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Role of the human Y box-binding protein YB-1 in cellular sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agents cisplatin, mitomycin C, and ultraviolet light.

The Y box-binding protein (YB-1) binds to DNA sequences, present in the control regions of many genes, that contain an inverted CCAAT box. The binding activity of a nuclear factor, designated MDR-NF1, to an inverted CCAAT box in the promoter of the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene has previously been shown to be increased in nuclear extracts of cells exposed to UV radiation or various anticancer agents. The MDR-NF1 cDNA has now been cloned by screening a human colon library with an active fragment of the MDR1 promoter. The amino acid sequence encoded by the cloned cDNA was identical to that of YB-1. Northern blot analysis revealed that YB-1 mRNA was present in all human tissues examined. Rabbit antibodies were generated against synthetic peptides corresponding to YB-1, and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with these antibodies showed that the concentration of YB-1 in all cisplatin-resistant cell lines examined was higher than that in the respective drug-sensitive parental cells. Transfection of human epidermoid cancer KB cells with a YB-1 antisense construct established two cell lines with reduced concentrations of YB-1. These transfectants showed increased sensitivity to cisplatin, mitomycin C, and UV radiation but not to vincristine, doxorubicin, camptothecin, or etoposide. Thus, YB-1 may protect cells from the cytotoxic effects of agents that induce cross-linking of DNA, suggesting a novel function of this ancestor DNA-binding protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Y box-binding trans-regulatory nuclear proteins and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Inappropriately high levels of expression of HLA-DR molecules or their expression on inappropriate cells, e.g. synovial tissue and T cells, may result in an aberrant tissue-destructive immune response and thus cause susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients and controls were typed for HLA-DR antigens by oligonucleotide typing of PCR-amplified DNA. Trans-regulatory nuclear proteins that bind to the Y box in DRB promotors were examined by the gel-mobility shift assay. RESULTS: We found that the trans-regulatory nuclear protein (NF-Y), which binds to the Y box in DRB promoters and which plays a dominant role on the level of the expression and inducibility of DR genes, was absent in 50% of RA patients but not in healthy individuals (0%). Furthermore, we observed that all patients (100%) either lacked the NF-Y protein and/or carried the disease susceptibility DRB1 gene, which gives the highest relative risk value (RR = 46.6; p < 1.6 x 10(-6)) reported so far for susceptibility to RA. CONCLUSION: The absence of the trans-regulatory nuclear protein that binds to the Y box with an inverted CCAAT motif in DRB promotors and the presence of the DRB1 gene with the amino acid motif QKRAA and QRRAA cause susceptibility to RA.

Adult↗

Pax-6 interactions with TATA-box-binding protein and retinoblastoma protein.

PURPOSE: To identify proteins that physically interact with Pax-6, a paired domain- and homeodomain (HD)-containing transcription factor that is a key regulator of eye development. METHODS: Protein-protein interactions involving Pax-6, TATA-box-binding protein (TPB), and retinoblastoma protein were studied using affinity chromatography with Pax-6 as ligand, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays, and immunoprecipitations. RESULTS: The authors have shown that Pax-6 is a sequence-specific activator of many crystallin genes, all containing a TATA box, in the lens. Others have shown that lens fiber cell differentiation, characterized by temporally and spatially regulated crystallin gene expression, depends on retinoblastoma protein. In the present study it was shown that Pax-6 interacted with the TBP, the DNA-binding subunit of general transcription complex TFIID. GST pull-down assays indicated that this interaction was mediated by the Pax-6 HD, with a substantial role for its N-terminal arm and first two alpha-helices. The experiments also indicated a binding role for the C-terminal-activation domain of the protein. In addition, the present study showed that the HD of Pax-6 interacted with retinoblastoma protein. Immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed retinoblastoma protein/Pax-6 complexes in lens nuclear extracts. CONCLUSIONS: Blending the present results with those in the literature suggests that Pax-6 and retinoblastoma protein participate in overlapping regulatory pathways controlling epithelial cell division, fiber cell elongation, and crystallin gene expression during lens development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Helical fold prediction for the cyclin box.

