, including an AKR-type murine leukemia provirus DNA clone, contained no detectable VL30 sequence elements and were complementary to poly(A)+RNA species whose relative concentration was essentially constant in quiescent and EGF-stimulated cells. Therefore, VL30 sequence elements appear distinct in that they encompass members whose expression is specifically regulated in response to a defined peptide growth factor.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of colonic transformation in the ileum after total colectomy in rats.

BACKGROUND: Colonic transformation is thought to be a phenotypic alteration in the ileum after total colectomy (TC) but has not been well addressed at the molecular level. We previously demonstrated roles of aldosterone in enhancement of ileal sodium absorption after TC. However, the significance of aldosterone in intestinal adaptation has been unknown. METHODS: Rat epithelial gene expression was compared between the ileum and distal colon by complementary DNA microarray. Genes were categorized into "colonic," "common," and "ileal" genes according to signal intensity. Ileal gene expressions in (1) the control and TC rats and (2) the control and aldosterone-infused rats were compared to detect altered genes or to assess the role of aldosterone in intestinal adaptation. Differential expression of MUC3 and lysozyme was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A total of 6109 genes were categorized into "colonic," "common," or "ileal" gene pools. A comparison of the control and TC rats yielded 82 and 91 genes that were induced and suppressed in the ileum after TC, respectively. Thirty-five percent of them were associated with colonlike transformation (ie, the induction of colonic genes or the suppression of ileal genes). The expressions of MUC3 and lysozyme messenger RNAs were enhanced significantly in the TC ileum, compared with the control. In comparison, aldosterone infusion modulated a total of only 21 genes in the ileum. CONCLUSION: Those data demonstrate that altered gene expression after TC is, in part, characterized by colonlike transformation. Furthermore, circulating aldosterone appears to play a part in the altering and/or adapting of gene expression in intestinal epithelium.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Genome nucleotide lengths that are divisible by six are not essential but enhance replication of defective interfering RNAs of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5.

For some members of the Paramyxoviridae family of negative strand RNA viruses, efficient genome replication only occurs when the total genome length is a multiple of six (6N length, where N is any integer). To determine if this "rule of six" requirement applied to the replication of the prototype paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5), defective interfering (DI) RNA genomes were generated by sequential undiluted passage of virus in tissue culture. Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of 10 RNA genomes revealed a series of copyback DI RNAs with chain lengths between 449 and 1365 bases, but only 4 of the 10 naturally occurring RNA genomes were of 6N length. Many of the cloned DI genomes could be grouped into two distinct nested sets, with the members of each set having the same polymerase crossover junctions and extent of terminal complementarity but differing from each other by internal deletions. One of these nested sets of genomes consisted of novel DI RNAs that contained a pentameric stretch of nontemplated adenosine residues inserted precisely at the polymerase crossover junction. A reverse genetics system was established in which SV5 DI genomes were replicated in vivo entirely by cDNA-derived components. Using this system, two naturally occurring SV5 DI RNAs were examined in a mutational analysis to determine the role of genome length on SV5 RNA replication. The progressive insertion of one to six nucleotides into a 6N length DI genome (852 bases) resulted in a reduction in replication for RNAs that contained one to four additional bases (approximately 35-50% of WT levels), followed by an increase back to WT replication levels for genomes that were altered by five and six base insertions (approximately 70 and 100% of WT levels, respectively). An insertion of five nucleotides into a second non-6N length DI RNA (499 total bases) created a genome length that was a multiple of six (504 bases) and led to a approximately 10-fold stimulation of replication over that of the unaltered genome. Together, these results indicate that there was a clear influence of 6N genome length on SV5 DI RNA replication, but the stringency of this replication requirement appeared to be less than that found previously for other paramyxoviruses. This work completes the testing of the rule of six replication requirement for representatives of each of the four genera of the Paramyxoviridae family and indicates that the preference for replication of 6N length RNA genomes varies between the individual paramyxoviruses.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation and neural gene expression.

Gene transcription is governed by a set of basal transcription machineries and gene-specific factors. Eukaryotic RNA polymerases alone can not direct specific transcription, but need associated factors, namely general transcription factors (GTFs). The basal transcription machineries composed of RNA polymerase and GTFs bind to a promoter and govern efficient and correct transcription for constitutive gene expression. Protein-coding genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase (Pol) II whereas Pol I and Pol III synthesize ribosomal RNA and various small RNAs, respectively. Enhancer is another class of cis-element for Pol II to which transcription regulatory factors bind. Those factors are involved in inducible, repressive, and tissue-specific gene expressions via binding to their target sequences. Regulatory factors have multiple structural motifs and interact with basal machineries directly or indirectly (using mediators) in addition to DNA. Many transcription factors are known to regulate nervous system-specific gene expression, which include bHTH, bHLH, basic leucine zipper, and zinc finger factors and prorine-rich activators. These factors, some of which belong to a neural silencer factor, play roles in neural development, establishment of memory and learning, and expression of nervous system-specific proteins.

