Evolutionary and Functional Analysis of the Key Pluripotency Factor Oct4 and Its Family Proteins

Oct4 is one of the key pluripotent factors essential for embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.Oct4 belongs to the POU domain family,which contains multiples genes with various ...     

Impact of Protein/Protein Interactions on Global Intermolecular Translocation Rates of the Transcription Factors Sox2 and Oct1 between DNA Cognate Sites Analyzed by z-Exchange NMR Spectroscopy

Oct1 and Sox2 synergistically regulate developmental genes by binding to adjacent sites within promoters. We have investigated the kinetics of global intermolecular translocation of Sox2 and Oct1 between cognate sites located on different DNA molecules by z-exchange NMR spectroscopy. In the Hoxb1 promoter, the Sox2 and Oct1 sites are immediately adjacent to one another, and the intermolecular translocation rates are too slow to be measured by z-exchange spectroscopy. By introducing a 3-bp insertion between the Sox2 and Oct1 sites to mimic the spacing in the FGF4 enhancer, the interprotein contact surface is reduced, and the translocation rates are increased. Interaction between Sox2 and the POU-specific domain (POU(S)) of Oct1 does not affect the translocation mechanism but modulates the rates. Translocation involves only jumping (dissociation and reassociation) for Sox2, but both jumping and direct intersegment transfer (no dissociation into free solution) for Oct1. The dissociation (k(off) ～1.5 s(-1)) and association (k(on) ～5.1 × 10(9) m(-1)s(-1)) rate constants for Sox2 are reduced 4-fold and increased 5-fold, respectively, in the presence of Oct1. k(off) (～3.5 s(-1)) for Oct1 is unaffected by Sox2, whereas k(on) (～1.3 × 10(9) m(-1)s(-1)) is increased ～13-fold. The direct intermolecular translocation rate (k(inter) ～1.8 × 10(4) m(-1)s(-1)) for the POU(S) domain of Oct1 is reduced 2-fold by Sox2, whereas that for the POU homeodomain (POU(HD)) of Oct1 (k(inter) ～ 1.7 × 10(4) m(-1)s(-1)) remains unaltered, consistent with the absence of contacts between Sox2 and POU(HD). The data suggest a model for the sequence of binding events involved in synergistic gene regulation by Sox2 and Oct1.     

Cloning and characterization of the rabbit POU5F1 gene.

The product of the POUSF1 gene, Oct4, plays an important role both in embryonic development and in the self-renewal and differentiation of totipotent cells. To understand the function of Oct4 in rabbit ES cells, we cloned and sequenced the rabbit POU5F1 gene, as well as the cDNA encoded by the gene. The Oct4 cDNA contains a 1083 bp ORF encoding a 360 aa protein and a 241 bp 3' UTR sequence. Oct4 mRNA was expressed at a high level in rabbit ES cells and was barely detectable in the adult spleen, kidney, brain and muscle tissues. The POU5F1 gene is approximately 6 kb in length and includes five exons and four introns. Gene organization is similar to that of the mouse, human and bovine orthologs. Sequencing of the gene revealed an 82% (mouse), 90% (human) and 89% (bovine) overall identity at the protein level. The rabbit POUSF1 gene was mapped to chromosome 12q1.1 by PCR amplification of DNA from two putative POU5F1-containing BAC clones, which were previously mapped to chromosome 12q1.1. The cloning of the rabbit POU5F1 gene will facilitate studies on its roles in rabbit embryogenesis and ES cells.     

Interplay between minor and major groove-binding transcription factors Sox2 and Oct1 in translocation on DNA studied by paramagnetic and diamagnetic NMR

The pathways whereby Sox2 scans DNA to locate its specific binding site are investigated by NMR in specific and nonspecific Sox2·DNA complexes and in a specific ternary complex with Oct1 on the Hoxb1 regulatory element. Direct transfer of Sox2 between nonspecific sites on different DNA molecules occurs without dissociation into free solution at a rate of ～10(6) M(-1) s(-1), whereas one-dimensional sliding proceeds with a diffusion constant of ≥0.1 μm(2)·s(-1). Translocation of Sox2 from one specific DNA site to another occurs via jumping, involving complete dissociation into free solution (k(d) ～5-6 s(-1)) followed by reassociation (k(a) ～5 × 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)). In the presence of Oct1 bound to an adjacent specific site, k(d) is reduced by more than 10-fold. Paramagnetic relaxation measurements, however, demonstrate that sparsely populated (<1%), transient states involving nonspecifically bound Sox2 in rapid exchange with specifically bound Sox2 are sampled in both binary Sox2·DNA- and ternary Oct1·Sox2·Hoxb1-DNA-specific complexes. Moreover, Sox2 modulates the mechanism of translocation of Oct1. Both Sox2 and the Oct1 POU(HD) domain are transiently released from the specific ternary complex by sliding to an adjacent nonspecific site, followed by direct transfer to another DNA molecule, whereas the Oct1 POU(S) domain is fixed to its specific site through direct interactions with Sox2. Intermolecular translocation of POU(HD) results in the formation of a bridged intermediate spanning two DNA molecules, enhancing the probability of complete intermolecular translocation of Oct1. By way of contrast, in the specific Oct1·DNA binary complex, POU(S) undergoes direct intermolecular translocation, whereas POU(HD) scans the DNA by sliding.     

猪POU1F1基因部分序列变异和同源性分析

对长白、杜洛克、约克夏、姜曲海、梅山和香猪等六个猪种的POU1F1基因第四、第五和第六外显子分别进行PCR扩增,并对含有第四、第六外显子的PCR产物和含有第五外显子的克隆产物进行测序。结果表明：六个猪种中,POU1F1基因的第四外显子存在碱基突变,为T→C。对该序列进行Nla Ⅲ 酶消化,产生两种不同的基因型(GG和HH);而第五和第六外显子则高度保守,未发现任何突变。将人POU1F1基因第四外显子、POU同源区核苷酸编码序列和氨基酸序列,分别与猪、小鼠、牛的POU1F1基因相应的核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列进行同源性比较,结果发现：人与猪、小鼠、牛的POU1F1基因第四外显子的核苷酸同源性分别高达93.9%、86.7%、92.1%,而由第四外显子编码的部分POU特异区的氨基酸序列则完全一致;人与猪、小鼠、牛POU同源区的核苷酸同源性分别为91.4%、85.1%、87.9%,氨基酸同源性分别为96.6%、94.8%、90.2%。这说明在哺乳动物中,其POU1F1蛋白的POU同源区和由第四外显子编码的POU特异区部分是高度保守的;猪可作为实验动物,建立人类相关疾病模型,为医学研究提供参考依据。