p53负调控前列腺癌细胞中PC-1基因的表达

在前列腺癌进展中发生的PC-1基因表达失调和p53基因突变,提示这两个事件之间可能存在的联系.用依托泊苷处理前列腺癌LNCaP细胞后,PC-1蛋白的表达受抑制;瞬时转染分析表明野生型p53负调控PC-1启动子的转录活性;缺失突变分析将PC-1基因启动子上受p53负调控的区域定位在翻译起始位点上游757 bp～323 bp之间.缺失PC-1启动子上的雄激素受体反应元件并没有消除p53对其转录活性的抑制作用;无论p53是否存在,组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂TSA处理LNCaP细胞后可以导致PC-1启动子转录活性升高.因此,p53和去乙酰化酶可以独立抑制PC-1启动子活性.这些研究结果表明,野生型p53负调控PC-1基因启动子的转录活性,而前列腺癌进展过程中p53突变可能和PC-1基因的表达失调有关.     

人同源盒基因NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞的诱导凋亡作用

构建人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体,研究其在前列腺癌细胞PC-3、LNCaP 中的表达及对细胞的促凋亡作用.以人前列腺癌细胞LNCaP细胞中的总RNA为模板,RT-PCR扩增NKX3.1基因全长编码片段,将NKX3.1 cDNA重组到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（+）中; 将pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1表达载体瞬时转染前列腺癌细胞PC-3和LNCaP 细胞,用RT-PCR和Western印迹检测NKX3.1 cDNA在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达;绘制细胞生长曲线,观察NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞增殖的抑制作用;用DNA/ladder和流式细胞术检测NKX3.1对前列腺癌细胞凋亡的影响,进一步用RT PCR检测凋亡相关基因caspase3、caspase8、caspase9、Apaf1、survivin和Bcl2表达的变化.人同源盒基因NKX3.1 cDNA真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1经酶切及测序鉴定正确. pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1转染PC-3和LNCaP细胞后,经RT-PCR和Western印迹证明能有效表达NKX3.1.生长曲线显示,前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA后细胞增殖受到抑制;前列腺癌细胞转染NKX3.1 cDNA 48 h后,DNA电泳呈现具有凋亡特征的DNA ladder;流式细胞术检测出现明显凋亡峰;RT-PCR检测凋亡相关基因.结果显示,caspase3、caspase8、caspase9基因表达明显增加,Bcl2基因表达明显减少.本研究成功构建了真核表达载体pcDNA3.1 NKX3.1, 转染PC3和LNCaP细胞后能有效表达,并对细胞具有诱导凋亡作用     

小鼠Lrp5基因启动子的克隆及功能分析

为分析小鼠LDL受体相关蛋白 5 (Lrp5 )基因启动子的结构与功能 ,采用DNA重组技术 ,构建了 7种含小鼠Lrp5基因启动子荧光素酶报告基因表达体系 ,分别为 :pGL3 10 3(- 10 3bp～ + 132bp) ,pGL3 30 3(- 30 3bp～ + 132bp) ,pGL3 4 99(- 499bp～ + 132bp) ,pGL3 70 8(- 70 8bp～ + 132bp) ,pGL3 90 9(- 90 9bp～ + 132bp) ,pGL3 10 34(- 10 34bp～ + 132bp ) ,pGL3 12 2 9(- 12 2 9bp～ + 132bp) .以pRL TK为内参照质粒 ,瞬时转染成骨细胞株 (U2OS )及非成骨细胞株 (COS 7) ,收集细胞测定荧光素酶相对表达活性 .7种荧光素酶表达质粒在 2种细胞中表达无显著差异 ,即在所分析的小鼠Lrp5基因的 136 1bp(- 12 2 9bp～ + 132bp)范围内 ,不存在成骨细胞特异的表达元件 ;而且 7种表达质粒在 2种细胞中呈现相似的变化趋势 ,pGL3 10 3表达活性最高 ,pGL3 12 2 9表达活性显著降低 .表明小鼠Lrp5基因转录所必需的基本启动子序列在 - 10 3bp～ + 1bp范围内 ,- 10 34bp～ - 12 2 9bp之间的 195bp片段内可能含有负调控元件 .     

