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PubMed1997

Imprinting of Igf2 and H19 from a 130 kb YAC transgene.

A stringent test for imprint control elements is to examine their function at ectopic loci in transgenic experiments. Igf2 and H19 are part of a larger imprinting region and as a first step, we examined these reciprocally imprinted genes in transgenic experiments using a 130 kb YAC clone. After paternal inheritance, H19 was appropriately repressed and Igf2 was expressed, irrespective of copy number or genetic background. After maternal inheritance H19 was consistently expressed, albeit with some variability. The levels of H19 expression per copy of the transgene inversely correlated with Igf2 (-lacZ) expression in cis. The consistent imprinting of H19 from this YAC contrasts with the previously described imprinting of mini-H19 transgenes, which only occurs at multi-copy loci, is inconsistent, and is prone to genetic background effects. We propose a novel model in which silencing of the H19 gene is the default state and its activation after maternal inheritance is the key mechanistic event for imprinting in this region. In addition, in situ analysis of the Igf2-lacZ reporter indicates that additional mesoderm-specific enhancers are present within the YAC clone. No obvious phenotype was detected from the excess gene dosage of H19.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Retrotransposons and the evolution of mammalian gene expression.

Transposable elements, and retroviral-like elements in particular, are a rich potential source of genetic variation within a host's genome. Many mutations of endogenous genes in phylogenetically diverse organisms are due to insertion of elements that affect gene expression by altering the normal pattern of regulation. While few such associations are known to have been maintained over time, two recently elucidated examples suggest transposable elements may have a significant impact in evolution of gene expression. The first example, concerning the mouse sex-limited protein (Slp), clearly establishes that ancient retroviral enhancer sequences now confer hormonal dependence on the adjacent gene. The second example shows that within the human amylase gene family, salivary specific expression has arisen due to inserted sequences, deriving perhaps from a conjunction of two retrotransposable elements.

Amylases↗
PubMed1996

Fab-7 functions as a chromatin domain boundary to ensure proper segment specification by the Drosophila bithorax complex.

Fab-7 deletions in the bithorax complex have a novel gain-of-function phenotype, typically transforming parasegment 11 (PS11) into PS12 identity. Genetic analysis indicates that removal of the Fab-7 element results in the fusion of the iab-6 (PS11) and iab-7 (PS12) cis-regulatory domains into a single regulatory domain that inappropriately regulates Abdominal-B in PS11. This has led to the hypothesis that Fab-7 is a chromatin domain boundary that normally functions to ensure the autonomous activity of the iab-6 and iab-7 cis-regulatory domains. We use several different enhancer blocking assays to demonstrate that Fab-7 has the insulating properties expected of a domain boundary. We define a minimal fragment of Fab-7 sufficient for enhancer blocking, and demonstrate that it is completely distinct from an adjacent Polycomb-dependent silencer. We compare Fab-7 to the su(Hw) insulator element, and show that Fab-7 enhancer blocking activity is intermediate between that of five and twelve reiterated binding sites for the Su(Hw) protein. These results support the model that Fab-7 functions as a domain boundary within the context of the bithorax complex, making Fab-7 one of the first boundary elements that is known to have an essential function in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mutation in Sos1 dominantly enhances a weak allele of the EGFR, demonstrating a requirement for Sos1 in EGFR signaling and development.

We have investigated the role of the mammalian Son of sevenless 1 (Sos1) protein in growth factor signaling in vivo by generating mice and cell lines that lacked the Sos1 protein. Homozygous null embryos were smaller than normal, died mid-gestation with cardiovascular and yolk sac defects, and their fibroblasts showed reduced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF). An intercross of mice mutant for Sos1 and the EGF receptor (EGFR) demonstrated that a heterozygous mutation in Sos1 dominantly enhanced the phenotype of a weak allele of the EGFR allele (wa-2). These animals had distinctive eye defects that closely resembled those seen in mice that were null for the EGFR or its ligand, TGF alpha. Our findings provide the first demonstration of a functional requirement for Sos1 in growth factor signaling in vivo. They also show that the genetic test of enhancement of weak receptor allele by heterozygous mutation in one component represents a powerful tool for analyzing the ras pathway in mammals.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Persuasive evidence that quinone reductase type 1 (DT diaphorase) protects cells against the toxicity of electrophiles and reactive forms of oxygen.