The smooth progression of the eukaryotic cell cycle relies on the periodic activation of members of a family of cell cycle kinases by regulatory proteins called cyclins. Outside of the cell cycle, cyclin homologs play important roles in regulating the assembly of transcription complexes; distant structural relatives of the conserved cyclin core or "box" can also function as general transcription factors (like TFIIB) or survive embedded in the chain of the tumor suppressor, retinoblastoma protein. The present work attempts the prediction of the canonical secondary, supersecondary, and tertiary fold of the minimal cyclin box domain using a combination of techniques that make use of the evolutionary information captured in a multiple alignment of homolog sequences. A tandem set of closely packed, helical modules are predicted to form the cyclin box domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stabilization of an isolated helical capping box in solution by hydrophobic interactions: evidence from the NMR study of bioactive peptides from the C-terminus of human C5a anaphylatoxin.

Synthetic analogues of the C-terminal portion of C5a were designed and found to be agonists of the C5a receptor [J. A. Ember et al. (1992) Jounral of Immunology, Vol. 148, p. 3165]. Nuclear magnetic resonance experiments were carried out to determine the solution conformation of the most potent analogue, the peptide C5a 65-74 (Tyr65, Phe67) (Tyr65-Ser66-Phe67-Lys68-Asp69-Met70 -Gln71- Leu72-Gly73-Arg74). Medium-range nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) were observed for residues 65-70 of this C5a peptide, suggesting that this region adopts a folded conformation in a significant population of the solution conformational ensemble. Quantitative analyses of (3)J(NH-alphaH) coupling constants and sequential NOE cross peaks gave an estimated helical population of 65% in the region Ser66-Met70. Additional evidence supporting the presence of a helical turn includes reduced amide-proton temperature coefficients and lowered (3)J(NH-alphaH) coupling constants in the region of Phe67-Met70. Conformational behavior of this C5a analogue peptide was studied using molecular modeling incorporating observed NOEs as constraints. The side chains of Tyr65, Phe67, and Met70 consistently form a hydrophobic cluster in all the model structures. The side chains of residues Ser66 and Asp69 can form reciprocal hydrogen bonds with the backbone NH groups of these two residues, indicating that residues Ser66-Phe67-Lys68-Asp69 (or SFKD) form a helix-stabilizing capping box (E. T. Harper and G. D. Rose (1993) Biochemistry, Vol. 32, p. 7605; H. X. Zhou et al. (1994) Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics, Vol. 18, p. 1] even within the single turn of helical structure found in the analogue C5a peptide. A comparison of nmr results obtained for the analogue peptide and the natural decapeptide C5a 65-74 (Ile65-Ser66-His67-Lys68-Asp-69- Met70-Gln71-Leu72-Gly73-Arg74) indicated that incorporation of residues Tyr65 and Phe67 helps stabilize an isolated capping box involving residues Ser66-Asp69 in the C5a peptides through more extensive hydrophobic/aromatic interactions between residues Tyr65, Phe67, and Met70 in the analogue peptide C5a 65-74 (Tyr65, Phe67). These results constitute the first experimental demonstration of hydrophobic determinants in helical capping-box interactions, proposed recently by a statistical analysis of protein structures [J. W. Seale et al. (1994) Protein Science, Vol. 3, pp. 1741-1745]. The stabilized helical turn may also account for the greater potency of the analogue peptide C5a65-74 (Tyr65, Phe67) in receptor-binding assays.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural and functional properties of the evolutionarily ancient Y-box family of nucleic acid binding proteins.

The Y-box proteins are the most evolutionarily conserved nucleic acid binding proteins yet defined in bacteria, plants and animals. The central nucleic acid binding domain of the vertebrate proteins is 43% identical to a 70-amino-acid-long protein (CS7.4) from E. coli. The structure of this domain consists of an antiparallel five-stranded beta-barrel that recognizes both DNA and RNA. The diverse biological roles of these Y-box proteins range from the control of the E. coli cold-shock stress response to the translational masking of messenger RNA in vertebrate gametes. This review discusses the organization of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic Y-box proteins, how they interact with nucleic acids, and their biological roles, both proven and potential.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Electronic energy transfer in a multiporphyrin-based molecular box.

