Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.6 (RNA polymerase)
34,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We constructed mercury resistance operon-luciferase (mer-lux) transcriptional fusion plasmids to evaluate in vivo gene expression rates of the mer structural gene promoter (PTPCAD) of transposon Tn21. In vivo gene expression kinetics corresponded well with those previously determined in vitro, yielding an apparent K0.5 for Hg(II)-stimulated induction by MerR of 9.3 x 10(-8) M with the same ultrasensitive threshold effect seen in vitro. We also used the mer-lux fusions to elucidate subtle variations in promoter activity brought about by altered superhelicity. Binding of inducer [Hg(II)] to the transcriptional activator MerR is known to result in DNA distortion and transcriptional activation of the mer operon; it has recently been demonstrated that this distortion is a consequence of MerR-Hg(II)-induced local DNA unwinding to facilitate RNA polymerase open complex formation at PTPCAD. Since negative supercoiling results in DNA unwinding similar to this MerR activation, we hypothesized that a global increase in plasmid supercoiling would facilitate MerR-mediated activation and compromise MerR-mediated repression, while removal of plasmid supercoils would compromise MerR's ability to induce transcription and facilitate its ability to repress transcription. Indeed, we found that increased negative supercoiling results in increased gene expression rates and decreased supercoiling results in reduced gene expression rates for the induced, repressed, and derepressed conditions of PTPCAD. Thus, luciferase transcriptional fusions can detect subtle variations in initial rates of gene expression in a real-time, nondestructive assay.
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PMID:A mer-lux transcriptional fusion for real-time examination of in vivo gene expression kinetics and promoter response to altered superhelicity. 133 70

We report the introduction of functional RNA molecules into yeast spheroplasts. Plasmids containing the firefly luciferase coding region were transcribed to yield RNAs suitable for introduction into yeast cells and direct assay of their translation products. The 5' noncoding regions of the RNAs were derived either from the 5' noncoding regions of firefly luciferase, poliovirus, or yeast virus-like-particle (VLP) L-A or M1 RNAs. Capped and non-capped mRNAs were made by T7 RNA polymerase-directed transcription and introduced into yeast spheroplasts. The peak time of luciferase transient expression from introduced RNAs was 2-4 h after their introduction. In contrast, transient expression of luciferase from a non-replicative, luciferase-encoding plasmid introduced into the cells was maximal at 16 h. For capped mRNAs, luciferase activity increased linearly with transcript amount for both yeast and human (HeLa) cells. Although non-capped luciferase mRNAs were expressed more efficiently following introduction into yeast than into HeLa cells, the 5' noncoding sequences from yeast double-stranded (ds)RNA VLP RNAs conferred no greater apparent cap-independence than non-VLP RNA sequences in this transient expression assay. The RNA transient expression system will allow the study of translation of capped and non-capped RNAs in yeast cells and of the replicative cycle of yeast virus-like RNA genomes.
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PMID:Direct introduction and transient expression of capped and non-capped RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 165 83

Human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a specific ligand for the lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 (LFA-1), plays an important role in leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. It is induced by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF-alpha, or IFN-gamma. However, little is known concerning the intracellular regulatory mechanisms which trigger ICAM-1 up-regulation. In order to study potential regulatory elements involved in ICAM-1 induction we have cloned the human ICAM-1 gene and 5 kb of its 5'-regulatory region. The sequence of the cDNA was found to be distributed over seven exons separated by six introns, whereby each of the five extracellular Ig-like domains of ICAM-1 is encoded by its own exon. The upstream sequence harbors a number of sequence motifs implicated in the regulation and expression of eukaryotic genes, including binding sites for the transcription factors SP-1, AP-1, and NF-kB. Primer extension and S1 nuclease analysis revealed two transcription initiation sites 319 bp and 41 bp upstream of the translation start site. Consensus TATA boxes were found at the expected positions about 25 bp upstream of both start sites. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed differential use of the two TATA boxes in A549 and HS913T cells. Both RNA seem to code for the same for of ICAM-1 protein. For regulation studies a 1.3-kb EcoRI/SalI fragment of the 5'-flanking region was used to promote transcription of a linked luciferase reporter gene in transient-transfection assays in A549 and HS913T cells. Treatment of A549 cells with IL-1 or TNF-alpha resulted in a two- or fourfold increase in luciferase activity. Furthermore, a sixfold induction could be achieved after treatment with the phorbol ester PMA. In contrast, agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels did not induce luciferase activity. Northern blot analysis was used to investigate the kinetics of ICAM-1 mRNA synthesis upon induction with TNF-alpha and PMA. These data suggest that the up-regulation of ICAM-1 by cytokines occurs at least partly at the transcriptional level. Deletion analysis of the 1.3-kb fragment of the 5'-flanking region revealed sequences responsible for promotion and inhibition of transcription. In particular, two functionally distinct regions have been characterized: a short fragment containing an NF-kB binding site has been shown to function as an activator, followed immediately downstream by a sequence acting as a silencer element. Therefore, ICAM-1 gene expression seems to be modulated by multiple cis-acting elements.
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PMID:Cloning of the human gene for intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and analysis of its 5'-regulatory region. Induction by cytokines and phorbol ester. 168 Sep 19