An extensive body of evidence supports the conclusion that by catalyzing obligatory two-electron reductions of quinones to hydroquinones, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (QR1) protects cells against the deleterious effects of redox cycling of quinones, their ability to deplete glutathione, and to produce neoplasia. The effects of elevation of QR1 levels by various enzyme inducers, inhibition of the enzyme by dicumarol, and genetic deletion of the enzyme (knockout mouse) are all consistent with the proposed protective functions. Measurement of QR1 activity in murine hepatoma cells grown in 96-well microtiter plates has provided a rapid and quantitative method for detecting inducer activity and determining inducer potency. This constitutes a strategy for the identification of potential chemoprotectors against cancer. Epidemiological studies show that humans who are genetically deficient in QR1 are more susceptible to the hematological toxicity and carcinogenicity of benzene exposure, and may be more susceptible to the development of a number of malignant tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Multiple interactions between SRm160 and SR family proteins in enhancer-dependent splicing and development of C. elegans.

BACKGROUND: SR family and SR-related proteins assemble on exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) sequences to promote both constitutive and regulated splicing. The SRm160 splicing coactivator, an SR-related nuclear matrix protein of 160 kDa, is important for the splicing of specific constitutive and ESE-dependent pre-mRNAs. RESULTS: In the present study, we show that SRm160 is required to promote pre-mRNA splicing mediated by a large population of functional ESE sequences within a randomized 18 nucleotide sequence. This suggests that it functions as a general coactivator by interacting with different SR family/SR-related proteins bound to different ESE sequences. Consistent with this, several SR family and SR-related proteins coimmunoprecipitated specifically with SRm160 in the presence of low salt. We used RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans to determine whether interactions between CeSRm160 and different CeSR family proteins are important in a whole-organism context. Previously we showed that RNAi of CeSRm160 and individual CeSR family genes other than CeSF2/ASF results in no obvious phenotype, which is indicative of gene redundancy. In the present study, we demonstrate that RNAi of CeSRm160 in combination with any CeSR family gene results in the production of unfertilized oocytes by the injected mother. CONCLUSIONS: The observation that simultaneous suppression of CeSRm160 and individual CeSR family proteins results in a distinct phenotype is indicative of critical functional interactions between these factors. Our results provide biochemical and genetic evidence indicating that interactions between SRm160 and multiple SR family proteins are important for both optimal splicing activity and for proper development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the imprinting of the mouse H19 gene.

The expression of the H19 gene is governed by parental imprinting in mammals. H19, an unusual gene encoding an RNA with no known function, is exclusively expressed from the maternal chromosome. In mouse, it lies 90 kb downstream from the Igf2 gene, which encodes a fetal-specific growth factor, insulin-like growth factor II, and is expressed primarily from the paternally inherited chromosome. In this report we have utilized interspecific hybrid mice to identify male-specific DNA methylation of a 7- to 9-kb domain surrounding the H19 gene and its promoter. This allele-specific methylation could function as a mark to suppress transcription of the H19 paternal allele. Consistent with this proposal, the H19 promoter displayed an open chromatin conformation only on the relatively unmethylated active maternal allele. In contrast, a cell type-specific enhancer that lies outside the methylation domain is hypersensitive to restriction enzyme digestion in nuclei on both maternal and paternal chromosomes. That the allele-specific methylation domain, coupled to the two H19 enhancers, contains all the information necessary for its imprinting was tested by examining two transgenic lines containing an internally deleted H19 transgene. Both displayed paternal-specific methylation of the transgene and maternal-specific expression. Although neither line has been tested in an inbred genetic background, and therefore the action of complex modifiers cannot be formally excluded, the result suggests that the sequences necessary for the imprinting of H19 have been identified.

Alleles↗
PubMed1993

Targeted gene expression as a means of altering cell fates and generating dominant phenotypes.