人A4GNT基因5'调控区的结构和功能分析

为探索人α1,4-N-乙酰葡糖胺转移酶(α1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase,A4GNT)基因表达的调控机制,应用5'cDNA末端快速扩增法和引物延伸法确定了A4GNT基因的转录起始位点.在生物信息学分析的基础上,构建了系列5'缺失荧光素酶报告基因载体和定点突变载体.瞬时转染胃癌细胞MKN45和AGS.荧光素酶活性分析表明,A4GNT基因转录的核心启动子在-141bp～+116bp区域,该区域缺乏典型的TATA盒,但含有CCAAT盒、Sp1和ETS-1等转录因子潜在结合位点.突变分析显示,-136bp～-131bp的Sp1结合位点及-93bp～-89bp正向CCAAT序列对A4GNT启动子转录激活至关重要.电泳迁移率变动分析表明,这两个顺式作用元件能够与转录因子Sp1和NF-Y结合.另外,在-1464bp～-771bp区域可能含有与基因的特异性表达相关的调控元件.     

抑瘤基因NGX6启动子的克隆与功能鉴定

NGX6是一个结直肠癌候选抑瘤基因,其转录调控机制不明．采用生物信息学技术预测其启动子区,并构建NGX6启动子荧光素酶报告基因重组体pGL3/Enhancer/1126．荧光素酶活性检测结果表明该区域具有强启动子活性．应用PromoterInspector program,FistEF,CpGplot和MatInspector Professional软件分析发现,NGX6基因转录调控区为一个不含TATA盒,而含有CAAT盒的GC富集区．凝胶迁移阻滞实验确定NGX6基因启动子区域具有Sp1特异性结合位点,Sp1特异性阻断剂光神霉素(mithramycin A)能明显抑制NGX6启动子的活性和NGX6基因的表达;封闭内源性Sp1能下调NGX6基因mRNA表达水平．     

P53参与抑制PC-1基因转录的结构域分析

目的:分析P53分子参与抑制PC-1基因转录的结构域。方法:构建P53分子突变体;将前列腺癌LNCaP细胞瞬时转染野生型或突变型p53及含PC-1启动子的荧光素酶表达载体p4939,分析PC-1启动子的转录活性。结果:P53分子N端转录激活域及富含脯氨酸功能域突变体没有减弱对PC-1启动子的转录抑制作用,而特异性DNA结合域上175、273位突变体和C端339～346位氨基酸的缺失突变体都减弱了对PC-1启动子转录的抑制作用;另外P53分子第175和273位突变体在前列腺癌细胞中对野生型P53的转录抑制功能表现出显性负效应。结论:P53分子特异性DNA结合域和C端结构域参与对PC-1基因启动子的转录抑制,而P53突变体的显性负效应可能是PC-1在前列腺癌进展中表达失调的因素之一。     

与人PC-1同源的鼠PC-1基因的启动子的分子克隆和特性分析

为了鉴定鼠mPC-1基因表达的调控元件,克隆并分析了该基因的启动子.构建了一系列mPC-1基因启动子的截短序列.通过荧光素酶报道基因,分析了它们在前列腺癌细胞和其它细胞中的表达.结果表明,在AR阳性细胞系中,mPC-1基因启动子活性远远高于SV40和p61-PSA 启动子,mPC-1基因启动子 599 bp 至449bp 可能含有一个负调控元件; mPC-1 1.1 kb 启动子控制的表达主要在前列腺癌细胞系中; 雄激素可调控mPC-1 1.1kb 启动子表达.mPC-1 1.1kb 序列是一个有前列腺癌细胞特异性和较强的启动子,经过进一步的修饰有可能作为一种有用的前列腺癌基因治疗元件.     