Expression systems based on the selective transcription of genes cloned behind a T7 promoter, by T7 RNA polymerase, display a non-negligible basal expression when the T7 RNA polymerase gene is present within the host organism before induction of the system. This is a problem, especially for cloning and controlled expression of genes toxic to the host organism. We have circumvented this problem by taking advantage of abortive T7 infection of E. coli (P1), in the course of which T7 RNA polymerase is synthesized but bacterial growth is not quantitatively impaired. We have tested this system with three reporter genes, the 6-phospho-beta-galactosidase gene of Staphylococcus aureus, the luciferase operon of Vibrio harveyi, and the rabbit beta-globin gene; we have found very low basal levels, while, upon T7 infection, transcription is at least as efficient as in other in vivo T7 RNA polymerase systems in use.
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PMID:T7 infection-dependent selective expression of cloned genes in P1-lysogenic Escherichia coli. 193 Jan 65

cDNA coding for the luciferase in the firefly Photinus pyralis was cloned using pcDV1 primer and Honjo linker containing SP6 RNA polymerase promoter. This enabled conditions to be established to produce mRNA, capped with m7 GpppG, in vitro and then translated to form light emitting protein. Full length recombinant luciferase produced by in vitro translation, was fully active, had the same isoelectric focusing point as the native enzyme and produced a similar, yellow emission. Removal of the coding sequence for the last 12 amino acids at the C terminus, containing the peroxisome signal peptide, by polymerase chain reaction resulted in greater than or equal to 99% loss in activity of the protein formed from mRNA in vitro. This has important implications for using this luciferase as an indicator or reporter gene in eukaryotic cells, and for identifying the active centre of the enzyme.
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PMID:Removal of twelve C-terminal amino acids from firefly luciferase abolishes activity. 224 47

We recently discovered an opposing initiator promoter (Inr) downstream of the sense promoter region of the eIF-2 alpha gene (Silverman, T., Noguchi, M., and Safer, B. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 9738-9742). By reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction analysis of G0 and activated (G1) T-lymphocyte RNAs, overlapping sense and antisense transcripts are now identified. Sense transcription of the eIF-2 alpha gene proceeds from left to right to generate alpha-mRNA; antisense transcription proceeds from right to left to generate RNA, having a sequence complementary to eIF-2 alpha mRNA. Upstream indicates a position 5' relative to the transcription start site. Using DNase I footprint analysis and EMSA, we have found a potential cis-regulatory sequence immediately upstream of the Inr which binds a 43-kDa protein. In addition to conferring protection against DNase I (+457 to +474), the factor also generates hypersensitive sites directly over the Inr (+447 to +457). Insertion of the Inr footprint region into a luciferase reporter gene construct increases expression 150-fold. While mutation of the Inr conserved sequence decreases luciferase activity by 50%, mutation of the 43-kDa factor binding site inhibits luciferase activity by 20%. Sense orientation of the Inr footprint region decreases activity by 80%. The 43-kDa Inr-associated binding protein may be involved in allowing access of RNA polymerase II transcription complexes ot the initiation site of this TATA-less gene. A model for the regulation of eIF-2 alpha expression involving the rapid degradation of dsRNA generated by the relative activities of the two overlapping and opposing promoters is proposed.
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PMID:Characterization of an antisense Inr element in the eIF-2 alpha gene. 752 81

EBNA 1 is the only antigen expressed in both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Burkitt's lymphoma cells. Previous studies showed that the mRNA of EBNA 1 in these two tumor tissues was initiated from a promoter located in the Bam HI F fragment (Fp) on the viral genome. Two regulatory elements located in the downstream Bam HI Q region include an EBNA 1 binding site and a positive regulatory region between the Fp and the EBNA1 binding site. This data strongly suggested that a cellular factor(s) may modulate the usage of the Fp. To locate the shortest responsible viral sequence, we constructed a series of luciferase gene and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene plasmids that contained various portions of the Bam HI F/Q region. Plasmid DNA was then introduced into cells to examine the promoter activity of each construct. By this method, we identified a 186-bp fragment within the Bam HI Q region that possessed the highest activity. This promoter was designated as Qp and found to be orientation-dependent and down-regulated by EBNA 1 in both the type I BL cells and human epithelial cells. Furthermore, RNase protection assay showed that a transcription initiation site was located at nucleotide 62,416 of the EBV genome. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis further confirmed that the transcript was initiated from the Qp, and not the Fp. Therefore, our data suggested that a novel promoter, Qp, located within the Bam HI Q existed for the EBNA 1 expression in the latently infected type 1 BL cells. The biological significance of the selection of the Qp needs further investigation.
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PMID:Identification of a novel promoter located within the Bam HI Q region of the Epstein-Barr virus genome for the EBNA 1 gene. 766 54