The molecular box 1 comprises of two zinc-porphyrin metallacycles connected by two free-base 4'-trans-dipyridylporphyrins, axially coordinated to the zinc centers. The photophysics of 1 were studied in chloroform by emission and ultrafast absorption spectroscopy. In the molecular box, fast singlet energy transfer (main component, tau=32 ps) is observed to occur from the zinc-porphyrin metallacycles to the free-base chromophores. From wavelength-dependent spectrofluorimetric data, the efficiency of the energy-transfer (ET) process is estimated as 0.5. The lower-than-unity value is tentatively attributed to the possibility of a competing electron-transfer quenching pathway. Molecular box 1 can be considered to be a simple, self-assembling, six-chromophore antenna system. It has an inner cavity, 11.4 Angstrom wide, that could be used, in principle, to host a variety of guest molecules and obtain higher-order assemblies.

Journal Article↗

A new homeo-box is present in overlapping cosmid clones which define the mouse Hox-1 locus.

A new murine homeo-box (Hox1-3) has been isolated and studied with respect to its structure and transcriptional pattern. This homeo-box is part of a gene which is specifically regulated during mouse prenatal development and expressed in a restricted number of teratocarcinoma tumours as well as in adult testis. Hox1-3 is shown to be a member of a cluster of at least four homeo-boxes lying within a 75-kb segment of DNA on mouse chromosome 6. The structure of the whole cluster, the Hox-1 locus is presented.

Animals↗

Sequential expression of murine homeo box genes during F9 EC cell differentiation.

We have isolated and characterized a previously unknown member of the murine homeo box family. The new locus, m31, is located on chromosome 15 and is more homologous to sequences contained in the Drosophila homeotic gene, Antp, than to any other known murine homeo box. We show that this gene encodes a 2.7 kb mRNA which is expressed during mouse embryogenesis and during differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma cells into parietal endoderm cells. The transcript appears late in this differentiation process and is most abundant at a time when the F9 cells begin to express tissue-specific markers and the expression of another murine homeo box gene, m6, has decreased.

Animals↗

Genetic and cytogenetic localisation of the homeo box containing genes on mouse chromosome 6 and human chromosome 7.

Probes from the m6 homeo box cluster were mapped to mouse chromosome 6 by somatic cell genetics, in situ hybridisation, and by a Mus spretus--Mus musculus backcross mapping system. In addition, the testis-specific homeo box containing cDNA, clone, HBT-1, has been mapped using the same back-cross system and the B X D recombinant inbred strain set. Close genetic and physical linkage between the m6 cluster and HBT-1 was demonstrated, positioning these sequences to the same local cluster of homeo box containing genes. The map location of this cluster between IgK and Tcrb coincides with the morphological mutation hypodactyly (Hd). Synteny has been observed between a region of mouse chromosome 6 and the long arm of human chromosome 7 encompassing the markers Cpa, Tcrb and Try-1. Here we localise human sequences hybridising to the mouse m6 probes to the short arm of chromosome 7, breaking the region of synteny.

Animals↗

Zebrafish pax[zf-a]: a paired box-containing gene expressed in the neural tube.

Murine and human sequences homologous to the paired box of the Drosophila segmentation gene paired have been reported previously. Here we describe a zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) paired box-containing clone, pax[zf-a], which is clearly distinct from reported vertebrate Pax genes. The putative protein encoded by pax[zf-a] contains a paired box and a paired-type homeobox separated by a glycine-rich, acidic linker and a carboxy-terminal end which is remarkably rich in serine, threonine and proline residues. By in situ hybridization to embryonic tissue sections and whole mount embryos, pax[zf-a] transcripts were found within restricted regions of the central nervous system and the eye. In contrast to the murine Pax genes recently characterized, pax[zf-a] is not expressed in the segmented mesoderm. At the 17 h stage, pax[zf-a] expression is detected in a defined area of the diencephalon which circumscribes the presumptive thalamus. This suggests an involvement of pax[zf-a] in pattern formation in the rostral brain. The pax[zf-a] gene is also expressed throughout the hindbrain and spinal cord. This hybridization signal is restricted to a longitudinal column which includes the basal plate. Later in development, at 36 h post-fertilization, pax[zf-a] transcripts are no longer restricted to a specific region of the diencephalon, but are distributed over the entire developing brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The DNA binding site of HMG1 protein is composed of two similar segments (HMG boxes), both of which have counterparts in other eukaryotic regulatory proteins.

