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Different modes of cell death induced by 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine in two clones of the mouse mammary tumor FM3A cell line.

The mode of cell death induced by 1 microM 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) changed in a wild-type F28-7 clone of mouse mammary tumor FM3A cells after a six-month culture. In the original stocked F28-7 clone, FdUrd-induced cell death was accompanied by necrosis-like cell swelling and DNA fragmentation to 100-200 kbp. In subclone F28-7-A isolated from F28-7 cells, which had been cultured for six months, apoptotic bodies and nucleosomal DNA-ladder fragments were observed with the treatment. Furthermore, we investigated the differences in FdUrd-induced intracellular signals between these clones. In F28-7 cells, FdUrd induced increases in caspase-3-like activity, and the mRNA levels of the c-jun, c-fos and c-myc genes, which were greater and earlier than those in F28-7-A cells. Moreover, intracellular acidification occurred in F28-7-A cells treated with FdUrd, though it was not observed in F28-7 cells. These findings suggest that FdUrd-induced cell death occurred through the death program to cell lysis (necrosis) without apoptosis when the induction of these intracellular signals was very high and when intracellular acidification was deficient. Investigation of the differences in the mode of FdUrd-induced cell death between these clones would be important for elucidating the molecular mechanism of pivotal events guiding cells toward either apoptosis or necrosis.

Animals↗

Elevation of apoptotic potential by anoxia hyperoxia shift in NIH3T3 cells.

Apoptosis has been hypothesized to be mediated through the induction of free radicals via oxidative pathway. In this study, we demonstrated the induction of cellular apoptosis by anoxia-hyperoxia shift, but not by anoxia or hyperoxia alone in NIH3T3 cells. The decrement of ROS by anoxia thus appears to be an essential early event leading to apoptosis. G1 arrest was detected in anoxia-treated cells, and postanoxic oxygen recovery could reverse this effect, and induce apoptosis. On analysis of the binding activity of AP-1, we found biphasic induction of binding ability in cells undergoing anoxia-hyperoxia shift. In the early stage of anoxia, a transitional increase of AP-1 binding activity was detected, which was reduced to the minimal levels after 24 h of anoxia. During the period of postanoxic hyperoxia treatment, the binding activity of AP-1 was reinduced and increased remarkably with time up to 24 h. These results were in accordance with the expressions of c-jun and c-fos proteins. Enhancement of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activities, especially ADP-ribosylation of histone H1 was detected in post-anoxic hyperoxia-treated cells, and cleavage of PARP and activation of caspase 3 were also observed in post-anoxic hyperoxia (recovery) treated cells, but not in anoxia-treated cells. We propose that the differential induction of c-jun/c-fos (AP-1) gene expressions and sequential activation of PARP activity are essential in anoxia/hyperoxia-induced apoptosis.

3T3 Cells↗

Retinoic acid nuclear receptors and tumor promotion: decreased expression of retinoic acid nuclear receptors by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

During studies to determine the mechanism of tumor promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), we found that TPA downregulates mouse epidermal retinoic acid nuclear receptors (RAR), a superfamily of nuclear steroid/thyroid receptors implicated in mediating effects of retinoic acid (RA). Application of TPA to mouse skin decreased the binding of [3H]RA to RAR from mouse epidermal nuclear extracts. In this experiment, 20 nmol of TPA was applied to mouse skin and 3.5 h later binding of [3H]RA to RAR was analyzed by chromatography on a size-exclusion column. TPA treatment resulted in an approximately 67% decrease in the specific binding of [3H]RA to RAR. In a more detailed time course, application of 20 nmol of TPA to mouse skin led to 20, 36, 92 and 0% decrease in the binding of [3H]RA to mouse epidermal RAR at 2, 4, 12 and 72 h after treatment respectively. Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A but a mouse skin tumor promoter, also inhibited the binding of RA to RAR. RAR alpha and RAR gamma, but not RAR beta mRNA, could be detected in mouse epidermis. In addition, RA nuclear receptor RXR alpha was also expressed in the mouse epidermis. As determined by Northern blot analysis of total as well as poly(A)+ RNA, application of 10 nmol of TPA to mouse skin led to decreased expression of RAR alpha, RAR gamma and RXR alpha mRNA at 3.5 h after treatment. The effect of TPA on the attenuation of RAR expression was specific. Specific binding of RA to RAR was decreased when TPA-induced expression of the c-fos, c-jun and ornithine decarboxylase gene was increased. Downregulation of RAR(s) may be an essential component of the mechanism of mouse skin tumor promotion.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of cell death induced by 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR)--necrosis or apoptosis after treated with FUdR.