Animals↗

Enhanced translation of chimaeric messenger RNAs containing a plant viral untranslated leader sequence.

Eukaryotic messenger RNAs are translated with unequal efficiencies in vivo and in vitro and the molecular basis of this phenomenon is not understood. As an approach to understanding the role of the 5' untranslated leader sequence in regulating mRNA translational efficiency, chimaeric mRNAs have been generated by joining a heterologous leader to complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences, followed by in vitro transcription using SP6 RNA polymerase and in vitro protein synthesis. We used the untranslated leader from the coat protein mRNA of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV RNA 4), a well-translated, highly competitive message, to replace the leader sequence of barley alpha-amylase (B alpha A) and human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) cDNAs. Deletion of transcribed vector sequences and replacement of the native untranslated region with the AMV RNA 4 leader can result in as much as a 35-fold increase in mRNA translational efficiency; moreover, the translational efficiency of the chimaeric mRNAs containing the AMV RNA 4 leader is at least as great as that of virion RNA 4. The results suggest that the chimaeric AMV-mRNAs have either a higher relative affinity or a diminished requirement for a limiting component(s) of the translational machinery; in addition, it may be feasible, through use of heterologous leader sequences, to increase expression of engineered genes or cDNAs without changing the antigenic or biological properties of the encoded protein.

Base Sequence↗

Interaction of EphB2-tyrosine kinase receptor and its ligand conveys dorsalization signal in Xenopus laevis development.

The Eph class is the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases and has been shown to play various roles in neural development including axon pathfinding and neural crest migration. EphB2 associates with transmembrane ligands Ephrin-B1 and -B2, which leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of both the ligands and receptor and is presumed to regulate cell-to-cell interactions by bidirectional signaling. We have investigated the biological effects of the EphB2-induced signal in the early stage of Xenopus laevis development. Xenopus EphB2 transcripts were detected maternally and were expressed at equal levels between the ventral and dorsal halves of the gastrulae, with expression increasing after the late gastrula stage. EphB2 mRNA expression in dorsal marginal zone explants from gastrulae increases during later development while that in ventral explants does not. We show here that microinjection of RNA encoding EphB2 into a ventral blastomere of embryos induced a partial secondary dorsal axis which consisted of neural tissues, notochord and somites. Analysis with molecular markers verified that the microinjected EphB2 dorsalized the mesoderm of ventral marginal zone explants. These dorsalizing effects of EphB2 in both the whole embryo and ventral explants were inhibited by the coinjection of RNA encoding the soluble form of Ephrin-B1. Furthermore, co-injection of EphB2 and Ephrin-B1 RNAs synergistically enhanced the dorsalization effect. These data show that the interaction between EphB2 and its ligands including Ephrin-B1 causes signaling events which lead to dorsal development, and strongly suggests the existence of proteins which mediate the dorsalization induced by EphB2 in early stage embryos of Xenopus laevis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in mouse embryonic fibroblasts: protein kinase R (PKR)-dependent and PKR-independent mechanisms for controlling HCV RNA replication and mediating interferon activities.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes chronic hepatitis and is currently treated with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha)-based therapies. The underlying mechanisms of chronic HCV infection and IFN-based therapies, however, have not been defined. Protein kinase R (PKR) was implicated in the control of HCV replication and mediation of IFN-induced antiviral response. In this report, we demonstrate that a subgenomic RNA replicon of genotype 2a HCV replicated efficiently in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), as determined by cell colony formation efficiency and the detection of HCV proteins and both positive- and negative-strand RNAs. Additionally, the subgenomic HCV RNA was found to replicate more efficiently in the PKR knockout (PKR(-/-)) MEF than in the wild-type (PKR(+/+)) MEF. The knockdown expression of PKR by specific small interfering RNAs significantly enhanced the level of HCV RNA replication, suggesting that PKR is involved in the control of HCV RNA replication. The level of ISG56 (p56) was induced by HCV RNA replication, indicating the activation of PKR-independent antiviral pathways. Furthermore, IFN-alpha/beta inhibited HCV RNA replication in PKR(-/-) MEFs as efficiently as in PKR(+/+) MEFs. These findings demonstrate that PKR-independent antiviral pathways play important roles in controlling HCV replication and mediating IFN-induced antiviral effect. Our findings also provide a foundation for the development of transgenic mouse models of HCV replication and set a stage to further define the roles of cellular genes in the establishment of chronic HCV infection and the mediation of intracellular innate antiviral response by using MEFs derived from diverse gene knockout animals.

