Increased cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase promoter function in theca cells isolated from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome involves nuclear factor-1

Cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase (CYP17) gene expression and androgen biosynthesis are persistently elevated in theca cells isolated from ovaries of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We previously reported that -235 to -109 bp of the CYP17 promoter confers increased CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells. In this report, additional deletion and mutational analyses of the CYP17 promoter were performed to identify the sequences that contribute to increased CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells. Results of these analyses established that augmented promoter function in PCOS theca cells results from preferentially increased basal regulation conferred by sequences between -188 and -147 bp of the CYP17 promoter. Scanning mutant analysis demonstrated that mutations within a 16-bp sequence, spanning -174 to -158 bp of the promoter, ablated increased basal CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells. EMSA analysis demonstrated that the NF-1 family member, NF-1C, bound this sequence. Cotransfection of several NF-1C isoforms expressed in normal and PCOS cells repressed CYP17 promoter function. NF-1C protein and DNA binding were reduced in PCOS theca cell nuclear extracts, as compared with normal. Another NF-1C site between -102 and -90 bp of the promoter was also identified. However, mutation of this site had no effect on differential promoter function in PCOS theca cells. These studies demonstrate that 1) augmented CYP17 promoter function in PCOS theca cells results from increased basal regulation, and 2) diminished NF-1C-dependent repression may be one mechanism underlying increased basal CYP17 promoter activity and altered gene expression in PCOS theca cells.     

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.     

The chimeric gene linked to glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism encodes a fused P-450 protein possessing aldosterone synthase activity.

Glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism (GSH) is one variety of primary aldosteronism with hypertension and is inherited in an autosomal dominant mode. A recent report has indicated that GSH is caused by a gene duplication arising from unequal crossing over between the two genes, CYP11B1 and CYP11B2, encoding P-450(11 beta) and P-450C18, respectively (Lifton et al. Nature (1992) 355, 262-265). The nucleotide sequence analysis in the present study has demonstrated that unequal crossing over in the chimeric gene formed by the gene duplication occurs within the region from the 3'-portion of exon 4 through the 5'-portion of intron 4 in Australian GSH patients. Namely, the chimeric gene encodes a fused P-450 protein consisting of the amino-terminal side of P-450(11 beta) (encoded by exons 1-4 of CYP11B1) and the carboxyl-terminal side of P-450C18 (encoded by exons 5-9 of CYP11B2). When a cDNA corresponding to the chimeric gene is transfected into COS-7 cells, the fused P-450 protein expressed in the mitochondria exhibits steroid 18-hydroxylase or aldosterone synthase activity. These results provide the molecular genetic basis for the characteristic biochemical phenotype of GSH patients.     

Characterization of a second gene product related to rabbit cytochrome P-450 1

A cDNA, p1-88, was cloned from a library constructed using rabbit liver mRNA. Sequence analysis indicates that p1-88 is highly similar (congruent to 95%) to the cDNA, p1-8, that encodes rabbit liver cytochrome P-450 1 and that had been isolated from the same library. The predicted amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by p1-88, P-450 IIC4, differs at 25 of 487 amino acids from that encoded by p1-8. P-450 IIC4 was synthesized in vitro using rabbit reticulocyte lysate primed with RNA transcribed from the coding sequence of p1-88 using a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase/promoter system. P-450 IIC4 reacts with two monoclonal antibodies that recognize P-450 1 and exhibits the same relative electrophoretic mobility as P-450 1. In contrast, the reactivity of a third monoclonal antibody recognizing P-450 1, 1F11, toward P-450 IIC4 synthesized in vitro is greatly diminished. The latter antibody extensively inhibits hepatic progesterone 21-hydroxylase activity and recognizes phenotypic differences among rabbits in the microsomal concentration of P-450 1. This difference in the immunoreactivity of P-450 IIC4 and P-450 1 with the 1F11 antibody suggests that P-450 IIC4 does not contribute significantly to hepatic progesterone 21-hydroxylase activity. S1 nuclease mapping demonstrates that the expression of mRNAs corresponding to p1-88 are expressed to equivalent extents in rabbits exhibiting high and low expression of mRNAs corresponding to p1-8. Thus, P-450 1 differs from the protein encoded by p1-88, in its regulation, immunoreactivity, and by inference its catalytic properties although the amino acid sequences of P-450 1 and P-450 IIC4 are highly similar (congruent to 95%).