We have designed a system for targeted gene expression that allows the selective activation of any cloned gene in a wide variety of tissue- and cell-specific patterns. The gene encoding the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4 is inserted randomly into the Drosophila genome to drive GAL4 expression from one of a diverse array of genomic enhancers. It is then possible to introduce a gene containing GAL4 binding sites within its promoter, to activate it in those cells where GAL4 is expressed, and to observe the effect of this directed misexpression on development. We have used GAL4-directed transcription to expand the domain of embryonic expression of the homeobox protein even-skipped. We show that even-skipped represses wingless and transforms cells that would normally secrete naked cuticle into denticle secreting cells. The GAL4 system can thus be used to study regulatory interactions during embryonic development. In adults, targeted expression can be used to generate dominant phenotypes for use in genetic screens. We have directed expression of an activated form of the Dras2 protein, resulting in dominant eye and wing defects that can be used in screens to identify other members of the Dras2 signal transduction pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Long-range comparison of human and mouse Sprr loci to identify conserved noncoding sequences involved in coordinate regulation.

Mammalian epidermis provides a permeability barrier between an organism and its environment. Under homeostatic conditions, epidermal cells produce structural proteins, which are cross-linked in an orderly fashion to form a cornified envelope (CE). However, under genetic or environmental stress, specific genes are induced to rapidly build a temporary barrier. Small proline-rich (SPRR) proteins are the primary constituents of the CE. Under stress the entire family of 14 Sprr genes is upregulated. The Sprr genes are clustered within the larger epidermal differentiation complex on mouse chromosome 3, human chromosome 1q21. The clustering of the Sprr genes and their upregulation under stress suggest that these genes may be coordinately regulated. To identify enhancer elements that regulate this stress response activation of the Sprr locus, we utilized bioinformatic tools and classical biochemical dissection. Long-range comparative sequence analysis identified conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs). Clusters of epidermal-specific DNaseI-hypersensitive sites (HSs) mapped to specific CNSs. Increased prevalence of these HSs in barrier-deficient epidermis provides in vivo evidence of the regulation of the Sprr locus by these conserved sequences. Individual components of these HSs were cloned, and one was shown to have strong enhancer activity specific to conditions when the Sprr genes are coordinately upregulated.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Novel insights into the pathogenesis of the Graffi murine leukemia retrovirus.

The Graffi murine leukemia virus (MuLV) was isolated in 1954 by Arnold Graffi, who characterized it as a myeloid leukemia-inducing retrovirus. He and his team, however, soon observed the intriguing phenomenon of hematological diversification, which corresponded to a decrease of myeloid leukemias and an increase of other types of leukemias. Recently, we derived two different molecular clones corresponding to ecotropic nondefective genomes that were named GV-1.2 and GV-1.4. The induced leukemias were classified as myeloid based on morphological analysis of blood smears. In this study, we further characterized the two variants of the Graffi murine retrovirus, GV-1.2 and GV-1.4, in three different strains of mice. We show that the Graffi MuLV is a multipotent retrovirus capable of inducing both lymphoid (T- and B-cell) and nonlymphoid (myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocytic) leukemia. Many of these are very complex with concomitant expression of different hematopoietic lineages. Interestingly, a high percentage of megakaryocytic leukemias, a type of leukemia rarely observed with MuLVs, arise in the FVB/n strain of mice. The genetic backgrounds of the different strains of mice influence greatly the results. Furthermore, the enhancer region, different for GV-1.2 and GV-1.4, plays a pivotal role in the disease specificity: GV-1.2 induces more lymphoid leukemias, and GV-1.4 induces more nonlymphoid ones.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The dominant mutation Glazed is a gain-of-function allele of wingless that, similar to loss of APC, interferes with normal eye development.

Dominant mutations have served as invaluable tools for Drosophila geneticists. Here we analyze the dominant eye mutation Glazed (Gla) that was described by T. H. Morgan more than 50 years ago. We show that Gla causes the loss of photoreceptor cells during pupal stages, in a process reminiscent of apoptosis, with a concomitant overproduction of eye pigment. This phenotype is very similar to that caused by the loss of D-APC, a negative regulator of Wingless (Wg) signal transduction. Genetic analyses reveal however that the Gla gain-of-function phenotype can be reverted to wild-type. By generating a P-element-induced revertant of Gla we demonstrate that Gla is allelic to wg. The molecular lesion in Gla indicates that the insertion of a roo retrotransposon leads to ectopic expression of wg during pupal stages. We show that the Gla phenotype is similar to that caused by ectopic expression of Wg driven by the sevenless (sev) enhancer. In both cases Wg exerts its effect, at least in part, by negatively regulating the expression of the Pax2 homolog sparkling (spa). Gla represents not only the first dominant allele of wg, but it may also be the first allele ever described for wg.