5-Fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR) inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS). The inhibition of TS causes an imbalance of intracellular deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) pools which subsequently induced cell death. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of cell death after treated with FUdR in F28-7 strain (which induced necrosis) and F28-7-A strain (mutant of F28-7 strain which induced apoptosis). After treated with FUdR, we observed different size of DNA fragmentations. F28-7 strain induced DNA cleavaged into 100-200 kbp fragments and F28-7-A strain induced DNA cleavaged into oligonucleosomal sized fragments. In F28-7 strain, FUdR induced the increased mRNA level of c-jun, c-fos and c-myc genes, caspase-3 like protease activity and the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential which were greater and earlier than those of F28-7-A strain. On the other hand, F28-7-A strain induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondrial, but not F28-7 strain. Furthermore, caspase-5 inhibitor was strongly inhibited the cell death of F28-7 strain. We suggest that it is concerned with intensity of intracellular signals in the cell death of F28-7 strain and F28-7-A strain.

Apoptosis↗

The DNA-binding domain of two bZIP transcription factors, the Epstein-Barr virus switch gene product EB1 and Jun, is a bipartite nuclear targeting sequence.

The Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 gene product EB1 (also called ZEBRA and Zta), is a transcription factor belonging to the bZIP (basic domain leucine zipper) family of nuclear proteins. Translocation to the nucleus of EB1 (J. Becker, U. Leser, M. Marschall, A. Langford, W. Jilg, H. Gelderblom, P. Reichart, and H. Wolf, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8332-8336, 1991) and of two other bZIP proteins, c-Jun and c-Fos (P. Roux, J.-M. Blanchard, A. Fernandez, N. Lamb, P. Jeanteur, and M. Piechaczyk, Cell 63:341-351, 1990), has been shown to be subject to regulation. We show here that for both EB1 and Jun the nuclear targeting signals (NTS) in the proteins' primary sequences are two clusters of positively charged amino acids. These clusters, called BRA and BRB, are necessary and sufficient to direct beta-galactosidase to the nuclear compartment and act as a bipartite NTS. They are conserved among all the bZIP proteins, and although they are not identical, they probably share the same function. Site-directed mutagenesis studies made on these basic clusters suggest that they also act as a bipartite NTS in the EB1 protein. Our results also demonstrate that in EB1 and Jun, these bipartite NTS are superimposed with bipartite DNA-binding domains, since BRA and BRB are required in vitro for direct and specific contact between these proteins and their DNA-binding sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence-specific DNA binding by the alphaNAC coactivator is required for potentiation of c-Jun-dependent transcription of the osteocalcin gene.

Since the c-Jun coactivator alphaNAC was initially identified in a differential screen for genes expressed in differentiated osteoblasts, we examined whether the osteocalcin gene, a specific marker of terminal osteoblastic differentiation, could be a natural target for the coactivating function of alphaNAC. We had also previously shown that alphaNAC can specifically bind DNA in vitro, but it remained unclear whether the DNA-binding function of alphaNAC is expressed in vivo or if it is required for coactivation. We have identified an alphaNAC binding site within the murine osteocalcin gene proximal promoter region and demonstrated that recombinant alphaNAC or alphaNAC from ROS17/2.8 nuclear extracts can specifically bind this element. Using transient transfection assays, we have shown that alphaNAC specifically potentiated the c-Jun-dependent transcription of the osteocalcin promoter and that this activity specifically required the DNA-binding domain of alphaNAC. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that alphaNAC occupies its binding site on the osteocalcin promoter in living osteoblastic cells expressing osteocalcin. Inhibition of the expression of endogenous alphaNAC in osteoblastic cells by use of RNA interference provoked a decrease in osteocalcin gene transcription. Our results show that the osteocalcin gene is a target for the alphaNAC coactivating function, and we propose that alphaNAC is specifically targeted to the osteocalcin promoter through its DNA-binding activity as a means to achieve increased specificity in gene transcription.

Animals↗

Detection of apoptosis in the brain of the zitter rat with genetic spongiform encephalopathy.

Zitter rat develops genetic spongiform encephalopathy accompanied with whole-body tremors and flaccid paresis. To elucidate the mechanism of a neuronal cell death in the brain, we determined involvement of apoptosis in this rat. By Northern blot analysis, the elevation of mRNA levels were observed in c-jun, c-fos, c-myc and p53 genes which were induced by apoptotic signals: conversely, expression of bcl-2 was shown to be decreased in the zitter rat brain in contrast to the WTC control rat. Furthermore, TUNEL staining of fragmented DNA indicated apoptotic morphology in this brain. These results strongly suggested that the spongiform encephalopathy of the zitter rat was due to apoptosis in the brain cells.

Animals↗

Phosphoacetylation of histone H3 on c-fos- and c-jun-associated nucleosomes upon gene activation.

The induction of immediate-early (IE) genes, including proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun, correlates well with a nucleosomal response, the phosphorylation of histone H3 and HMG-14 mediated via extracellular signal regulated kinase or p38 MAP kinase cascades. Phosphorylation is targeted to a minute fraction of histone H3, which is also especially susceptible to hyperacetylation. Here, we provide direct evidence that phosphorylation and acetylation of histone H3 occur on the same histone H3 tail on nucleosomes associated with active IE gene chromatin. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed using antibodies that specifically recognize the doubly-modified phosphoacetylated form of histone H3. Analysis of the associated DNA shows that histone H3 on c-fos- and c-jun-associated nucleosomes becomes doubly-modified, the same H3 tails becoming both phosphorylated and acetylated, only upon gene activation. This study reveals potential complications of occlusion when using site-specific antibodies against modified histones, and shows also that phosphorylated H3 is more sensitive to trichostatin A (TSA)-induced hyperacetylation than non-phosphorylated H3. Because MAP kinase-mediated gene induction is implicated in controlling diverse biological processes, histone H3 phosphoacetylation is likely to be of widespread significance.

Acetylation↗

Coordinate occupancy of AP-1 sites in the vitamin D-responsive and CCAAT box elements by Fos-Jun in the osteocalcin gene: model for phenotype suppression of transcription.

Osteocalcin, a bone-specific protein and marker of the mature osteoblast, is expressed only in nonproliferating osteoblasts in a mineralizing extracellular matrix, while type I collagen is expressed in proliferating cells. The nuclear proteins encoded by the c-fos and c-jun protooncogenes are expressed during the proliferation period of osteoblast phenotype development. We present evidence that AP-1 (HeLa cell-activating protein 1) sites residing within two promoter elements of the osteocalcin gene bind the Fos-Jun protein complex: the osteocalcin box (OC box; nucleotides -99 to -76), which contains a CCAAT motif as a central element and influences tissue-specific basal levels of osteocalcin gene transcription, and the vitamin D-responsive element (VDRE; nucleotides -462 to -440), which mediates enhancement of osteocalcin gene transcription. Gel electrophoretic mobility-shift analysis demonstrated high AP-1 binding activity in proliferating osteoblasts and dramatic changes in this activity after the down-regulation of proliferation and the initiation of extracellular-matrix mineralization in primary cultures of normal diploid osteoblasts. Methylation interference analysis established at single nucleotide resolution that purified recombinant Fos and Jun proteins bind in a sequence-specific manner to the AP-1 sites within the VDRE and OC box. Similarly, an AP-1 motif within a putative VDRE of the alkaline phosphatase gene, which is also expressed after the completion of proliferation, binds the Fos-Jun complex. These results support a model in which coordinate occupancy of the AP-1 sites in the VDRE and OC box in proliferating osteoblasts may suppress both basal level and vitamin D-enhanced osteocalcin gene transcription as well as transcription of other genes associated with osteoblast differentiation--a phenomenon we describe as phenotype suppression. This model is further supported by binding of the Fos-Jun complex at an AP-1 site in the type alpha I collagen promoter that is contiguous with, but not overlapping, the VDRE. Such a sequence organization in the collagen VDRE motif is compatible with vitamin D modulation of collagen but not with osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase expression in proliferating osteoblasts.