Animals↗

Replication of subgenomic hepatitis A virus RNAs expressing firefly luciferase is enhanced by mutations associated with adaptation of virus to growth in cultured cells.

Replication of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cultured cells is inefficient and difficult to study due to its protracted and generally noncytopathic cycle. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved, we constructed a subgenomic HAV replicon by replacing most of the P1 capsid-coding sequence from an infectious cDNA copy of the cell culture-adapted HM175/18f virus genome with sequence encoding firefly luciferase. Replication of this RNA in transfected Huh-7 cells (derived from a human hepatocellular carcinoma) led to increased expression of luciferase relative to that in cells transfected with similar RNA transcripts containing a lethal premature termination mutation in 3D(pol) (RNA polymerase). However, replication could not be confirmed in either FrhK4 cells or BSC-1 cells, cells that are typically used for propagation of HAV. Replication was substantially slower than that observed with replicons derived from other picornaviruses, as the basal luciferase activity produced by translation of input RNA did not begin to increase until 24 to 48 h after transfection. Replication of the RNA was reversibly inhibited by guanidine. The inclusion of VP4 sequence downstream of the viral internal ribosomal entry site had no effect on the basal level of luciferase or subsequent increases in luciferase related to its amplification. Thus, in this system this sequence does not contribute to viral translation or replication, as suggested previously. Amplification of the replicon RNA was profoundly enhanced by the inclusion of P2 (but not 5' noncoding sequence or P3) segment mutations associated with adaptation of wild-type virus to growth in cell culture. These results provide a simple reporter system for monitoring the translation and replication of HAV RNA and show that critical mutations that enhance the growth of virus in cultured cells do so by promoting replication of viral RNA in the absence of encapsidation, packaging, and cellular export of the viral genome.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Gene annotation: prediction and testing.

Fifty years after the publication of DNA structure, the whole human genome sequence will be officially finished. This achievement marks the beginning of the task to catalogue every human gene and identify each of their function expression patterns. Currently, researchers estimate that there are about 30,000 human genes and approximately 70% of these can be automatically predicted using a combination of ab initio and similarity-based programs. However, to experimentally investigate every gene's function, the research community requires a high-quality annotation of alternative splicing, pseudogenes, and promoter regions that can only be provided by manual intervention. Manual curation of the human genome will be a long-term project as experimental data are continually produced to confirm or refine the predictions, and new features such as noncoding RNAs and enhancers have not been fully identified. Such a highly curated human gene-set made publicly available will be a great asset for the experimental community and for future comparative genome projects.

Alternative Splicing↗

Negative regulation of CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis by the lipid phosphatase activity of tumor suppressor PTEN.

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), a multifunctional tumor suppressor, has been shown to play a regulatory role in cell migration. Dictyostelium discoideum cells lacking PTEN exhibited impaired migration toward chemoattractant gradients. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of PTEN in chemotaxis of mammalian cells by examining PTEN-null Jurkat T cells. We observed that, in contrast to observations made in D discoideum, PTEN-null Jurkat T cells exhibited potent chemotactic responses to the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha), indicating that PTEN was not requisite for CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-mediated chemotaxis of Jurkat cells. Conversely, reconstitution of PTEN in Jurkat cells by using a tetracycline (Tet-on)-inducible expression system down-regulated CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis. Furthermore, we established the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN as essential for its inhibitory effect on chemotaxis. In addition, using PTEN-expressing T-cell lines and primary T cells, we demonstrated that down-regulation of PTEN expression with vector-based small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) enhanced CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis. Based on these results, we conclude that PTEN expression negatively regulates chemotaxis of lymphoid mammalian cells via its lipid phosphatase activity. Our findings may account for the reported increase in metastatic activity of PTEN-null tumor cells.

Animals↗

N6-methyladenosine modification of the subgroup J avian leukosis viral RNAs attenuates host innate immunity via MDA5 signaling.

Subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J), a retrovirus, elicits immunosuppression and persistent infections in chickens. Although it is widely acknowledged that ALV-J can evade the host's innate immune defenses, the mechanisms behind this immune evasion remain elusive. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most prevalent internal RNA modification, plays a role in innate immune evasion. Our research identified ALV-J as an inefficient stimulator of innate immunity in vitro and in vivo, with its genomic RNA featuring m6A modifications predominantly in the envelope protein (Env) region and 3' untranslated region (3'UTR). To elucidate the functional consequences of m6A modification, we subsequently generated m6A-deficient ALV-J through its culturing in the DF-1 overexpressing fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) cells. The m6A-deficient ALV-J virus, or its RNAs significantly enhanced IFN-β production compared to the wild-type (wt) ALV-J, suggesting a pivotal regulatory function of m6A modifications in modulating innate immune response. Mechanistically, the m6A modification of the ALV-J genomic RNA directly impacted its recognition by MDA5, weakening its binding and ubiquitination and attenuating IFN-β activation. Moreover, m6A-deficient ALV-J, created by inducing mutations in m6A sites within Env and 3'UTR, exhibited reduced replication capacity and elevated IFN-β expression in host cells. Importantly, this phenomenon was abolished in MDA5-knockout DF-1 cells, further demonstrating the core role of MDA5. These data demonstrate that m6A modification of ALV-J genomic RNA dampens the host's innate immune response through MDA5 signaling pathway.

Animals↗

Accumulation of viroid-specific small RNAs and increase in nucleolytic activities linked to viroid-caused pathogenesis.

Strong viroid-caused pathogenesis was achieved in tomato cv. Rutgers by biolistic transfer of severe or lethal potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) strains, while other tomato genotypes (e.g., Moneymaker) were tolerant. With reciprocal hybrids between sensitive and tolerant genotypes, we show that plant depression dominates over tolerance. Biolistic transfer of the most pathogenic PSTVd strain AS1 to Nicotiana benthamiana, which is considered to be a symptomless PSTVd host, led to a strong pathogenesis reaction and stunting, suggesting the presence of specific viroid pathogenesis-promoting target(s) in this plant species. Total levels of small siRNA-like PSTVd-specific RNAs were enhanced in strongly symptomatic tomato and N. benthamiana plants after biolistic infection with AS1 in comparison to the mild QFA strain. This indicates association of elevated levels of viroid-specific small RNA with production of strong symptoms. In symptom-bearing tomato leaves in comparison to controls, an RNase of approximately 18 kDa was induced and the activity of a nuclease of 34 kDa was elevated by a factor of seven in the vascular system. Sequence analysis of the nuclease cDNA designated TBN1 showed high homology with plant apoptotic endonucleases. The vascular-specific pathogenesis action is supported by light microscopic observations demonstrating a certain lack of xylem tissue and an arrest of the establishment of new vascular bundles in collapsed plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by an improved hairpin ribozyme that includes an RNA decoy.

An anti-Tat hairpin ribozyme and a TAR RNA decoy were combined in one molecule. The chimeric molecule strongly inhibited HIV-1 replication (measured as changes in p24 levels in viral replication assays). The inhibitory action of the ribodecozyme (85%) was significantly greater than that shown by ribozyme and a non-catalytic variant carrying the functional decoy RNA domain (55% and 35%, respectively). This represents a significant improvement of the inhibitory efficiency of the ribozyme, suggesting there is an additive inhibitory effect on HIV-1 replication by the catalytic and decoy domains. This strategy could be used to create new inhibitor RNAs with enhanced in vivo performance.

Base Sequence↗

Nuclear exosome targeting complexes modulate cohesin binding and enhancer-promoter interactions in 3D.

Three-dimensional long-range contacts between enhancers and promoters are thought to be largely determined by loop extrusion driven by the cohesin complex and insulator factors. However, recent evidence also suggests a role for noncoding RNAs, such as enhancer-associated RNAs and promoter upstream transcripts, in shaping enhancer-promoter connectivity. While the nuclear RNA exosome, together with targeting complexes, poly(A) tail exosome targeting connection and nuclear exosome targeting complex, controls the decay of noncoding RNAs, it remains unclear whether these complexes regulate three-dimensional chromatin contacts. Chromatin recruitment maps of the nuclear exosome targeting complex subunit ZCCHC8, the poly(A) tail exosome targeting connection subunit ZFC3H1, and the RNA helicase MTR4 in human cells reveal that these factors associate with sites of enhancer-promoter interactions. Depletion of these factors leads to the accumulation of ncRNAs, notably enhancer-associated RNAs and promoter upstream transcripts, and increases cohesin occupancy at these sites. Chromatin conformation capture analysis reveals that MTR4 modulates long-range enhancer-promoter contacts. Upon loss of MTR4, enhancer-promoter contacts increase while intraloop contacts decrease, suggesting that MTR4 facilitates loop extrusion. These data highlight a key interplay between cohesin-mediated enhancer-promoter interactions and the regulation of noncoding RNAs by nuclear RNA exosome targeting complexes that is consistent with a role for RNA in genome folding.

