Functional characterization of the rat gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase promoter that is expressed in transformed rat liver epithelial cells

In the rat the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) gene codes for at least four different messenger RNAs (mRNA I to mRNA IV) which differ only in their 5' untranslated regions and are transcribed from a single copy gene in a tissue-specific manner. In the liver GGT expression is up-regulated in transformed cells. To understand the induction mechanisms of GGT activity by transformation, we previously cloned the 5' region of the rat GGT gene which contains the 5' untranslated leader sequence for mRNA I. In the present study, using transfection and reporter gene assays, I have demonstrated that (1) the sequence from positions -369 to +226 drives a relatively strong promoter activity in C5 and AKG cell lines, transformed rat liver epithelial cells, but a very weak one in RLE-228 cells, a normal rat liver epithelial cell line; and (2) removal of the region between -418 and -369 increases CAT activity more than 10-fold in RLE-228, C5 and AKG cells, and the DNA fragment spanning nucleotides -761 to -292 significantly reduces CAT activity driven by the adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APRT) promoter in RLE-228 cells.     

Regulation of polyamine biosynthesis in normal and transformed hamster cells in culture

Several aspects of polyamine biosynthesis were compared in low-passage hamster embryo fibroblasts and transformed hamster fibroblasts. Earlier studies had demonstrated a larger and longer-lasting induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity in transformed cells than in hamster embryo fibroblasts. The increases in intracellular polyamine concentrations after serum stimulation were much greater in chemically transformed HE68BP cells than in normal hamster fibroblasts. Treatment of confluent cultures with the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, greatly potentiated ornithine decarboxylase induction by fresh medium in HE68BP cells, but not in hamster fibroblasts. A similar synergistic effect was observed when transformed cells, but not normal cells, were treated with the combination of insulin and promoter. HE68BP cells were capable of growth in medium containing serum concentrations as low as 0.5%, whereas only concentrations of 5% or more supported the growth of hamster embryo fibroblasts. Low serum concentrations induced ornithine decarboxylase in HE68BP cells but not in normal cells, and a given serum concentration always produced a greater induction of ornithine decarboxylase in transformed than in normal cells.Another enzyme involved in polyamine synthesis, $\text{S-}\text{adenosyl-}\text{L}\text{-methionine}$ decarboxylase was induced in normal and transformed cells by serum-containing medium or tetradecanoylphorbol acetate, but in contrast to ornithine decarboxylase, no synergistic effect was seen in transformed cells exposed to the combination of fresh medium and the tumor promoter. A macromolecular inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase was readily detected in hamster fibroblast cultures treated with high concentrations of putrescine, but little or none of this inhibitor was found in HE68BP cultures. In both cell types, however, serum induction of ornithine decarboxylase was inhibited under conditions of excess putrescine.The results demonstrate several differences between normal and transformed hamster cells in the regulation of polyamine synthesis.     

马立克氏病病毒pp38基因和1.8kb转录子之间双向启动子的特性研究

从马立克氏病病毒(MDV)基因组DNA复制原点区某一点,将介于MDVpp38基因和1 8kb转录子之间的双向启动子分割成两个单方向的启动子。以pp38为报告基因,pUC18质粒为载体,构建了含不同方向完整启动子序列的pProfpp38和pProrpp38质粒,以及含分割后单方向启动子序列的pdProfpp38和pdProrpp38质粒。4种质粒分别转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(Chickenembryofibroblast,CEF)后,均能检测到pp38基因的表达。进一步以氯霉素乙酰转移酶(Chloramphenicolacetyltransferase,CAT)为报告基因,构建了含不同方向完整双向启动子的pProfCAT和pProrCAT质粒,以及含分割后单方向启动子序列的pdProfCAT和pdProrCAT质粒。通过转染试验,定量分析了完整启动子和分割后启动子在两个方向上的启动活性。实验结果表明,分割后的启动子在两个方向上的启动活性均比相应方向上完整启动子的活性低,其中1 8kb转录子方向上的活性下降了4 1倍