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Complexities in ETS-domain transcription factor function and regulation: lessons from the TCF (ternary complex factor) subfamily. The Colworth Medal Lecture.

The ETS-domain transcription factor family can be divided into a series of subfamilies. Elk-1 represents the founding member of the ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily. By focusing on the TCF subfamily, we can demonstrate the complexities that exist in the function and regulation of ETS-domain transcription factors. This article focuses on Elk-1 in detail and summarizes the functions of other TCFs. The key themes covered include the domain structure of the TCFs, the mechanisms of complex formation with serum response factor, regulation of TCFs by mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, and transcriptional regulatory properties of the TCFs. Finally, the emerging role of the TCFs in vivo is discussed. A picture is developing indicating that, while these proteins exhibit significant sequence and functional conservation, key differences in their structure and regulation are being identified which may relate to unique functions of these proteins in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

U14 small nucleolar RNA makes multiple contacts with the pre-ribosomal RNA.

The small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) U14 has two regions of extended primary sequence complementarity to the 18S rRNA. The 3' region (domain B) shows the consensus structure for the methylation guide class of snoRNAs, whereas base-pairing between the 5' region (domain A) and the 18S rRNA sequence is required for the formation of functional ribosomes. Between domains A and B lies another essential region (domain Y). Here we report that yeast U14 can be cross-linked in vivo to the pre-rRNA; cross-linking is detected exclusively with the 35S primary transcript. Many nucleotides in U14 that lie outside of domains A and B are cross-linked to the pre-rRNA; in particular the essential domain Y region is cross-linked at several sites. U14 is, therefore, in far more extensive contact with the pre-rRNA than predicted from simple base-pairing models. Moreover, U14 can be cross-linked to other small RNA species. The functional interactions made by U14 during ribosome synthesis are likely to be very complex.

Base Composition↗

Polyketides from dinoflagellates: origins, pharmacology and biosynthesis.

Dinoflagellates, unicellular marine protists, produce some of the largest and most complex polyketides identified to date. The biological activities of these compounds are quite diverse. Compounds having potential therapeutic value as anti-cancer agents as well as deadly neurotoxins, whose production has resulted in severe public health hazards and economic hardships, are represented in this group of secondary metabolites. Stable isotope feeding experiments have firmly established the polyketide origins of representative compounds from each of the three structural classes, the polyether ladders, the macrocycles and the linear polyethers. Yet some unusual labeling patterns have been observed in each class. Pendant methyl groups are most often derived from C-2 of acetate and deletions of C-1 of acetate are common. Studies on the biosynthesis of dinoflagellate derived polyketides at the genomic level have not been reported, in part due to the peculiarities of the dinoflagellate nucleus and the lack of a dinoflagellate transformation system. Nevertheless, a fundamental understanding of the genetics of polyketide biosynthesis by dinoflagellates could be the catalyst for developing several fruitful avenues of research. Dinoflagellate derived polyketides are reviewed with special emphasis on pharmacology and biosynthesis.

Animals↗

Volatile fraction of milk: comparison between purge and trap and solid phase microextraction techniques.

The aim of this research was to validate the results obtained previously by purge and trap (PT) and to investigate the ability of solid phase microextraction (SPME), a more rapid and less expensive technique, to discriminate drinking milk subjected to different heat treatments (i.e., pasteurization, ultrahigh temperature, "in-bottle" sterilization) and produced at different factories. The data obtained by both methods were processed by multivariate statistical analysis. PT and SPME showed comparable repeatability, although with different performances for the yield of extraction, and allowed the three milk categories to be distinguished. Within the chemical class of methyl ketones, 2-heptanone was found to be the most discriminating compound, and the possibility of using the concentration of this volatile as a marker for heat treatment was investigated.

Adsorption↗

Synthesis and monoamine transporter binding properties of 2,3-diaryltropanes.

Synthetic procedures were developed for the synthesis of 2beta,3beta- and 2alpha,3alpha-diaryltropanes. These compounds are analogues of the 3-aryltropane-2beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester class of monoamine uptake inhibitors, where the 2beta-carbomethoxy group has been replaced by an aryl group. The compounds were evaluated for inhibition of radioligand binding at the dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters (DAT, NET, and 5-HTT, respectively). The results showed that the replacement of the 2beta-carbomethoxy group in the 3-aryltropane class with a 2beta-aryl group led to compounds possessing very similar monoamine transporter binding properties. However, the 2beta,3beta-diaryltropanes tended to be more potent at the DAT and more selective for the DAT relative to the NET and 5-HTT. One of the most interesting compounds was 3beta-(4-methylphenyl)-2beta-(4-methylphenyl)tropane (3d), which showed an IC50 of 1.23 nM at the DAT with 289- and 185-fold selectivity for the DAT relative to the NET and 5-HTT. The 2alpha,3alpha-diaryltropanes were much less potent at all three transporters than 2beta,3beta-diaryltropanes.

