AchR亚基基因启动子与分化/未分化肌细胞核因子的相互作用分析

采用凝胶阻滞实验比较分析了鸡烟碱样乙酰胆碱受体（ＡＣｈＲ）亚基基因－２７５／＋３６片段与分化／未分化肌细胞核抽提物的相互作用．发现未分化肌细胞核内存在两种直接识别ＡＣｈＲ启动子的结合活性,其结合反应不能被ＡＣｈＲα亚基基因增强子（含Ｅ盒子）竞争阻断,揭示此结合活性与ＭｙｏＤ家族无关,并表现为基因特异性结合;两种结合活性中一种结合活性既存在于未分化细胞,也存在于分化肌细胞,另一种结合活性只存在于未分化肌细胞．存在于未分化肌细胞、特异识别基因的结合活性不同于ＭｙｏＤ家族,也不同于已发现的Ｉｄ和Ｉ－ｍｆ（两者不能直接结合ＤＮＡ）,可能与基因在未分化肌细胞中表达的负调控有关．     

A novel promoter sequence is involved in the oxidative stress-induced expression of the adult T-cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF)/human thioredoxin (Trx) gene.

Adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF) is a human thioredoxin (Trx) and is a disulfide reducing protein with various biological functions. We found that expression of the ADF/Trx gene was increased by oxidative agents such as hydrogen peroxide, diamide and menadione in Jurkat cells. Analysis using a CAT expression vector plasmid under the control of the ADF/Trx gene promoter revealed that CAT gene expression in Jurkat cells was increased after exposure to oxidative agents. A series of deletion analyses showed that a region from -976 to -890 of the 5' flanking sequence was required for enhancement of ADF/Trx promoter activity against the oxidative agents. Gel mobility shift assay revealed the specific DNA binding activities to the sequences from -953 to -930 in the nuclear extracts from the Jurkat cells. The sequences in this region showed no homology with any known consensus sequences for DNA binding factors. It is suggested that ADF/Trx gene expression is enhanced through a novel cis-acting regulatory element responsive for the oxidative stress and a new factor(s) is involved in this oxidative stress responsive element.     

Tissue specific trans-acting factor interaction with proximal rat prolactin gene promoter sequences.

Using an exonuclease III protection assay, strong, reversible and tissue-specific binding of GH3 cell nuclear factors to proximal regions of the rat prolactin (rPrl) promoter (-31 to -77) has been detected. A second less prominent region of factor binding, that may have a correlate in HeLa cell extracts, was detected in the region (-155 to -180). The binding is eliminated in the presence of excess unlabelled rPrl promoter sequences (-423 to +38), excess unlabelled distal rPrl 5'-flanking sequences (-1960 to -1260) and SV40-enhancer/promoter sequences; it is largely unaffected by growth hormone (rGH) promoter and RSV-LTR sequences. A plasmid containing the proximal rPrl promoter sequences (-75 to +38) was also shown to be an avid inhibitor, at low concentrations, of rPrl promoter driven chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene expression in transient cotransfection competition studies; under these assay conditions distal rPrl 5'-flanking sequences and RSV and rGH promoter plasmids do not compete. The results emphasize the critical importance of proximal rPrl promoter sequences for prolactin gene expression in GH3 cells but recognize the related functional potential of more distal sequences.