Analysis of the Proenkephalin Second Messenger-Inducible Enhancer in Rat Striatal Cultures

Abstract: We have previously shown that in cell extracts from rat striatum, cyclic AMP response element (CRE) binding protein (CREB), rather than AP-1 proteins, preferentially interacts with the CRE-2 element of the proenkephalin second messenger-inducible enhancer, even under conditions in which AP-1 proteins are highly induced. Here we use primary striatal cultures to permit a more detailed analysis of CRE-2 function and protein binding in relevant neural cell types. By transfection we find that in primary striatal cultures, as in transformed cell lines, the CRE-1 and CRE-2 elements are required for significant induction by cyclic AMP. We report that cyclic AMP induction of the proenkephalin gene in striatal cultures is protein synthesis independent, excluding a role for newly synthesized proteins like c-Fos. We also show that cyclic AMP induces CREB phosphorylation and that phosphorylated CREB interacts strongly with CRE-2 and weakly with CRE-1. The predominant protein bound to CRE-1 is not CREB, however, and remains to be identified. Despite some prior predictions, we do not find a role for c-Fos in cyclic AMP regulation of proenkephalin gene expression in neurons.     

The Roles of CRE, TRE, and TRE-Adjacent S1 Nuclease Sensitive Element in the Regulation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Promoter Activity by Angiotensin II

Abstract: The cis elements mediating activation of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene by angiotensin II were examined by transfecting tyrosine hydroxylase promoter-luciferase constructs into cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. Angiotensin II-responsive elements are located within −54/+25-bp and −269/−55-bp promoter regions and were identified, respectively, as cyclic AMP (CRE)- and 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate responsive element (TRE)-like sequences. Unlike CRE, TRE also supports basal promoter activity. Mutations of TRE or CRE that reduced angiotensin II stimulation abolished in vitro binding of nuclear proteins to those elements, suggesting that proteins forming CRE- and TRE-inducible complexes may mediate angiotensin II stimulation. The TRE is adjacent to a dyad symmetry element. Those two sites form a common regulatory unit in which the dyad symmetry element acts as a repressor of the TRE site. Isolated dyad symmetry element did not bind nuclear proteins in vitro. In supercoiled DNA it exhibited S1 nuclease sensitivity and was recognized by a DNA cruciform-specific antibody consistent with the extrusion of a cruciform structure that overlaps with the TRE. A mutation that abolished formation of the cruciform correlated with a loss of repressor activity. We propose a novel model of tyrosine hydroxylase gene regulation in which functions of the TRE are modulated via structural transition in the adjacent DNA.     

AP-1与STAT5相互作用协同调节血管紧张素原基因表达

为研究AP-1和STAT5协同调节血管紧张素原基因表达的作用机制,用凝胶电泳迁移率改变分析（EMSA）和染色质免疫沉淀分析（ChIP assay）检测血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的AP-1和STAT5的DNA结合活性;用凝胶超迁移分析和免疫共沉淀方法观察AP-1和STAT5的相互作用. 结果显示,AngⅡ可分别促进AP-1和STAT5与血管紧张素原基因调控区顺式元件的结合以及二者之间的相互作用;核蛋白与含AP-1结合位点的寡核苷酸探针结合形成的复合物可与抗c-Jun抗体和抗STAT5抗体形成超迁移电泳区带;而用抗c-Jun抗体也可从STAT5 染色质免疫沉淀复合物洗脱液中检测到AP-1的存在. 而且,AP-1和STAT5的相互作用程度及其二者与DNA的结合活性与血管紧张素原表达活性具有一致关系,该效应可被JAK2特异抑制剂AG490所抑制. 上述结果提示,与顺式元件结合的AP-1和STAT5通过相互作用而形成四元复合物协同调节血管紧张素原基因的表达,JAK2对该过程具有诱导活化作用.