Animals↗

Cytokinins: development of a potent antagonist.

A systematic search has resulted in the synthesis of a class of cytokinin antimetabolites. The development and biological properties of the anticytokinins are discussed in terms of one member of the class, 3- methyl - 7 - (3 - methylbutylamino)pyrazolo[4,3 - d]- pyrimidine.

Antimetabolites↗

2'-5'-Linked oligo(adenylic acid) and its analogs. A new class of inhibitors of mRNA methylation.

Most eukaryotic cellular and viral mRNAs have a blocked, methylated 5' terminus, commonly referred to as a "cap." The 5'-terminal 7-methyl-G in mRNAs is essential for their efficient translation in vitro and may also protect mRNAs against exonucleases. We have explored whether enzymes which synthesize 5' caps of mRNAs are targets for antiviral agents. We have reported earlier that the 5'-triphosphate of a broad spectrum antiviral agent, Ribavirin, and the 5'-mono- and triphosphates of 2'-5'-linked oligo(adenylic acid) (2-5A) synthesized by interferon-treated cells on exposure to double-stranded RNA or EMC virus inhibit in vitro methylation of unmethylated vaccinia RNA by a crude mRNA methylating enzyme system from vaccinia virus. We report here that although 2-5A inhibits both purified vaccinia viral and cellular mRNA (guanine-7-)-methyltransferases at micromolar concentrations, the 3'-O-methylated analogs of 2-5A, methylated in the 3'-terminal-OH or methylated at all three 3'-OH groups and with varying numbers of phosphate groups, specifically inhibited the viral enzyme at submicromolar concentrations. The inhibition is noncompetitive with respect to S-adenosylmethionine, but competitive with respect to mRNA substrate. These compounds are at least 10 times more active than 2-5A. A specific inhibitor of viral mRNA methylation heretofore has not been reported.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

1-Methyl-3-pyrrolines and 2-methylisoindolines: new classes of cyclic tertiary amine monoamine oxidase B substrates.

Both 1-methyl-3-pyrrolines and 2-methylisoindolines are substrates for MAO-B with Vmax/Km values ranging from 200 to 2000 min-1 mM-1 at 37 degrees C. These compounds represent new classes of cyclic tertiary amine substrates for this flavoenzyme. The only other known cyclic amines that are MAO-B substrates are 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl derivatives. The presence of an allylic (benzylic) amino functionality in all of these compounds may be linked to their substrate properties since related piperidinyl and pyrrolidinyl analogs are stable in the presence of MAO-B. This paper discusses energetic and geometric features of these compounds in relationship to their substrate properties and in anticipation of their utility to probe the active site of this flavoenzyme.

Animals↗

Methylation of a middle repetitive DNA sequence class during differentiation in Friend erythroleukemia cells.

We have examined the methylation patterns within middle repetitive sequences in Friend erythroleukemia cells. Mouse-interspersed-family-1 (MIF-1) and a group characterized by a 1350-bp Eco-Bam fragment cloned into pBR322 as plasmid pFS-13, are both less modified in Friend cell DNA than in normal tissue DNA. The pattern of methylation present in pFS-13 homologous sequences was found to be stable during cell division, i.e., somatically inherited, and stable during differentiation induced by HMBA.

Acetamides↗

Lipoxygenase gene expression is modulated in plants by water deficit, wounding, and methyl jasmonate.

Two classes of lipoxygenase (LOX) cDNAs, designated loxA and loxB, were isolated from soybean. A third lipoxygenase cDNA, loxP1, was isolated from pea. The deduced amino acid sequences of loxA and loxB show 61-74% identity with those of soybean seed LOXs. loxA and loxB mRNAs are abundant in roots and non-growing regions of seedling hypocotyls. Lower levels of these mRNAs are found in hypocotyl growing regions. Exposure of soybean seedlings to water deficit causes a rapid increase in loxA and loxB mRNAs in the elongating hypocotyl region. Similarly, loxP1 mRNA levels increase rapidly when pea plants are wilted. loxA and loxB mRNA levels also increase in wounded soybean leaves, and these mRNAs accumulate in soybean suspension cultures treated with 20 microM methyl jasmonate. These results demonstrate that LOX gene expression is modulated in response to water deficit and wounding and suggest a role for lipoxygenase in plant responses to these stresses.