Pseudomonas putida P35X (NCIB 9869) metabolizes phenol and monomethylphenols via a chromosomally encoded meta-cleavage pathway. We have recently described a 13.4-kb fragment of the chromosome that codes for the first eight genes of the catabolic pathway and a divergently transcribed positive regulator, phhR. The eight structural genes lie in an operon, the phh operon, downstream of a -24 TGGC, -12 TTGC promoter sequence. Promoters of this class are recognized by RNA polymerase that utilizes the alternative sigma 54 factor encoded by rpoN (ntrA) and are positively regulated by activators of the NtrC family. In this study, we have identified the coding region for the 63-kDa PhhR gene product by nucleotide sequencing of a 2,040-bp region and polypeptide analysis. PhhR was found to have homology with the NtrC family of transcriptional activators, in particular with DmpR, the pVI150-encoded regulator of (methyl)phenol catabolism by Pseudomonas sp. strain CF600. By using a luciferase reporter system, PhhR alone was shown to be sufficient to activate transcription from the phh operon promoter in an RpoN+ background but not an RpoN- background. Luciferase reporter systems were also used to directly compare the aromatic effector profiles of PhhR and DmpR. Evidence that the difference in the growth substrate ranges of strains P35X and CF600 is due to the effector activation specificities of the regulators of these systems rather than the substrate specificities of the catabolic enzymes is presented.
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PMID:Aromatic effector activation of the NtrC-like transcriptional regulator PhhR limits the catabolic potential of the (methyl)phenol degradative pathway it controls. 788 4

A novel cytoplasmic gene expression system has been developed. This system differs from other expression systems in that it relies on the co-delivery of plasmid DNA and T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP) during transfection. The plasmid contains a T7 RNAP gene driven by the T7 promoter (T7 autogene) and a functional/reporter gene driven by another T7 promoter (T7T7/T7-gene construct). Once this DNA-enzyme complex is introduced into eukaryotic cells, the transcription of the T7 RNAP and the functional/reporter genes is initiated by the co-delivered T7 RNAP. The T7 RNAP, which is responsible for the initiation and maintenance of expression of both T7 and functional/reporter genes, is replenished by translation of newly synthesized T7 mRNA. This T7 system was designed in such a manner that the expression of the functional/reporter genes can occur in the cytoplasm and does not require any nuclear involvement. When transfected by either a pT7T7/T7Luc or a pT7T7/T7hGH plasmids with the cointroduced T7 RNAP, mouse L cells were found to express high levels of luciferase immediately after transfection, apparently due to the cytoplasmic gene expression; the expression of human growth hormone (hGH) could be sustained for at least 6 days. Both T7 and hGH mRNA were expressed by the cells transfected with pT7T7/T7hGH. These results suggest that this cytoplasmic expression system may be used for certain targets of somatic gene therapy.
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PMID:A self-initiating eukaryotic transient gene expression system based on contransfection of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase and DNA vectors containing a T7 autogene. 802 20

Previous studies suggested that GnRH gene transcripts in human tissues may be derived from an upstream transcriptional start site in addition to the well characterized hypothalamic start site. To resolve this issue we characterized the transcriptional start sites of the human GnRH gene in a human placental tumor cell line (JEG) and a human breast tumor cell line (MDA). Using primer extension and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, we identified a discrete upstream transcriptional start site 579 bases up-stream from the hypothalamic site in both JEG and MDA cell lines. The up-stream start site lacks the TATA and CAAT elements often present in RNA polymerase-II promoters, but contains the sequence GGTCTTGCT located 84 bases 5' to the up-stream start site similar to other genes that lack TATA/CAAT boxes. RT-PCR quantitation shows that the up-stream start site is the major transcriptional start site, representing 74% of the cytoplasmic transcripts in JEG cells and 67% in MDA cells. Supporting this observation, transfection assay using a human GnRH promoter/luciferase reporter gene construct containing only the up-stream transcription start site has a higher level of transcriptional activity than the human GnRH promoter/luciferase reporter construct containing only the down-stream start site. A high relative abundance (approximately 45%) of total GnRH mRNAs were also found in the nucleus of both cell lines, which did not appear to be a consequence of the nuclear/cytoplasmic fractionation procedure. To determine if this upstream start site was used in normal GnRH-expressing human tissues, we analyzed RNA from a variety of postmortem/surgical procedure tissue samples. RT-PCR analysis together with Southern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of GnRH mRNA in human pituitary, cerebral cortex, testes, ovary, and mammary gland for the first time as well as verified GnRH gene expression in hypothalamus and placenta. The up-stream transcriptional start site is used only in reproductive tissues, such as placenta, testes, ovary, and mammary gland, suggesting tissue-specific regulation at this site.
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PMID:Identification of a major up-stream transcription start site for the human progonadotropin-releasing hormone gene used in reproductive tissues and cell lines. 814 71


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