小鼠Lrp5基因5′端调控区域的功能

为研究小鼠低密度脂蛋白(LDL)受体相关蛋白5(LRP5)基因5′端调控序列的功能,PCR扩增小鼠Lrp5基因翻译起始位点上游3041bp(-2909bp~+132bp)DNA序列.PCR产物定向克隆到pGL3-basic载体上,重组质粒命名为pGL3-2909.以pGL3-2909质粒为模板,以不同的引物扩增出不同长短的DNA片段,分别定向克隆到含小鼠Lrp5基因基本启动子并含有荧光素酶报道基因的pGL3-103载体上,构建了12种荧光素酶报告基因表达体系:pGL3-267,pGL3-513,pGL3-535,pGL3-560,pGL3-575,pGL3-623,pGL3-645,pGL3-719,pGL3-770,pGL3-1032,pGL3-1330,pGL3-1619.以pRL-TK为内参照质粒,瞬时转染COS-7细胞,48h后收集细胞测定荧光素酶相对表达活性,pGL3-575(-2909bp~-2334bp)活性是pGL3-513(-2909bp~-2396bp)的20%,pGL3-535(-2909bp~-2374bp)的活性是pGL3-513的44%,pGL3-575的活性是pGL3-560(-2909bp~-2349bp)的48%,均有显著性差异.结果表明,在-2396bp与-2374bp之间的22bp区域内以及-2349bp与-2334bp之间的15bp区域内存在负调控元件.软件分析表明,此区域含有IK2,LYF1及MZF1调控元件.     

小鼠Lrp5基因5′端调控区域的功能

为研究小鼠低密度脂蛋白(LDL)受体相关蛋白5(LRP5)基因5′端调控序列的功能,PCR扩增小鼠Lrp5基因翻译起始位点上游3041bp(-2909bp~ 132bp)DNA序列.PCR产物定向克隆到pGL3-basic载体上,重组质粒命名为pGL3-2909.以pGL3-2909质粒为模板,以不同的引物扩增出不同长短的DNA片段,分别定向克隆到含小鼠Lrp5基因基本启动子并含有荧光素酶报道基因的pGL3-103载体上,构建了12种荧光素酶报告基因表达体系:pGL3-267,pGL3-513,pGL3-535,pGL3-560,pGL3-575,pGL3-623,pGL3-645,pGL3-719,pGL3-770,pGL3-1032,pGL3-1330,pGL3-1619.以pRL-TK为内参照质粒,瞬时转染COS-7细胞,48h后收集细胞测定荧光素酶相对表达活性,pGL3-575(-2909bp~-2334bp)活性是pGL3-513(-2909bp~-2396bp)的20%,pGL3-535(-2909bp~-2374bp)的活性是pGL3-513的44%,pGL3-575的活性是pGL3-560(-2909bp~-2349bp)的48%,均有显著性差异.结果表明,在-2396bp与-2374bp之间的22bp区域内以及-2349bp与-2334bp之间的15bp区域内存在负调控元件.软件分析表明,此区域含有IK2,LYF1及MZF1调控元件.     

干扰素γ增强GH3细胞中人生长激素基因表达机制

为了研究干扰素γ(IFN γ)对大鼠垂体GH3细胞中人生长激素 (hGH)基因启动子活性的影响及其可能的作用机制 ,采用荧光素酶报告基因方法 ,将含hGH基因启动子 (- 4 84～ 2bp)和荧光素酶报告基因的表达质粒pGL3 4 84 Luc单独转染或与垂体特异性核转录因子Pit 1蛋白表达质粒 (pcDNA Pit 1 cDNA)或Pit 1反义寡核苷酸 (Pit 1OND)共转染于大鼠垂体GH3细胞中 ,观察加入IFN γ及细胞内信号转导途径的抑制剂后GH3细胞中荧光素酶表达的变化 ,反映其对hGH启动子活性的影响 ;将含不同长度hGH基因启动子序列的荧光素酶表达质粒pGL3 3 80 Luc(- 3 80～ 2bp)、pGL3 2 5 0 Luc(- 2 5 0～ 2bp)、pGL3 1 3 2 Luc(- 1 3 2～ 2bp)和 pGL3 6 6 Luc(- 6 6～2bp)分别转染GH3细胞 ,观察它们对IFN γ的反应 ,以寻找IFN γ影响hGH基因启动子活性的关键序列。结果表明 ,IFN γ (1 0 5u/L ,1 0 6u/L)均能促进大鼠垂体GH3细胞中荧光素酶的表达 ,最高达对照组的 1 3 1 % (P <0 .0 0 1 ) ;在胞内信号转导抑制剂中 ,只有丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 (MAPK)信号转导途径抑制剂PD980 5 9(4 0 μmol/L) ,能完全阻断IFN γ的促进作用 ;Pit 1蛋白过表达和表达被抑制对IFN γ的促进作用没有影响 ;含不同长度hGH基因启动子序列质粒中 ,只有 pGL3 3 8     