Acetates↗

A novel class of phosphonate nucleosides. 9-[(1-phosphonomethoxycyclopropyl)methyl]guanine as a potent and selective anti-HBV agent.

9-[1-(Phosphonomethoxycyclopropyl)methyl]guanine (PMCG, 1), representative of a novel class of phosphonate nucleosides, blocks HBV replication with excellent potency (EC(50) = 0.5 microM) in a primary culture of HepG2 2.2.15 cells. It exhibits no significant cytotoxicity in several human cell lines up to 1.0 mM. It does not inhibit replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) or herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) at 30 microM. Many purine base analogues of 1 also exhibit inhibitory activity against HBV, but at 30 microM, pyrimidine analogues do not. 1 is 4 times more potent than 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine (PMEA), which was used as a positive control (EC(50) = 2.0 microM). The characteristic cyclopropyl moiety at the 2'-position of 1 was prepared by titanium-mediated Kulinkovich cyclopropanation. 1 was modified to give the orally available drug candidate, PMCDG Dipivoxil (2). Compound 2 exhibited excellent efficacy when administered at 5 mg per kg per day in a study with woodchucks infected with woodchuck hepatitis B virus (WHBV). Drug candidate 2 has successfully completed phase I clinical trials and is currently undergoing phase II clinical studies for evaluation of efficacy.

Animals↗

Protective methylation of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor (TcR) gene loci prior to induction of class switch and TcR recombination.

Methylation of the S gamma 1 switch region and C gamma 1 constant region gene from the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus and of the J beta 2 and C beta regions from the T cell receptor beta chain (TcR beta) locus is compared here in murine germ-line cells, nonlymphoid cells and lymphocytes. In germ-line cells and in lymphocytes prior to recombination all four regions show strong methylation, i.e. most Msp I sites are methylated. After activation of lymphocytes, demethylation is observed for those regions which are activated for recombination, at specific sites 5' of S gamma 1 in B cells activated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interleukin 4, and for J beta 2 in thymocytes. In nonlymphoid cells, where these regions cannot be used for recombination, considerable demethylation is observed for all four regions analyzed as compared to lymphocytes. The result implies an important role for methylation of recombinatorial regions. Methylation may be involved in protecting them from uninduced recombination, thus allowing regulated expression of distinct genes in lymphocyte ontogeny.

Animals↗

Lack of IFN-gamma-mediated induction of the class II transactivator (CIITA) through promoter methylation is predominantly found in developmental tumor cell lines.

Downregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules by tumor cells impairs cellular immune recognition and contributes to inefficient cell-mediated tumor eradication. Low or lack of expression of MHC molecules is frequently observed in early developmental or embryonically derived tumor cells. Considering the central role of the class II transactivator (CIITA) in MHC class II- and class I-mediated antigen presentation, we compared the induction of CIITA by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in a diverse panel of developmental and more differentiated tumor cell lines. In contrast to the more differentiated tumor cell lines, none of the developmental tumor cell lines were capable of expressing CIITA after treatment with IFN-gamma. Remarkably, in transient transfection assays, CIITA promoter IV (CIITA-PIV) was found to be induced by IFN-gamma. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA obtained from the developmental tumor cell lines indicated that the absence of endogenous CIITA induction was due to methylation of the CIITA-PIV region. Exposure to 5-azacytidine restored induction of CIITA and congruent HLA-DRA expression in these cells. The observation that only developmental tumor cell lines, originating from various tissues, employ methylation to silence CIITA expression may reflect the natural status of CIITA expression during early development rather than oncogenic transformation.

Azacitidine↗

Association of class II histone deacetylases with heterochromatin protein 1: potential role for histone methylation in control of muscle differentiation.

Class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) 4, 5, 7, and 9 repress muscle differentiation through associations with the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) transcription factor. MEF2-interacting transcription repressor (MITR) is an amino-terminal splice variant of HDAC9 that also potently inhibits MEF2 transcriptional activity despite lacking a catalytic domain. Here we report that MITR, HDAC4, and HDAC5 associate with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), an adaptor protein that recognizes methylated lysines within histone tails and mediates transcriptional repression by recruiting histone methyltransferase. Promyogenic signals provided by calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) disrupt the interaction of MITR and HDACs with HP1. Since the histone methyl-lysine residues recognized by HP1 also serve as substrates for deacetylation by HDACs, the interaction of MITR and HDACs with HP1 provides an efficient mechanism for silencing MEF2 target genes by coupling histone deacetylation and methylation. Indeed, nucleosomal histones surrounding a MEF2-binding site in the myogenin gene promoter are highly methylated in undifferentiated myoblasts, when the gene is silent, and become acetylated during muscle differentiation, when the myogenin gene is expressed at high levels. The ability of MEF2 to recruit a histone methyltransferase to target gene promoters via HP1-MITR and HP1-HDAC interactions and of CaMK signaling to disrupt these interactions provides an efficient mechanism for signal-dependent regulation of the epigenetic events controlling muscle differentiation.