The mammalian nuclear protein HMG1 contains two segments that show a high sequence similarity to each other. Each of the segments, produced separately from the rest of the protein in Escherichia coli, binds to DNA with high specificity: four-way junction DNA of various sequences is bound efficiently, but linear duplex DNA is not. Both isolated segments exists as dimers in solution, as shown by gel filtration and chemical crosslinking experiments. HMG1-like proteins are present in yeast and in protozoa: they consist of a single repetition of a motif extremely similar to the DNA binding segments of HMG1, suggesting that they too might form dimers with structural specificity in DNA binding. Sequences with recognizable similarity to either of the two DNA binding segments of HMG1, called HMG boxes, also occur in a few eukaryotic regulatory proteins. However, these proteins are reported to bind to specific sequences, suggesting that the HMG box of proteins distantly related to HMG1 might differ significantly from the HMG box of HMG1-like proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two regulatory proteins that bind to the basic transcription element (BTE), a GC box sequence in the promoter region of the rat P-4501A1 gene.

The cDNAs for two DNA binding proteins of BTE, a GC box sequence in the promoter region of the P-450IA1(CYP1A1) gene, have been isolated from a rat liver cDNA library by using the BTE sequence as a binding probe. While one is for the rat equivalent to human Sp1, the other encodes a primary structure of 244 amino acids, a novel DNA binding protein designated BTEB. Both proteins contain a zinc finger domain of Cys-Cys/His-His motif that is repeated three times with sequence similarity of 72% to each other, otherwise they share little or no similarity. The function of BTEB was analysed by transfection of plasmids expressing BTEB and/or Sp1 with appropriate reporter plasmids into a monkey cell line CV-1 and compared with Sp1. BTEB and Sp1 activated the expression of genes with repeated GC box sequences in promoters such as the simian virus 40 early promoter and the human immunodeficiency virus-1 long terminal repeat promoter. In contrast, BTEB repressed the activity of a promoter containing BTE, a single GC box of the CYP1A1 gene that is stimulated by Sp1. When the BTE sequence was repeated five times, however, BTEB turned out to be an activator of the promoter. RNA blot analysis showed that mRNAs for BTEB and Sp1 were expressed in all tissues tested, but their concentrations varied independently in tissues. The former mRNA was rich in the brain, kidney, lung and testis, while the latter was relatively abundant in the thymus and spleen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

CCAAT box binding protein NF-Y facilitates in vivo recruitment of upstream DNA binding transcription factors.

NF-Y binds a CCAAT motif found in many eukaryotic polymerase II-dependent promoters. In the HLA-DRA promoter it has been demonstrated that stereo-specific alignment between this motif and the upstream elements X1 and X2 is required for activation. To study the underlying mechanism for this requirement, a panel of transfected cell lines that maintained integrated, wild-type and mutant promoters were analyzed by in vivo genomic footprinting. Cell lines harboring a mutated CCAAT element exhibited a loss of interactions at the CCAAT site, as expected, and no transcriptional activity. Most importantly, mutation of the CCAAT sequence nearly abolished in vivo binding at the X1 and X2 sites, while mutations of X1 and X2 had little effect on CCAAT box binding. However, X1 and X2 binding was interdependent. In vitro, X1 binding activities are known to be stabilized by NF-Y binding. Interaction between NF-Y and X box binding proteins was demonstrated by reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation in the absence of DNA and co-affinity purification in the presence of DNA. Collectively, these studies indicate that occupancy of the CCAAT element represents an early event affecting other protein-DNA interactions and suggest that NF-Y stabilizes and interacts with X box factors to mediate this function. These findings may represent a common theme among promoters containing a CCAAT element.

Antiporters↗

Characterization of adjacent E-box and nuclear factor 1-like DNA binding sequence in the human CYP1A2 promoter.

To better understand the molecular mechanisms of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) regulation, we have characterized a region of the promoter (+3 to -176) that contains a single E-box and an adjacent nuclear factor 1 (NF1)-like DNA binding site. The E-box was shown to specifically bind nuclear proteins that were recognized by antibodies against upstream stimulatory factor (USF) 1 and 2. Comparison of NF1 binding proteins in HepG2 cells and primary cultures of rat hepatocytes revealed different patterns of DNA-protein complexes, all of which were recognized by a general NF1 antibody. Mutations of the E-box resulted in substantial reduction of promoter activity in either primary hepatocytes or HepG2 cells regardless of the presence in the reporter constructs of other CYP1A2 regulatory elements, such as the hepatic nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1) binding site. In contrast, reporter gene activity of the promoter construct harboring the mutated NF1-like binding site was affected by upstream sequences when transfected into HepG2 cells, but not in primary hepatocytes. We conclude that both USF proteins and different isoforms of NF1 contribute to the constitutive expression of CYP1A2.

CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins↗

Activation of bone sialoprotein gene transcription by flavonoids is mediated through an inverted CCAAT box in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a major noncollagenous protein of the mineralized bone extracellular matrix that has been implicated in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite. Recent studies have shown that BSP is also expressed by osteotropic cancers suggesting BSP might play a role in the pathogenesis of bone metastases. The present study investigates regulation of BSP transcription in rat osteosarcoma ROS 17/2.8 cells by flavonoids: genistein (an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases), daidzein (an inactive compound of genistein), flavone, and flavanone. Genistein, daidzein, and flavone (50 microM) increased steady state levels of BSP mRNA about 1.7-fold at 12 h. From transient transfection assays using various sized BSP promoter-luciferase constructs, genistein increased luciferase activities within 12 h. Constructs including the promoter sequence nucleotides (nts) -116 to -43 (pLUC3) were found to enhance transcriptional activity approximately 2.6-fold in ROS 17/2.8 cells treated with genistein (50 microM). Daidzein, flavone, and flavanone (50 microM) also increased luciferase activities. In contrast, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A and lavendustin A, which do not have a flavonoid structure, did not stimulate BSP transcription. Transcriptional stimulation by genistein was almost completely abrogated in a construct that included 2 bp mutations in the inverted CCAAT box. A monoclonal antibody against NF-YA, a CCAAT box-binding transcription factor, inhibited formation of DNA-NF-Y protein complex in gel shift assays formed by nuclear extracts of ROS 17/2.8 cells. These data suggest that the inverted CCAAT box is required for flavonoid-induced BSP expression and that the stimulatory action is dependent on the flavone structure and does not involve an inhibitory action on protein tyrosine kinase.

Animals↗

Bilaterally symmetrical rhopalial nervous system of the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora.

Cubomedusae, or box jellyfish, have the most elaborate visual system of all cnidarians. They have 24 eyes of four morphological types, distributed on four sensory structures called rhopalia. Box jellyfish also display complex, probably visually guided behaviors such as obstacle avoidance and fast directional swimming. Here we describe the strikingly complex and partially bilaterally symmetrical nervous system found in each rhopalium of the box jellyfish, Tripedalia cystophora, and present the rhopalial neuroanatomy in an atlas-like series of drawings. Discrete populations of neurons and commissures connecting the left and the right side along with two populations of nonneuronal cells were visualized using several different histochemical staining techniques and electron microscopy. The number of rhopalial nerve cells and their overall arrangement indicates that visual processing and integration at least partly happen within the rhopalia. The larger of the two nonneuronal cell populations comprises approximately 2,000 likely undifferentiated cells and may support a rapid cell turnover in the rhopalial nervous system.

Animals↗

Distal enhancer of the mouse FGF-4 gene and its human counterpart exhibit differential activity: critical role of a GT box.

Previous studies have shown that there is a strict requirement for fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) during mammalian embryogenesis, and that FGF-4 expression in embryonic stem (ES) cells and embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells are controlled by a powerful downstream distal enhancer. More recently, mouse ES cells were shown to express significantly more FGF-4 mRNA than human ES cells. In the work reported here, we demonstrate that mouse EC cells also express far more FGF-4 mRNA than human EC cells. Using a panel of FGF-4 promoter/reporter gene constructs, we demonstrate that the enhancer of the mouse FGF-4 gene is approximately tenfold more active than its human counterpart. Moreover, we demonstrate that the critical difference between the mouse and the human FGF-4 enhancer is a 4 bp difference in the sequence of an essential GT box. Importantly, we demonstrate that changing 4 bp in the human enhancer to match the sequence of the mouse GT box elevates the activity of the human FGF-4 enhancer to the same level as that of the mouse enhancer. We extended these studies by examining the roles of Sp1 and Sp3 in FGF-4 expression. Although we demonstrate that Sp3, but not Sp1, can activate the FGF-4 promoter when artificially tethered to the FGF-4 enhancer, we show that Sp3 is not essential for expression of FGF-4 mRNA in mouse ES cells. Finally, our studies with human EC cells suggest that the factor responsible for mediating the effect of the mouse GT box is unlikely to be Sp1 or Sp3, and this factor is either not expressed in human EC cells or it is not sufficiently active in these cells.

Animals↗