The metal-binding properties of DREAM: evidence for calcium-mediated changes in DREAM structure.

DREAM, an EF-hand protein, associates with and modulates the activity of presenilins and Kv4 potassium channels in neural and cardiac tissues and represses prodynorphin and c-fos gene expression by binding to DNA response elements in these genes. Information concerning the metal-binding properties of DREAM and the consequences of metal binding on protein structure are important in understanding how this protein functions in cells. We now show that DREAM binds 1 mol of calcium/mol of protein with relatively high affinity and another 3 mol of calcium with lower affinity. DREAM binds 1 mol of magnesium/mol of protein. DREAM, pre-loaded with 1 mol of calcium, binds 1 mol of magnesium, thus demonstrating that the magnesium-binding site is distinct from the high affinity calcium-binding site. Analysis of metal binding to mutant DREAM protein constructs localizes the high affinity calcium-binding site and the magnesium-binding site to EF-hands 3 or 4. Binding of calcium but not magnesium changes the conformation, stability, and alpha-helical content of DREAM. Calcium, but not magnesium, reduces the affinity of apo-DREAM for specific DNA response elements in the prodynorphin and c-fos genes. We conclude that DREAM binds calcium and magnesium and that calcium, but not magnesium, modulates DREAM structure and function.     

E2F-1- and E2Ftr-mediated apoptosis: the role of DREAM and HRK

E2F-1-deleted mutant, 'truncated E2F' (E2Ftr, E2F-1[1-375]), lacking the carboxy-terminal transactivation domain, was shown to be more potent at inducing cancer cell apoptosis than wild-type E2F-1 (wtE2F-1; full-length E2F-1). Mechanisms by which wtE2F-1 and E2Ftr induce apoptosis, however, are not fully elucidated. Our study demonstrates molecular effects of pro-apoptotic BH3-only Bcl-2 family member Harakiri (Hrk) in wtE2F-1- and E2Ftr-induced melanoma cell apoptosis. We found that Hrk mRNA and Harakiri (HRK) protein expression was highly up-regulated in melanoma cells in response to wtE2F-1 and E2Ftr overexpression. HRK up-regulation did not require the E2F-1 transactivation domain. In addition, Hrk gene up-regulation and HRK protein expression did not require p53 in cancer cells. Hrk knockdown by Hrk siRNA was associated with significantly reduced wtE2F-1- and E2Ftr-induced apoptosis. We also found that an upstream factor, 'downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator' (DREAM), may be involved in HRK-mediated apoptosis in response to wtE2F-1 and E2Ftr overexpression. DREAM expression levels increased following wtE2F-1 and E2Ftr overexpression. Western blotting detected increased DREAM primarily in dimeric form. The homodimerization of DREAM resulting from wtE2F-1 and E2Ftr overexpression may contribute to the decreased binding activity of DREAM to the 3'-untranslated region of the Hrk gene as shown by electromobility shift assay. Results showed wtE2F-1- and E2Ftr-induced apoptosis is partially mediated by HRK. HRK function is regulated in response to DREAM. Our findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms that regulate wtE2F-1- and E2Ftr-induced apoptosis and provide insights into the further evaluation of how E2Ftr-induced apoptosis may be used for therapeutic gain.     

人源性基因calsenilin/KChIP3/DREAM的单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

Calsenilin/KChIP3/DREAM, 是脑中高表达蛋白,最初发现是因其与presenilin 和钙离子结合而得名。作为转录因子抑制因子,该基因在细胞核内具有多种功能。该基因在钙离子作用下细胞核内常常与c-fos、prodynorphin等基因的启动子下游的特异性DRE位点相结合,调节这些基因的表达。另一方面,作为钾离子通道结合蛋白,该基因具有4种isoforms,其中KChIP1广泛存在于各种组织中而KChIP2只在心脏中特异表达,KChIP3和 KChIP4则在脑中显示较高的表达。4种基因在C-端结构非常相象,N-端则显示多样性。除此之外,和许多基因相似,calsenilin经PKC、CKI、PKA等激酶作用可产生多位点的磷酸化,其中主要位点Ser63的磷酸化可以阻止caspase-3对该基因的降解作用。另一方面,Calsenilin作为转录因子激动因子结合于维生素D和视黄酸效应因子启动子上游促进转录的进行。 到目前为止,Calsenilin/KChIP3/DREAM在细胞核内具有双重基因表达调控作用,即当结合于启动子上游时显示正调控而当结合在启动子下游时显示负调控。为了更加深入研究calsenilin的功能及寻找新的受其调控的基因,首先制备可特异性识别的单克隆抗体。利用RT-PCR 技术,从人脑中提取RNA扩增calsenilin全基因,克隆于pGEX-4T-2原核细胞表达载体中,经IPTG诱导表达、Gluthathion Sepharose 4B纯化得到GST-calsenilin/DREAM/KChIP3重组蛋白,并免疫小鼠。通过PEG细胞融合得到单克隆抗体。经细胞免疫染色及Western blotting检测显示说明本实验得到单克隆抗体可以用来进行细胞免疫染色及Western blotting等检测。该抗体的成功制备,为今后对calsenilin/DREAM/KChIP3调控基因表达的更深入研究提供了有效工具,也填补了国内尚无该基因单克隆抗体资源的空白。     

DREAM/Calsenilin/KChIP3:神经系统的多功能蛋白

新近发现的转录因子DREAM(downstreamregulatoryelementantagonistmodulator)可结合到基因(包括PPD、Hrk、cfos等)的DRE(downstreamregulatoryelement)位点,抑制基因转录。它是第一个已知的可以直接与DNA结合发挥转录抑制作用的Ca2 结合蛋白,为Ca2 调节基因表达除蛋白激酶/磷酸酶这条主要通路外提供了另一条通路。由于DREAM与另两个研究小组发现的蛋白calsenilin和KChIP3实为同一种物质,所以DREAM具有PS(presenilin)作用蛋白、Kv4通道调节蛋白和转录因子的多重功能特性。本文将就DREAM的分布、功能及其调控、DREAM与疼痛的关系作简要综述。     

CKLFSF1基因与CKLFSF2基因间存在的顺式作用元件

探讨趋化素样因子超家族成员 1,2基因 (CKLFSF1基因与CKLFSF2基因 )间的短序列对其下游基因表达的调控作用 .运用PCR技术扩增CKLFSF1基因与CKLFSF2基因间的序列 ,将此片段插入含有萤光素酶 (luciferase)报告基因载体上 .以磷酸钙介导基因转染技术 ,将重组质粒以及阴性和阳性对照组质粒转染到HeLa细胞 ,进行瞬时表达分析 .在pGL3 Basic质粒中的报告基因萤光素酶无表达 ,但将CKLFSF1与CKLFSF2基因间的序列插入到启动子上游或下游后 ,显著抑制其下游基因的表达 ,萤光素酶活性明显降低 .结果提示 ,CKLFSF1与CKLFSF2基因间的序列不具有启动子活性 ,但是该序列对其下游基因表达具有负调控作用