Cohesins↗

Mapping 5' termini of JC virus early RNAs.

Within its enhancer promoter region, the MAD-1 strain of JC virus (JCV) has two 98-base-pair tandem repeats, each containing a TATA box-like sequence. In the present study, polyadenylated early JCV mRNAs were isolated 5 or 29 days after infection of primary human fetal glial (PHFG) cells. By using S1 nuclease, the 5' termini of the early mRNAs were mapped to nucleotide position(s) (np) 122 through 125, which lies within an AT rich region (at np 113 through 127). In contrast, when JCV DNA was transcribed in vitro, we observed a single major cluster of 5' start sites at np 94 through 97, which is approximately 25 base pairs downstream from one of the TATA boxes. By day 5, the earliest time at which JCV RNA was detected, viral DNA replication had begun; it continued for at least an additional 20 days. Since more late than early RNA was present at 5 days postinfection, the early RNAs whose synthesis began at np 122 through 125 may be analogous to SV40 late early mRNA (Ghosh and Lebowitz, J. Virol. 40:224-240, 1981). However, we have not detected RNAs with 5' termini 25 to 30 bp downstream from the TATA box at earlier times. While JCV contains two identical TATA boxes, one in each of the 98-bp repeats, only the upstream TATA box functions as an early promoter element.

Cell Line↗

HIV Rev-dependent binding of SF2/ASF to the Rev response element: possible role in Rev-mediated inhibition of HIV RNA splicing.

Production of the structural and enzymatic proteins of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is controlled by the rev regulatory gene product. The 116-amino acid Rev protein acts by binding to the Rev response element (RRE), a complex RNA stem-loop structure located within the env gene of HIV. Rev exerts a series of posttranscriptional effects, including the inhibition of viral RNA splicing, the activation of nuclear export of incompletely spliced viral RNAs, and the enhancement of translation of RRE-containing RNAs. Our studies now demonstrate that at least one member of the SR family of splicing factors, SF2/ASF, specifically binds to a subregion of the RRE in vitro in a Rev-dependent manner. Furthermore, expression of high levels of SF2/ASF inhibits Rev function and impairs HIV replication in vivo. Both the in vitro binding of SF2/ASF to the Rev/RRE complex and the in vivo inhibition of Rev action by SF2/ASF are abrogated by mutation of the N-terminal RNA recognition motif but are not affected by mutation of the C-terminal arginine-serine-rich domain. These findings suggest that Rev inhibition of HIV splicing likely involves recruitment of the essential splicing factor SF2/ASF to the Rev/RRE complex. However, these inhibitory effects of Rev on viral RNA splicing are apparently overcome by augmenting the intracellular levels of SF2/ASF expression.

Animals↗

HS2 enhancer function is blocked by a transcriptional terminator inserted between the enhancer and the promoter.

The HS2 enhancer in the beta-globin locus control region regulates transcription of the globin genes 10-50 kb away. How the HS2 enhancer acts over this distance is not clearly understood. Earlier studies show that in erythroid cells the HS2 enhancer initiates synthesis of intergenic RNAs from sites within and downstream of the enhancer, and the enhancer-initiated RNAs are transcribed through the intervening DNA into the cis-linked promoter and gene. To investigate the functional significance of the enhancer-initiated transcription, here we inserted the lac operator sequence in the intervening DNA between the HS2 enhancer and the epsilon-globin promoter in reporter plasmids and integrated the plasmids into erythroid K562 cells expressing the lac repressor protein. We found that the interposed lac operator/repressor complex blocked the elongation of enhancer-initiated transcription through the intervening DNA and drastically reduced HS2 enhancer function as measured by the level of mRNA synthesized from the epsilon-globin promoter. The results indicate that the tracking and transcription mechanism of the HS2 enhancer-assembled transcriptional machinery from the enhancer through the intervening DNA into the cis-linked promoter can mediate enhancer-promoter interaction over a long distance.

Blotting, Northern↗