Constitutive activation of retinoic acid receptor beta2 promoter by orphan nuclear receptor TR2

The orphan nuclear receptor TR2 functions as a constitutive activator for the endogenous retinoic acid receptor beta2 (RAR(beta2)) gene expression in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells and for reporters driven by the RAR(beta2) promoter in COS-1 cells. The activation of RAR(beta2) by TR2 is mediated by the direct repeat-5 (DR5) element located in the RAR(beta2) promoter. Furthermore, cAMP exerts an enhancing effect on the activation of RAR(beta2) by TR2, which is mediated by the cAMP response element located in the 5'-flanking region of the DR5. The constitutive activation function-1 (AF-1) of TR2 is mapped to amino acid residues 10-30 in its N-terminal A segment. A direct molecular interaction occurs between CREMtau and TR2, detected by co-immunoprecipitation, which is mediated by the N-terminal AB segment of TR2. In gel mobility shift assays, TR2 competes with P19 nuclear factor binding to the RAR(beta2) promoter, and TR2 and CREMtau bind simultaneously to this DNA fragment. The role of TR2 in the early events of RA signaling process is discussed.     

Estrogen activation of the nuclear orphan receptor CAR (constitutive active receptor) in induction of the mouse Cyp2b10 gene

The nuclear orphan receptor CAR (constitutively active receptor or constitutive androstane receptor) can be activated in response to xenochemical exposure, such as activation by phenobarbital of a response element called NR1 found in the CYP2B gene. Here various steroids were screened for potential endogenous chemicals that may activate CAR, using the NR1 enhancer and Cyp2b10 induction in transfected HepG2 cell and/or in mouse primary hepatocytes as the experimental criteria. 17beta-Estradiol and estrone activated NR1, whereas estriol, estetrol, estradiol sulfate, and the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol did not. On the other hand, progesterone and androgens repressed NR1 activity in HepG2 cells, and the repressed NR1 activity was fully restored by estradiol. Moreover, estrogen treatment elicited nuclear accumulation of CAR in the mouse livers, as well as primary hepatocytes, and induced the endogenous Cyp2b10 gene. Ovariectomy did not affect either the basal or induced level of CAR in the nucleus of the female livers, while castration slightly increased the basal and greatly increased the induced levels in the liver nucleus of male mice. Thus, endogenous estrogen appears not to regulate CAR in female mice, whereas endogenous androgen may be the repressive factor in male mice. Estrogen at pharmacological levels is an effective activator of CAR in both female and male mice, suggesting a biological and/or toxicological role of this receptor in estrogen metabolism. In addition to mouse CAR, estrogens activated rat CAR, whereas human CAR did not respond well to the estrogens under the experimental conditions.     

A new mutation Rim3 resembling Re den is mapped close to retinoic acid receptor alpha (Rara) gene on mouse Chromosome 11

A new mouse mutation, recombination-induced mutation 3 (Rim3), arose spontaneously in our mouse facility. This mutation exhibits corneal opacity as well as abnormal skin and hair development resembling rex denuded (Re ^den ) and bareskin (Bsk). Large-scale linkage analysis with two kinds of intersubspecific backcrosses revealed that Rim3 is mapped to the distal portion of Chromosome (Chr) 11, in which Re ^den and Bsk have been located, and is very close to the retinoic acid receptor, alpha (Rara). The genes, keratin gene complex-1, acidic, gene 10, 12 (Krt1-10, 12), granulin (Grn), junctional plakoglobin (Jup) and Rara, all of which regulate growth and differentiation of epithelial cells, are genetically excluded as candidate genes for Rim3, but are clustered in the short segment on mouse Chr 11. Received: 3 July 1997 / Accepted: 26 August 1997     

Bisphenol A bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE.2H2O) induces orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 gene expression and increases steroidogenesis in mouse testicular Leydig cells

Bisphenol A bis (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE.2H(2)O) is a component of commercial liquid epoxy resins commonly used in the food-packing industry and in dental sealants. There is evidence that it has significant estrogenic activity. Nur77 plays a crucial role in the regulation of certain genes involved in LH-mediated steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells. It was previously demonstrated that Bisphenol A (BPA) stimulates Nur77 gene induction and steroidogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of BADGE.2H(2)O on Nur77 gene expression and steroidogenesis. Northern blot analysis showed that it increased the expression of Nur77 mRNA and protein, and transient transfection assays demonstrated that it increased the promoter activity and transactivation of Nur77. It also increased the expression of certain steroidogenic genes, such as StAR and 3 beta-HSD. Finally, over-expression of a dominant negative Nur77 cDNA via adenoviral infection reduced BADGE.2H(2)O-mediated progesterone biosynthesis. These results indicate that BADGE.2H(2)O disrupts testicular steroidogenesis by increasing Nur77 gene expression.     

Synthesis of 11C-labeled retinoic acid, [11C]ATRA,via an alkenylboron precursor by Pd(0)-mediated rapid C-[11C]methylation

Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds which include both natural dietary vitamin A (retinol) metabolites and active synthetic analogs. Both experimental and clinical studies have revealed that retinoids regulate a wide variety of essential biological processes. In this study, we synthesized ¹¹C-labeled all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the most potent biologically active metabolite of retinol and used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. The synthesis of ¹¹C-labeled ATRA was accomplished by a combination of rapid Pd(0)-mediated C-[¹¹C]methylation of the corresponding pinacol borate precursor prepared by 8 steps and hydrolysis. [¹¹C]ATRA will prove useful as a PET imaging agent, particularly for elucidating the improved therapeutic activity of ATRA (natural retinoid) for acute promyelocytic leukemia by comparing with the corresponding PET probe [¹¹C]Tamibarotene (artificial retinoid).     