Animals↗

Pharmacological characterization of cGMP regulation by the biarylpropylsulfonamide class of positive, allosteric modulators of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors.

The biarylpropylsulfonamide class of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) potentiators represented by N-2-(4-(4-cyanophenol)phenol)propyl-2-propanesulfonamide (LY404187) and (R)-4'-[1-fluoro-1-methyl-2-(propane-2-sulfonylamino)-ethyl]-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid methylamide (LY503430) are positive, allosteric AMPA receptor activators, which enhance AMPA receptor-mediated neurotransmission by reducing desensitization of the ion channel. Although these compounds have efficacy in in vivo rodent models of cognition, depression, and Parkinson's disease, little is known about biochemical pathways activated by these agents. Given the well established regulation of the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway by excitatory neurotransmission, the current study characterized AMPA receptor potentiator-mediated cGMP response in mouse cerebellum. Acute treatment by both LY404187 and LY503430 [2.0, 5.0, or 10 mg/kg subcutaneously (s.c.)] elevated basal cerebellar cGMP levels in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the noncompetitive, allosteric AMPA receptor-selective antagonist 7H-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-h][2,3]benzodiazepine-7-carboxamide, 5-(4-aminophenyl)-8,9-dihydro-N,8-dimethyl-monohydrochloride-(9CI) (GYKI 53655) [3.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.)], completely blocked the effect of LY404187, demonstrating that activation of AMPA receptors induces cGMP levels. Interestingly, pretreatment with the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) open channel blocker dizocilpine (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg i.p.) also abolished the AMPA receptor potentiator-mediated cGMP accumulation, indicating that activation of AMPA receptors leads to NMDA receptor-mediated transmission involved in cGMP regulation. Pharmacological augmentation of the endogenous glutamate tone via the alkaloid harmaline (20-60 mg/kg i.p.) synergized with AMPA potentiator activity and provided further direct evidence of in vivo allosteric activation of AMPA receptors by LY404187. The synergism between harmaline and LY404187 was specific, since cGMP accumulation induced by foot-shock stress was not augmented by the AMPA receptor potentiator. Taken together, these data indicate that the cGMP system may play an important role in pharmacological efficacy of the biarylpropylsulfonamide class of AMPA receptor potentiators.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Substrate-based inhibitors of the (S)-adenosyl-L-methionine:delta24(25)- to delta24(28)-sterol methyl transferase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A series of 31 side-chain-modified analogs of cholesterol, zymosterol, lanosterol, and cycloartenol and the steroidal alkaloids solasodine and solanidine were studied as inhibitors of (S)-adenosyl-L-methionine:delta24(25)-sterol methyl transferase (SMT) enzyme activity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two classes of sterol methylation inhibitors were tested: substrate analogs, including mechanism-based inhibitors, and transition state analogs. Several novel sterol methylation inhibitors that contained an aza, aziridine, or ammonium group in the sterol side chain were prepared and tested for the first time. The degree and kinetic pattern of methylation inhibition were found to be influenced by the position and nature of the variant functional group introduced into the side chain. The most potent inhibitors of SMT enzyme activity were transition state analog inhibitors (Ki values of 5 to 10 nM) that mimicked the structure and conformation of the natural substrate presumed to form in the ternary complex generated in the transition state. Steroidal alkaloids were potent competitive inhibitors with Ki values ranging from 2 to 30 microM, which is about the Kmapp of zymosterol, ca. 27 microM. An isosteric analog of the natural substrate, zymosterol, in which the 26/27-gem-dimethyl groups were joined to form a cyclopropylidene function is shown to be a potent irreversible mechanism-based inactivator of SMT enzyme activity that exhibits competitive-type inhibition, Ki 48 microM with a K(inact) of 1.52 min(-1). Mechanistic implications of these results provide new insights into the topology of the ternary complex involving sterol-AdoMet-enzyme.

Binding Sites↗