Alleles↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of melanocyte-specific inducible Cre recombinase transgenic mice.

Conditional Cre-mediated recombination has emerged as a robust method of introducing somatic genetic alterations in an organ-specific manner in the mouse. Here, we generated and characterized mice harboring a 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT)-inducible Cre recombinase-estrogen receptor fusion transgene under the control of the melanocyte-specific tyrosinase promoter, designated Tyr::CreER(T2). Cre-mediated recombination was induced in melanocytes in a spatially and temporally controlled manner upon administration of OHT and was documented in embryonic melanoblasts, follicular bulb melanocytes, dermal dendritic melanocytes, epidermal melanocytes of tail skin, and in putative melanocyte stem cells located within the follicular bulge. Functional evidence suggestive of recombination in follicular melanocyte stem cells included the presence of Cre-mediated recombination in follicular bulb melanocytes 1 year after topical OHT administration, by which time several hair cycles have elapsed and the melanocytes residing in this location have undergone multiple rounds of apoptosis and replenishment. These Tyr:: CreER(T2) transgenic mice represent a useful resource for the evaluation of melanocyte developmental genetics, the characterization of melanocyte stem cell function and dynamics, and the construction of refined mouse models of malignant melanoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The yeast Cryptococcus neoformans uses 'mammalian' enhancer sites in the regulation of the virulence gene, CNLAC1.

Transcriptional regulation in mammalian and plant cells is distinguished from fungi by the presence of blocks of multiple interacting DNA binding sites distributed over a relatively large upstream region of genes and the ability to use glutamine-rich enhancers such as Sp1. We offer evidence that the haploid yeast Cryptococcus neoformans contains a virulence gene, CNLAC1, having regulatory properties more similar to mammalian systems than to that of yeast. We used a novel promoter plasmid, pVEW, and electromobility shift assay techniques adapted for the fungus for the first systematic structural and functional study of a 5'-enhancer region of a basidiomycete fungus using the upstream region of CNLAC1. Two groups of interactive enhancer regions, located over a range of 1.5kb from the mRNA start site are involved in CNLAC1 regulation (region 2: -1721 to -1615 and region 7) in addition to a TATA promoter at position -539. Region 2 contains a consensus Sp1 site and region 7 contains a consensus E2F site, each of which shows significant binding to nuclear proteins under derepressed conditions; cooperative binding was also suggested between DNA-binding protein of these sites and those binding nearby CCAAT sequences in each region. Two regions of repression were also evident under derepressed conditions (region 5: -1351 to -1207 and region 8: -991 to -971). Identification of functional Sp1 binding sites and the presence of multiple interactive enhancer sites over a fairly large upstream range suggests that cryptococcal transcriptional regulation contains features often associated with higher eukaryotic regulation. C. neoformans thus may provide a unique system for the study of certain aspects of higher eukaryotic transcription, using yeast genetic approaches. In addition, properties of basidiomycete yeast such as Cryptococcus exemplified in the present study suggest an evolutionary progression in gene regulation within fungi toward properties exhibited in the kingdoms Animalia and Plantae.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

E2A and IRF-4/Pip promote chromatin modification and transcription of the immunoglobulin kappa locus in pre-B cells.

The immunoglobulin kappa light chain (Igkappa) locus is regulated in a lineage- and stage-specific manner during B-cell development. The highly restricted timing of V to J gene recombination at the pre-B-cell stage is under the control of two enhancers, the intronic enhancer (kappaEi) and the 3' enhancer (kappaE3'), flanking the constant exon. E2A transcription factors have been indicated to be directly involved in the regulation of Igkappa locus activation. In this study, we utilize E2A-deficient pre-B cells to directly investigate the mechanism of E2A-mediated Igkappa activation. We demonstrate that Igkappa germ line transcription is severely impaired and recombination is blocked in the absence of E2A. Reconstitution of E2A-/- pre-B cells with inducible human E2A (E47R) is sufficient to promote chromatin modification of Igkappa and rescue Igkappa germ line transcription and Jkappa gene recombinase accessibility. Furthermore, we show that increased E2A recruitment to kappaEi and kappaE3' correlates with activation of Igkappa in pre-B cells and that recruitment of E2A to kappaE3' is in part dependent on the transcription factor IRF-4. Inhibition of IRF-4 expression in pre-B cells leads to a significant reduction of Igkappa germ line transcription and enhancer acetylation. In the absence of E2A, increased IRF-4 expression is not sufficient to promote Igkappa enhancer chromatin modification or transcription, suggesting that the sequential involvement of IRF-4 and E2A is necessary for the activation of the Igkappa locus. Finally, we provide genetic evidence in the mouse that E2A gene dosage can influence the development of pre-B cells during the phase of Igkappa gene activation.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2002

Tissue-type plasminogen activator -7,351C/T enhancer polymorphism is associated with a first myocardial infarction.