The ectopically parting cells 1-2 (epc1-2) mutant exhibits an exaggerated response to abscisic acid

The ECTOPICALLY PARTING CELLS 1 (EPC1) gene encodes a putative retaining glycosyltransferase of the GT64 family, and epc1-1 mutant plants have a severely dwarfed phenotype. A new mutant allele of this gene, epc1-2, has been isolated. Reduced cell adhesion that has previously been reported for the epc1-1 mutant was not observed for either the epc1-1 or epc1-2 mutants grown in our conditions, suggesting that EPC1 does not affect cell adhesion but is involved in some other process affecting plant growth and development. It is shown that the epc1-2 mutant exhibits hypersensitivity to the phytohormone abscisic acid in germination and root elongation assays, however it shows an unaltered response to gibberellin, epi-brassinosteroid, auxin, or ethylene. An EPC1:YFP fusion protein is localized to small motile structures within the cytosol that are similar in size and number to the Golgi apparatus. Analysis of cell wall pectins revealed that levels of beta-(1,4)-galactan in the epc1-2 mutant are reduced by 50%, whilst other pectic polysaccharides (homogalacturonan, arabinan, and rhamnogalacturonan II) are unchanged.     

Increased expression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 gene in insulin receptor substrate-2(-/-) mouse liver

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2(-/-) mice develop diabetes because of insulin resistance in the liver and failure to undergo beta-cell hyperplasia. Here we show by DNA chip microarray analysis that expression of the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 gene, a downstream target of insulin, was paradoxically increased in 16-week-old IRS-2(-/-) mouse liver, where insulin-mediated intracellular signaling events were substantially attenuated. The expression of SREBP-1 downstream genes, such as the spot 14, ATP citrate-lyase, and fatty acid synthase genes, was also increased. Increased liver triglyceride content in IRS-2(-/-) mice assures the physiological importance of SREBP-1 gene induction. IRS-2(-/-) mice showed leptin resistance; low dose leptin administration, enough to reduce food intake and body weight in wild-type mice, failed to do so in IRS-2(-/-) mice. Interestingly, high dose leptin administration reduced SREBP-1 expression in IRS-2(-/-) mouse liver. Thus, IRS-2 gene disruption results in leptin resistance, causing an SREBP-1 gene induction, obesity, fatty liver, and diabetes.     

Characterization and developmental expression of AmphiNk2-2, an NK2 class homeobox gene from amphioxus (Phylum Chordata; Subphylum Cephalochordata)

 The genome of amphioxus includes AmphiNk2-2, the first gene of the NK2 homeobox class to be demonstrated in any invertebrate deuterostome. AmphiNk2-2 encodes a protein with a TN domain, homeodomain, and NK2-specific domain; on the basis of amino acid identities in these conserved regions, AmphiNk2-2 is a homolog of Drosophila vnd and vertebrate Nkx2–2. During amphioxus development, expression of Amph- iNk2-2 is first detected ventrally in the endoderm of late gastrulae. In neurulae, endodermal expression divides into three domains (the pharynx, midgut, and hindgut), and neural expression commences in two longitudinal bands of cells in the anterior neural tube. These neural tube cells occupy a ventrolateral position on either side of the cerebral vesicle (the probable homolog of the vertebrate diencephalic forebrain). The dynamic expression patterns of AmphiNkx2-2 suggest successive roles, first in regionalizing the endoderm and nervous system and later during differentiation of specific cell types in the gut (possibly peptide endocrine cells) and brain (possibly including axon outgrowth and guidance). Received: 24 November 1997 / Accepted: 2 February 1998     

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase 2 regulates agonist-independent Gq/11 signaling from the mouse cytomegalovirus GPCR M33

The mouse cytomegalovirus M33 protein is highly homologous to mammalian G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) yet functions in an agonist-independent manner to activate a number of classical GPCR signal transduction pathways. M33 is functionally similar to the human cytomegalovirus-encoded US28 GPCR in its ability to induce inositol phosphate accumulation, activate NF-kappaB, and promote smooth muscle cell migration. This ability to promote cellular migration suggests a role for viral GPCRs like M33 in viral dissemination in vivo, and accordingly, M33 is required for efficient murine cytomegalovirus replication in the mouse. Although previous studies have identified several M33-induced signaling pathways, little is known regarding the membrane-proximal events involved in signaling and regulation of this receptor. In this study, we used recombinant retroviruses to express M33 in wild-type and Galpha(q/11)(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts and show that M33 couples directly to the G(q/11) signaling pathway to induce high levels of total inositol phosphates in an agonist-independent manner. Our data also show that GRK2 is a potent regulator of M33-induced G(q/11) signaling through its ability to phosphorylate M33 and sequester Galpha(q/11) proteins. Taken together, the results from this study provide the first genetic evidence of a viral GPCR coupling to a specific G protein signaling pathway as well as identify the first viral GPCR to be regulated specifically by both the catalytic activity of the GRK2 kinase domain and the Galpha(q/11) binding activity of the GRK2 RH domain.