Intron 1 sequences are required for pancreatic expression of the human proglucagon gene

The mammalian proglucagon gene is expressed in pancreatic islet A-cells, intestinal L-cells, and select neurons of the brain, where posttranslational processing results in the liberation of a unique profile of peptides. Despite the importance of proglucagon-derived peptides in human biology, little is known about the regulation of the human gene, as the rat gene has been the preferred model for understanding the regulation of proglucagon gene expression. Previously, we have shown that although the immediate promoter region of the rat proglucagon gene is sufficient for expression in pancreatic islet cells, the homologous human proglucagon promoter sequences are not sufficient. We have now used a comparative genomic approach to identify noncoding sequences near the human proglucagon gene that are conserved among mammals, and thus potentially are regulatory sequences. Our alignments identified three evolutionarily conserved noncoding regions (ECR), one is the immediate promoter region (ECR1), the second is about 5 kb 5' to the mRNA start site (ECR2), and the third is near the 3' end of the first intron (ECR3). Our in vitro transient transfection assays with reporter gene constructs that include the human ECR3 support expression in rodent islet cell lines. Complementary studies with transgenic mice possessing a reporter gene regulated by a human proglucagon gene promoter-intron 1 (including ECR3) sequences express the reporter gene in the pancreas, as well as the intestine and selected neurons. These studies suggest that conserved sequences within intron 1 of the human proglucagon gene are important for expression in the pancreas.     

Gene transfer, expression, and molecular cloning of the human transferrin receptor gene

We describe the molecular cloning of the human transferrin receptor gene by a gene transfer approach. Mouse Ltk- cells were cotransformed with the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene and total human DNA. Transformants expressing human transferrin receptor were isolated by selection on hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine (HAT) medium and fluorescence-activated cell sorting of HAT-resistant cells. Thirty-four kilobases of human DNA was isolated by screening a genomic library constructed from the DNA of a secondary transformant. Gene transfer of the cloned DNA established that 31 kb of DNA was sufficient to encode the receptor. A probe from the 5' end of the gene was used to isolate a cDNA clone with an insert of 4.9 kb. Hybridization of the cDNA to the cloned genomic DNA revealed a minimum of 12 exons. They extend over the entire 31 kb of expressing DNA and over 2 kb of adjacent 3' untranslated sequences that are not required for receptor expression in L cells.     

An Alu-mediated large deletion of the FUT2 gene in individuals with the ABO-Bombay phenotype

Recently, we have found an allelic deletion of the secretor alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase (FUT2) gene in individuals with the classical Bombay phenotype of the ABO system. The FUT2 gene consists of two exons separated by an intron that spans approximately 7 kb. The first exon is noncoding, whereas exon 2 contains the complete coding sequence. Since the 5' breakpoint of the deletion has previously been mapped to the single intron of FUT2, we have cloned the junction region of the deletion in a Bombay individual by cassette-mediated polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the region from the 3' untranslated region of FUT2 to the 3' breakpoint sequence has been amplified from a control individual. DNA sequence analysis of this region indicates that the 5' breakpoint is within a free left Alu monomer (FLAM-C) sequence that lies 1.3 kb downstream of exon 1, and that the 3' breakpoint is within a complete Alu element (AluSx) that is positioned 1.5 kb downstream of exon 2. The size of the deletion is estimated to be about 10 kb. There is a 25-bp sequence identity between the reference DNA sequences surrounding the 5' and 3' breakpoints. This demonstrates that an Alu-mediated large gene deletion generated by unequal crossover is responsible for secretor alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase deficiency in Indian Bombay individuals.     

Analysis of the mouse Scnn1a promoter in cortical collecting duct cells and in transgenic mice

We have isolated and characterised the promoter of the mouse Scnn1a (alpha ENaC) gene. Using transient transfections of serial deletion mutants into Scnn1a-expressing cells, we demonstrate that 1.56 kb of 5' upstream sequence is required for cell-specific expression and corticosteroid-mediated regulation. These 5' sequences are not sufficient to drive expression of a lacZ reporter gene or a rat Scnn1a cDNA in transgenic mice, where they failed to rescue Scnn1a deficiency.     

黑曲霉糖化酶cDNA的改造及其在酿酒酵母中的表达

应用PCR技术扩增黑曲霉糖化酶cDNA不含非编码区50bp的5’端740bp的序列与该cDNA3’端1400bp的序列连接,获得切除了5’端非编码的糖化酶cDNA。将改造后的cDNA插到质粒pMA91的酵母PGK基因的启动子和转录终止信号之间,构建了含黑曲霉糖化酶基因的表达载体pMAG17。用原生质体转化法将重组质粒pMAG17引入酿酒酵母GRF18。酿酒酵母GRF18转化子在淀粉平板上产生水解透明圈,表明糖化酶已在酵母中表达并分泌至培养基中。测定转化子的胞外酶活力及淀粉水解率。结果表明：改造后的糖化酶基     

The human transferrin gene: 5' region contains conserved sequences which match the control elements regulated by heavy metals, glucocorticoids and acute phase reaction

Transferrin is a major plasma protein that transports iron to proliferating cells throughout the body. A clone containing the 5' region of the human transferrin gene has been isolated and characterized. A 14 kb EcoRI fragment was identified that contained the first 8 exons of the transferrin gene and 3.6 kb of its 5' flanking region. Conserved sequences identical or homologous to regulatory elements responding to heavy metals, glucocorticoid receptor and a putative acute phase reaction signal were identified in the 5'flanking region and intron 1. Also, the regulatory region of the transferrin gene contains a 14-bp sequence which closely matches sequences found in the interleukin-2 and gamma-interferon genes. All three genes are expressed by T lymphocytes before proliferation. A secondary loop structure similar to that proposed for the ovotransferrin gene can be formed by sequences in the 5' untranslated region of the transferrin mRNA.     

Hemin, chelatable iron, and the regulation of transferrin receptor biosynthesis

We have examined the mechanism by which hemin regulates the expression of the human transferrin receptor. Previous work led to the suggestion that the regulatory signal is provided by heme (Ward J. H., Jordan, I., Kushner, J. P., and Kaplan, J. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 13235-13240). We demonstrated that hemin regulates the expression of the receptor via alterations in the rate of receptor biosynthesis. However, this effect can be completely abolished by addition of desferrioxamine, an intracellular iron chelator. Competition curves demonstrate that desferrioxamine and hemin affect the same intracellular iron pool. Since the chelator cannot remove iron from heme, we propose that hemin acts simply by delivering iron to a chelatable iron pool and that levels of chelatable iron provide the regulatory signal for expression of the transferrin receptor gene.