Up-regulation of NKX3.1 expression and inhibition of LNCaP cell proliferation induced by an inhibitory element decoy

NKX3.1 is an androgen-regulated prostate-specific homeobox gene that is thought to play an important role in prostate development and cancerogenesis. NKX3.1 acts as a tumor suppressor gene specifically in the prostate. Up-regulation of NKX3.1 gene offers a promising gene therapy for prostate cancer. The decoy strategy has been developed and is considered a useful tool for regulating gene expression and gene therapy. In our previous studies, we identified a 20 bp inhibitory element upstream of the NKX3.1 promoter.In this study, we focused on using the 20 bp inhibitory element decoy to block negative regulation of the NKX3.1 gene and to up-regulate NKX3.1 expression using synthetic double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides of the 20 bp inhibitory element. We found in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiment that the 20 bp inhibitory decoy presented competitive binding to a specific binding protein of the 20 bp inhibitory element in prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. In luciferase reporter gene assays, we found that the 20 bp inhibitory decoy could enhance NKX3.1 promoter activity, and RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that NKX3.1 expression was up-regulated effectively by the transfection with the 20 bp inhibitory decoy. Furthermore,cell proliferation was inhibited by up-regulated NKX3.1 expression induced by the 20 bp inhibitory decoy.     

Identification of Sp1-elements in the promoter region of human homeobox gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">NKX3.1</Emphasis>

NKX3.1 is a prostate-specific homeobox gene related strongly to prostate development and prostate cancer. However, little is known about the mechanism for regulation of NKX3.1 in prostate cancer. With RT-PCR and western blot, we found that NKX3.1 expression was enhanced by over-expression of Sp1 at both the mRNA and protein levels in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. To identify the Sp1-elements in the promoter region of NKX3.1, a 521 bp-promoter of human NKX3.1 gene containing three possible Sp1-elements was cloned into the upstream of the luciferase reporter gene in pGL₃-basic plasmid. With deletion mutation analysis, plasmid construction, EMSA and oligonucleotide decoy technique, two Sp1-elements which located between +29 to +43 and −60 to −46 of NKX3.1 gene were identified and proven to be functional elements. It will be important to further study on the functions and the regulatory mechanisms of Sp1 element in NKX3.1 gene expression.     

Identification of a positive Cis-element upstream of human NKX3.1 gene

NKX3.1 is a prostate-specific homeobox gene related to prostate development and prostate cancer. In this work, we aimed to identify precisely the functional cis-element in the 197 bp region （from -1032 to -836 bp） of the NKX3.1 promoter （from -1032 to ＋8 bp）, which was previously identified to present positive regulatory activity on NKX3.1 expression, by deletion mutagenesis analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA）. A 16 bp positive cis-element located between -920 and -905 bp upstream of the NKX3.1 gene was identified by deletion mutation analysis and proved to be a functional positive cis-element by EMSA. It will be important to further study the functions and regulatory mechanisms of this positive cis-element in NKX3.1 gene expression.     

NKX3.1 potentiates TNF-α/CHX-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through increasing caspase-3 expression and its activity

NKX3.1, a prostate-specific homeobox gene, plays an important role in prostate cancer and usually functions as tumor suppressor gene. Previously we have demonstrated that forced expression of NKX3.1 reduced cell growth and invasion in prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Presently, we investigated the effect of NKX3.1 on the sensitivity of the prostate cancer cells to apoptosis inducer tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cycloheximide (CHX). PC-3 cells were transfected with NKX3.1 expression plasmid (pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1) and LNCaP cells were transfected with siRNA expression plasmid (pRNAT-RNAi1) targeting NKX3.1. The cell morphology and apoptotic rate were analyzed by Hoechst 33342 staining and Flow Cytometry in absence or presence of TNF-α and CHX. The activity of caspase-3 was determined using DEVD-pNA as substrate. Simultaneously, the effect of NKX3.1 on caspase-3 expression was detected using RT-PCR and Western blot. The results showed that ectopic expression of NKX3.1 promoted TNF-α/CHX-induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells, whereas knockdown of NKX3.1 protected LNCaP cells from apoptosis induced by TNF-α/CHX. The pro-apoptosis activity of NKX3.1 might partially contribute to its elevation of caspase-3 expression and activity. Manipulating NKX3.1 expression should be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer.