Adenovirus type 2 activates cell cycle-dependent genes that are a subset of those activated by serum.

We have studied a panel of 10 genes and cDNA sequences that are expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner in different types of cells from different species and that are inducible by different mitogens. These include five sequences (c-myc, 4F1, 2F1, 2A9, and KC-1) that are preferentially expressed in the early part of the G1 phase, three genes (ornithine decarboxylase, p53, and c-rasHa) preferentially expressed in middle or late G1, and two genes (thymidine kinase and histone H3) preferentially expressed in the S phase of the cell cycle. We have studied the expression of these genes in nonpermissive (tsAF8) and semipermissive (Swiss 3T3) cells infected with adenovirus type 2. Under the conditions of these experiments, adenovirus type 2 infection stimulates cellular DNA synthesis in both tsAF8 and 3T3 cells. However, four of the five early G1 genes (c-myc, 4F1, KC-1, and 2A9) and one of the late G1 genes (c-ras) are not induced by adenovirus infection, although they are strongly induced by serum. The other sequences (2F1, ornithine decarboxylase, p53, thymidine kinase, and histone H3) are activated by both adenovirus and serum. We conclude that the cell cycle-dependent genes activated by adenovirus 2 are a subset of the cell cycle-dependent genes activated by serum. The data suggest that the mechanisms by which serum and adenovirus induce cellular DNA synthesis are not identical.     

Cell cycle dependent genes inducible by different mitogens in cells from different species

Summary A number of genes and cDNA sequences (including at least four oncogenes) are known to be expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner, i.e. the levels of specific mRNAs vary with the phases of the cell cycle. In order to explore the significance of some of these sequences in the mitogenic response, we have investigated the expression of 8 cell cycle-dependent sequences (plus two control sequences, not expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner) under a variety of conditions. These conditions included cells of different types, from different species, stimulated to proliferate by different mitogens. The genes (or sequences) studied included five cDNA clones whose sequences are preferentially expressed in early G₁, i.e. two cDNA clones inducible by platelet-derived growth factor (JE-3 and KC-1), and three cDNA clones inducible by serum (2A9, 2F1, 4F1); and three oncogenes (c-myc, c-ras^Ha and p53) whose expression is known to be cell cycle-dependent. All of the tested genes, except 2A9, c-ras^Ha and the control genes, are expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by phytohemagglutinin and in serum-stimulated mouse and Syrian hamster fibroblasts. The inducibility of these genes by different mitogens in cells of different types and from different species strongly suggests that these genes play a role in cell cycle progression. This conclusion is further supported by the known structural and functional similarities between cell-cycle dependent genes, oncogenes and genes coding for cell-cycle related molecules.     

BAD detects coincidence of G2/M phase and growth factor deprivation to regulate apoptosis

BAD, a member of the Bcl-2 protein family, promotes mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Here, we report that BAD dissociates from 14-3-3zeta at each G2/M phase of proliferating lymphoid cells. The cell cycle-dependent dissociation of BAD was associated with phosphorylation at Ser-128, whereas mutant S128A-BAD, in which Ser-128 was converted to alanine, remained associated with 14-3-3zeta throughout the cell cycle. Although the cell cycle-dependent dissociation of BAD per se did not induce apoptosis, growth factor deprivation induced prompt apoptosis at the G2/M phase but not at the G1 phase. In cells expressing S128A-BAD, growth factor deprivation-induced apoptosis was markedly delayed and was accompanied by a delayed dephosphorylation of growth factor-dependent regulatory serine residues. These results indicate that BAD induces apoptosis upon detecting the coincidence of G2/M phase and growth factor deprivation.     

EGF-dependent growth inhibition in MDA-468 human breast cancer cells is characterized by late G1 arrest and altered gene expression.

The MDA-468 human breast cancer cell line displays the unusual phenomenon of growth inhibition in response to pharmacological concentrations of EGF. This study was initiated with the objective of elucidating the cellular mechanisms involved in EGF-induced growth inhibition. Following EGF treatment the percentage of MDA-468 cells in G1 phase increased, together with a concomitant depletion in S and G2/M phase populations, as revealed by flow cytometry of DNA content. The apparent G1 block in the cell cycle was confirmed by treating the cells with vinblastine. DNA synthesis was reduced to about 35% of that measured in control, untreated cells after 48 h of EGF treatment, as measured by the incorporation of [3H]thymidine. DNA synthesis returned to normal following the removal of EGF from the growth-arrested cells. In order to locate the EGF-induced event responsible for the G1 arrest more precisely, we examined the expression of certain cell cycle-dependent genes by Northern blot analysis. EGF treatment did not alter either the induction of the early G1 marker, c-myc, or the expression of the late G1 markers, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and thymidine kinase. However, EGF-treated cells revealed down regulation of p53 and histone 3.2 expression, which are expressed at the G1/S boundary and in S phase, respectively. These results indicate that EGF-induced growth inhibition in MDA-468 human breast cancer cells is characterized by a reversible cell cycle block at the G1/S boundary.     

Alterations of cell cycle kinetics and vimentin expression in TPA-treated, asynchronous MPC-11 mouse plasmacytoma cells

Vimentin expression throughout the cell cycle has been analyzed at the single-cell level in asynchronously growing MPC-11 cells using multiparameter flow cytometry. We have previously shown that these cells normally lack detectable amounts of intermediate filament proteins. In the presence of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), cell proliferation ceases and large quantities of the intermediate filament protein vimentin are synthesized and accumulate in most of the cells. In the present study, the short-term effect of TPA on distribution of cells within the cell cycle was a depletion in early S phase followed by a depletion in mid- and late S phase. In parallel, the G1-phase fraction increased significantly. In addition, a delay in progression through G2/M phase was observed. These data strongly suggest an inhibition of progression of cells through the cell cycle in G1 phase as the primary event on cell cycle kinetics elicited by TPA. Vimentin accumulation could be detected by flow cytometry as early as 2 h after TPA addition; at this time, the percentage of vimentin-positive cells was highest in G2/M phase. Prolonged TPA treatment induced vimentin accumulation in cells of all cell cycle phases. However, even at later times, the G1-phase population consisted of two subpopulations with low and high vimentin content, respectively. The fraction of cells which displayed a higher level of vimentin probably represents those G1-phase cells which previously had undergone cell division in the presence of TPA. Our data indicate that TPA-induced vimentin synthesis is regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner and is maximally induced in cells which have passed a putative cell cycle restriction point in G1 phase.     

Regulation of the cyclin D3 promoter by E2F1

We have previously demonstrated that ectopic expression of E2F1 is sufficient to drive quiescent cells into S phase and that E2F1 expression can contribute to oncogenic transformation. Key target genes in this process include master regulators of the cell cycle, such as cyclin E, which regulates G(1) progression, and cyclin A, which is required for the initiation of DNA synthesis. In the present work, we present novel evidence that a second G(1) cyclin, cyclin D3, is also potently activated by E2F1. First, an estrogen receptor-E2F1 fusion protein (ER-E2F1) potently activates the endogenous cyclin D3 mRNA upon treatment with 4-hydroxytamoxifen, which induces nuclear accumulation of the otherwise cytosolic fusion protein. Furthermore, trans-activation of cyclin D3 by ER-E2F1 occurs even in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and thus appears direct. Second, all of the growth-stimulatory members of the E2F family (E2F1, -2, and -3A) potently activate a cyclin D3 promoter reporter, whereas growth-restraining members of the family (E2F4, -5, and -6) have little effect. Third, recombinant E2F1 binds with high affinity to the cyclin D3 promoter in vitro. Fourth, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that endogenous E2F1 is associated with the cyclin D3 promoter in vivo. Finally, mapping experiments localize the essential E2F regulatory element of the cyclin D3 promoter to a noncanonical E2F site in the promoter between nucleotides -143 and -135 relative to the initiating methionine codon. We conclude that in addition to cyclins E and A, E2F family members can also activate one member of the D-type cyclins, further contributing to the ability of the stimulatory E2F family members to drive cellular proliferation.     

Genes adopt non‐optimal codon usage to generate cell cycle‐dependent oscillations in protein levels

The cell cycle is a temporal program that regulates DNA synthesis and cell division. When we compared the codon usage of cell cycle‐regulated genes with that of other genes, we discovered that there is a significant preference for non‐optimal codons. Moreover, genes encoding proteins that cycle at the protein level exhibit non‐optimal codon preferences. Remarkably, cell cycle‐regulated genes expressed in different phases display different codon preferences. Here, we show empirically that transfer RNA (tRNA) expression is indeed highest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, consistent with the non‐optimal codon usage of genes expressed at this time, and lowest toward the end of G1, reflecting the optimal codon usage of G1 genes. Accordingly, protein levels of human glycyl‐, threonyl‐, and glutamyl‐prolyl tRNA synthetases were found to oscillate, peaking in G2/M phase. In light of our findings, we propose that non‐optimal (wobbly) matching codons influence protein synthesis during the cell cycle. We describe a new mathematical model that shows how codon usage can give rise to cell‐cycle regulation. In summary, our data indicate that cells exploit wobbling to generate cell cycle‐dependent dynamics of proteins.     

Colony-stimulating factor 1 regulates CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase mRNA levels.

Growth factor regulation of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) metabolism during the G1 stage of the cell cycle was investigated in the colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1)-dependent murine macrophage cell-line BAC1.2F5. The transient removal of CSF-1 arrested the cells in G1. Incorporation of [3H]choline into PtdCho was stimulated significantly 1 h after growth factor addition to quiescent cells. Metabolic labeling experiments pointed to CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT) as the rate-controlling enzyme for PtdCho biosynthesis in BAC1.2F5 cells. The amount of CT mRNA increased 4-fold within 15 min of CSF-1 addition and remained elevated for 2 h. The rise in CT mRNA levels was accompanied by a 50% increase in total CT specific activity in cell extracts within 4 h after the addition of CSF-1. CSF-1-dependent elevation of CT mRNA content was neither attenuated nor superinduced by the inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide. The rate of CT mRNA turnover decreased in the presence of CSF-1 indicating that message stabilization was a key factor in determining the levels of CT mRNA. These data point to increased CT mRNA abundance as a component in growth factor-stimulated PtdCho synthesis.     

Molecular biology of the cell cycle

Genes and cDNA clones have been identified in animal cells that are cell cycle-regulated, i.e. they are preferentially expressed in a phase of the cell cycle. Some of these genes, including four oncogenes, are induced when G0 cells are stimulated to proliferate. Four approaches are described to identify the genes that regulate the transition of cells from a resting to a growing stage. The interrelationship among cell cycle-regulated genes, oncogenes, growth factors and receptors for growth factors points the way to a genetic dissection of cell cycle progression.     

Characterization of functionally active interleukin‐18/eGFP fusion protein expression during cell cycle phases in recombinant chicken DF1 Cells

The dependence of foreign gene expression on cell cycle phases in mammalian cells has been described. In this study, a DF1/chIL‐18a cell line that stably expresses the fusion protein chIL‐18 was constructed and the enhanced green fluorescence protein connected through a (G₄S)₃ linker sequence investigated the relationship between cell cycle phases and fusion protein production. DF1/chIL‐18a cells (1 × 10⁵) were inoculated in 60‐mm culture dishes containing 5 mL of media to achieve 50%–60% confluence and were cultured in the presence of the cycle‐specific inhibitors 10058‐F4, aphidicolin, and colchicine for 24 and 48 h. The percentage of cell density and mean fluorescence intensity in each cell cycle phase were assessed using flow cytometry. The inhibitors effectively arrested cell growth. The fusion protein production rate was higher in the S phase than in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. When cell cycle progression was blocked in the G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases by the addition of 10058‐F4, aphidicolin, and colchicine, respectively, the aphidicolin‐induced single cells showed higher fusion protein levels than did the 10058‐F4‐ or colchicine‐induced phase cells and the uninduced control cells. Although the cells did not proliferate after the drug additions, the amount of total fusion protein accumulated in aphidicolin‐treated cells was similar to that in the untreated cultures. Fusion protein is biologically active because it induces IFN‐γ production in splenocyte cultures of chicken. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 32:581–591, 2016