Animals↗

FK506 and cyclosporin a regulate proliferation and proto-oncogene expression in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical-spastic-paraparesis-derived T cells.

Human T-cell-leukemia-virus-type-1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). The T-cell-targeting immunosuppressants, FK506 and cyclosporin A (CsA), suppressed proliferation of the HAM/TSP-derived T-cell lines, H89-59, H89-79 and H109. FK506 and CsA also reduced expression of the proto-oncogenes, c-myc and c-fos, but not c-jun and interleukin-2-receptor-alpha (IL-2R alpha) gene in H109 cells. The growth-inhibitory effects of FK506 and CsA were not abrogated by interleukin 2 (IL-2). These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of FK506 and CsA are independent of IL-2, and are associated with the reduction of c-myc and c-fos gene expression.

Cell Division↗

JunB gene expression is inactivated by methylation in chronic myeloid leukemia.

JunB is a component of the Jun family genes of the activating protein-1 transcription factors that are important in the control of cell growth and differentiation and neoplastic transformation. Recently, it was demonstrated that transgenic mice specifically lacking JunB expression in the myeloid lineage developed a myeloproliferative disease, eventually progressing to blast crisis that resembled human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). To gain further insights into the role of JunB in human CML, we examined peripheral blood from 17 healthy individuals and CML patients (11 in blastic crisis and 21 in chronic phase) by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis for the expression of JunB. The results showed the expression levels of JunB were significantly impaired in CML cases (blastic crisis < chronic phase < normal). Mutational analysis of the whole gene and methylation analysis of cytosine-phosphate guanosine (CpG) sites at the promoter area were further performed to investigate the possible mechanisms. However, no mutation was found within the coding region or the 9 flanking evolutionarily conserved regions in all CML cases. Interestingly, in the promoter area of JunB gene, most of the CpG sites were methylated in CML cases; in contrast, none of these CpG sites were methylated in normal cases. Demethylation by treatment of hypermethylated K562 cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine resulted in partial reactivation of JunB expression. Our results suggest that the down-regulated JunB expression in CML was due to the inactivation of JunB gene by methylation and the differential expression was correlated to the ratio of cells being methylated.

Azacitidine↗

Construction and expression of a monomeric c-Jun protein that binds and activates transcription of AP-1-responsive genes.

c-Jun is a typical member of the bZIP (basic zipper) family of dimeric transcriptional activators. These proteins contain a basic region responsible for DNA sequence recognition and a leucine zipper that mediates dimerization. bZIP proteins regulate a large number of important physiological functions and, therefore, present an interesting target for molecular interference and mimicry. As a step toward the development of peptide and nonpeptide analogs of such proteins, we constructed a derivative of c-Jun that binds DNA as a monomer. This construction was done by connecting a second basic region to the natural basic region of c-Jun by means of a short peptide loop. Although the polypeptide backbone of the second basic region has an inverted polarity relative to that of the natural basic region, the monomeric c-Jun protein binds DNA with reasonably high affinity and indistinguishable specificity from the wild-type, dimeric c-Jun protein. Furthermore, the monomeric c-Jun protein can activate transcription in vivo. These findings indicate that the polypeptide backbone of the basic region contributes little to sequence recognition and that the leucine zipper is not directly involved in transcriptional activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Jun and Fos related gene products bind to and modulate the GPE I, a strong enhancer element of the rat glutathione transferase P gene.

The rat glutathione transferase P gene has a strong enhancer element, termed GPE I, which is composed of a dyad of palindromicly oriented TPA (phorbol 12-O-tetradecanoate 13-acetate) responsive element (TRE)-like sequences. TRE is a binding sequence of the transcription factor AP-1, which consists of several closely related proteins belonging to the Jun and Fos family. The gel retardation experiments show that all the heterodimers formed between the Jun and Fos related gene products bind to the GPE I as well as to the TRE. In spite of the fact that the GPE I has a stronger activity than the TRE, the binding affinities of these heterodimers to the GPE I are much lower than to the TRE. Co-transfection studies of the reporter construct containing the GPE I and expression constructs of each of the Jun and Fos family cDNAs indicate that FosB and delta FosB repress transcription through the GPE I enhancer. These results suggests that some of Jun/Fos family may regulate the rat GST-P gene expression through the GPE I in vivo.

Animals↗

Polyomavirus middle-sized tumor antigen modulates c-Jun phosphorylation and transcriptional activity.

Polyomavirus middle-sized tumor antigen (MT) increases the expression of c-jun through a phorbol 12-O-tetradecanoate 13-acetate response element in the c-jun promoter. To investigate the cellular signaling pathways affected by MT, we studied the role of the c-Ras and Raf-1 proteins in MT-induced transactivation of c-jun and cell transformation. There was an increase in GTP complexed to Ras in MT-expressing cells, indicating an increase in Ras activity. Coexpression of dominant inhibitory mutants of Ha-ras and raf-1 with MT inhibited MT-mediated transactivation and focus formation. Studies of the phosphorylation of c-Jun showed that MT expression increased the phosphorylation of Ser-63 and Ser-73 in the transactivation domain and decreased the phosphorylation of a peptide containing Ser-243, Ser-249, and Thr-231 in the DNA binding domain. MT increased the transcriptional activating ability of c-Jun but failed to increase the transcriptional activating ability of c-Jun mutants with Ser-63 and Ser-73 changed to nonphosphorylatable Ala, indicating that MT modulates c-Jun activity through phosphorylation. The dominant inhibitory mutants of Ha-ras and raf-1 interfered with the ability of MT to activate c-Jun. The results indicate that MT induces a phosphorylation cascade through the activation of c-Ras and Raf-1 and that c-Jun is one of the downstream targets that may cause changes in gene expression leading to cell transformation.

3T3 Cells↗

Expression of c-fos, c-jun, jun-B, metallothionein and metalloproteinase genes in human chondrocyte.

Normal and osteoarthritic (OA) human articular cartilage chondrocytes, released enzymatically in the presence of 0.5% fetal calf serum, display constitutive expression of early response activating protein (AP-1) genes; c-fos, c-jun and jun-B. Among the late AP-1 responsive genes, total metallothionein (MT) and stromelysin mRNAs were expressed at high levels in both normal and OA chondrocytes, while collagenase and hMT-IIA mRNA levels were elevated only in OA individuals. Despite the common AP-1 sequences present in their promoter regions, the three late genes were differentially expressed.

Aged↗

Osteoblasts are target cells for transformation in c-fos transgenic mice.

We have generated transgenic mice expressing the proto-oncogene c-fos from an H-2Kb class I MHC promoter as a tool to identify and isolate cell populations which are sensitive to altered levels of Fos protein. All homozygous H2-c-fosLTR mice develop osteosarcomas with a short latency period. This phenotype is specific for c-fos as transgenic mice expressing the fos- and jun-related genes, fosB and c-jun, from the same regulatory elements do not develop any pathology despite high expression in bone tissues. The c-fos transgene is not expressed during embryogenesis but is expressed after birth in bone tissues before the onset of tumor formation, specifically in putative preosteoblasts, bone-forming osteoblasts, osteocytes, as well as in osteoblastic cells present within the tumors. Primary and clonal cell lines established from c-fos-induced tumors expressed high levels of exogenous c-fos as well as the bone cell marker genes, type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, and osteopontin/2ar. In contrast, osteocalcin/BGP expression was either low or absent. All cell lines were tumorigenic in vivo, some of which gave rise to osteosarcomas, expressing exogenous c-fos mRNA, and Fos protein in osteoblastic cells. Detailed analysis of one osteogenic cell line, P1, and several P1-derived clonal cell lines indicated that bone-forming osteoblastic cells were transformed by Fos. The regulation of osteocalcin/BGP and alkaline phosphatase gene expression by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was abrogated in P1-derived clonal cells, whereas glucocorticoid responsiveness was unaltered. These results suggest that high levels of Fos perturb the normal growth control of osteoblastic cells and exert specific effects on the expression of the osteoblast phenotype.

Animals↗