We recently identified a polymorphic Sp1 binding site in an enhancer at the tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) locus (tPA -7,351C/T), which was associated with vascular tPA release. Subjects homozygous for the -7,351C allele had twice the tPA release rate compared to subjects carrying the -7,351T allele. In this study we tested the hypothesis that the tPA -7,351C/T polymorphism is associated with myocardial infarction (MI). In a population-based prospective nested case-control study within northern Sweden, genotypes were determined among 61 MI cases and 120 controls. In a multivariate model, the tPA -7,351C/T polymorphism (OR 2.68 for T allele carriers; 95% CI 1.31-5.50), tPA antigen (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.07-1.25) and apo A-I (OR, 0.997; 95% CI 0.995-0.999) were independently associated with a first MI. These findings suggest that genetic markers of local tPA release and circulating steady-state tPA levels carry independent prognostic information.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗
PubMed1990

A single mutation in one of the CORE elements of Moloney murine leukemia virus reduced binding of a 42-kDa T lymphoma cell nuclear factor but did not affect lymphomagenesis.

The genetic determinant responsible for virulence in Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMuLV) induced T-cell lymphomagenesis has recently been mapped [J Virol 63:471-480, 1989] by homologous genomic fragment exchange between MoMuLV and MoMuLV-TB to the Clal/Xbal at the 3' end of the genome. This region of MoMuLV and MoMuLV-TB differs in 11 nucleotides. Of these 11 nucleotide differences, 9 are distributed within the two CORE, the two distal NF1, and the two GRE/LVa elements of the enhancer. Since both the CORE binding sites of MoMuLV-TB are mutated with respect to those of MoMuLV, we compared nuclear proteins of a thymus-bone marrow cell line and a T-lymphoma cell line (EMT), which bind to the wild-type and mutant CORE binding sites. Using both the bandshift assay and southwestern analysis with labeled synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides, we showed that a 42-kDa protein from TB and EMT cells bound specifically to the MoMuLV CORE element. The T----C transversion of nucleotide 6 of the CORE consensus, TGTGGT/CTAA, significantly reduced binding of the 42-kDa TB and EMT cell factors. However, the transversion of nucleotide 3 from T----C had little effect on the binding of the 42-kDa protein to the CORE element. In addition, the 42-kDa protein bound weakly to the CCAAT element of MoMuLV. A recombinant virus, NwtTB-6, was generated by introducing the two CORE mutations of MoMuLV-TB into the MoMuLV genome. Although the latency period of NwtTB-6 in the induction of lymphoma was not significantly different from that of MoMuLV, preliminary findings suggest that the lymphoma induced by NwtTB-6 may be more widely distributed.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A genetic screen for elements of the network that regulates neurogenesis in Drosophila.

The development of external sensory organs on the notum of Drosophila is promoted by the proneural genes achaete and scute. Their activity defines proneural cell clusters in the wing imaginal disc. Ectopic expression, under control of the GAL4 system, of the proneural gene lethal of scute (l'sc) causes the development of ectopic bristles. Persistent ectopic expression of l'sc is not sufficient to impose a neural fate on any given cell. This implies that mutual inhibition, mediated by the Notch signaling pathway, occurs among the cells of the ectopic proneural cluster. Consequently, the dominant, quantifiable phenotype associated with ectopic expression of l'sc is modified by mutations in genes known to be involved in neurogenesis. This phenotype has been utilized to screen for dominant enhancers and suppressors that modify the number of ectopic bristles. In this way, about 100,000 progeny of EMS or X-ray-treated flies have been analyzed to identify autosomal genes involved in regulation of the neural fate. In addition 1200 chromosomes carrying lethal P-element insertions were screened for modifiers. Besides mutations in genes expected to modify the phenotype, we have isolated mutations in six genes not known so far to be involved in neurogenesis.

Alleles↗