Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P23193 (transcription elongation factor)
739 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene predisposes affected individuals to VHL syndrome and is an early genetic event associated with sporadic renal cell carcinoma and CNS hemangioblastomas. The VHL protein (pVHL) has been shown to form a stable complex with elongin B and elongin C, two factors that stabilize and activate the transcription elongation factor elongin A. Here, Hs-CUL-2, a member of the recently identified multigene family, the cullins, is shown to specifically associate with the trimeric pVHL-elongin B-C (VBC) complex in vitro and in vivo. Nearly 70% of naturally occurring cancer-predisposing mutations of VHL disrupt this interaction. The pVHL-Hs-CUL-2 association is strictly dependent on the integrity of the trimeric VBC complex. Immunofluorescence studies show Hs-CUL-2 to be a cytosolic protein that can be translocated to the nucleus by pVHL. Recently it has been shown that a yeast Hs-CUL-2 homolog, Cdc53, is part of a ubiquitin protein ligase complex that targets cell cycle proteins for degradation by the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a null mutation of another Hs-cul-2 homolog, Ce-cul-1, results in hyperplasia in all tissues and is required for cell cycle exit. Hence, Hs-cul-2 may be required for VHL function and, therefore, may be a candidate human tumor-suppressor gene.
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PMID:The von Hippel-Lindau tumor-suppressor gene product forms a stable complex with human CUL-2, a member of the Cdc53 family of proteins. 912 64

We have previously shown (K. Kas et al, Nat. Genet., 15: 170-174, 1997) that the developmentally regulated zinc finger gene pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) is the target gene in 8q12 in pleomorphic adenomas of the salivary glands with t(3;8)(p21;q12) translocations. The t(3;8) results in promoter swapping between PLAG1 and the constitutively expressed gene for beta-catenin (CTNNB1), leading to activation of PLAG1 expression and reduced expression of CTNNB1. Here we have studied the expression of PLAG1 by Northern blot analysis in 47 primary benign and malignant human tumors with or without cytogenetic abnormalities of 8q12. Overexpression of PLAG1 was found in 23 tumors (49%). Thirteen of 17 pleomorphic adenomas with a normal karyotype and 5 of 10 with 12q13-15 abnormalities overexpressed PLAG1, which demonstrates that PLAG1 activation is a frequent event in adenomas irrespective of karyotype. In contrast, PLAG1 was overexpressed in only 2 of 11 malignant salivary gland tumors analyzed, which suggests that, at least in salivary gland tumors, PLAG1 activation preferentially occurs in benign tumors. PLAG1 over-expression was also found in three of nine mesenchymal tumors, i.e., in two uterine leiomyomas and one leiomyosarcoma. RNase protection, rapid amplification of 5'-cDNA ends (5'-RACE), and reverse transcription-PCR analyses of five adenomas with a normal karyotype revealed fusion transcripts in three tumors. Nucleotide sequence analysis of these showed that they contained fusions between PLAG1 and CTNNB1 (one case) or PLAG1 and a novel fusion partner gene, i.e., the gene encoding the transcription elongation factor SII (two cases). The fusions occurred in the 5' noncoding region of PLAG1, leading to exchange of regulatory control elements and, as a consequence, activation of PLAG1 gene expression. Because all of the cases had grossly normal karyotypes, the rearrangements must result from cryptic rearrangements. The results suggest that in addition to chromosomal translocations and cryptic rearrangements, PLAG1 may also be activated by mutations or indirect mechanisms. Our findings establish a conserved mechanism of PLAG1 activation in salivary gland tumors with and without 8q12 aberrations, which indicates that such activation is a frequent event in these tumors.
Cancer Res 1999 Feb 15
PMID:Conserved mechanism of PLAG1 activation in salivary gland tumors with and without chromosome 8q12 abnormalities: identification of SII as a new fusion partner gene. 1002 85

Flavopiridol (L86-8275, HMR1275) is a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor in clinical trials as a cancer therapy that has been recently shown to block human immunodeficiency virus Tat transactivation and viral replication through inhibition of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). Flavopiridol is the most potent P-TEFb inhibitor reported and the first Cdk inhibitor that is not competitive with ATP. We examined the ability of flavopiridol to inhibit P-TEFb (Cdk9/cyclin T1) phosphorylation of both RNA polymerase II and the large subunit of the 5, 6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) sensitivity-inducing factor and found that the IC(50) determined was directly related to the concentration of the enzyme. We concluded that the flavonoid associates with P-TEFb with 1:1 stoichiometry even at concentrations of enzyme in the low nanomolar range. These results indicate that the apparent lack of competition with ATP could be caused by a very tight binding of the drug. We developed a novel immobilized P-TEFb assay and demonstrated that the drug remains bound for minutes even in the presence of high salt. Flavopiridol remained bound in the presence of a 1000-fold excess of the commonly used inhibitor DRB, suggesting that the immobilized P-TEFb could be used in a simple screening assay that would allow the discovery or characterization of compounds with binding properties similar to flavopiridol. Finally, we compared the ability of flavopiridol and DRB to inhibit transcription in vivo using nuclear run-on assays and concluded that P-TEFb is required for transcription of most RNA polymerase II molecules in vivo.
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PMID:Flavopiridol inactivates P-TEFb and blocks most RNA polymerase II transcription in vivo. 1143 68

Flavopiridol, a cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor, can cause cell cycle arrest, induce apoptosis in cancer cells, and inhibit tumor cell growth in vivo. The present study investigated the in vitro radiosensitizing effect of flavopiridol and the underlying molecular mechanisms in a murine ovarian cancer cell line, OCA-I. Flavopiridol inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced cell radiosensitivity assessed by the clonogenic cell survival assay. A flavopiridol dose of 300 nM, given for 1 day, enhanced radiosensitivity by a factor of 2.1. Clonogenic cell survival after split-dose radiation showed that flavopiridol inhibited repair from radiation damage. In addition, flavopiridol treatment (300 nM, 1 day) resulted in decreased levels of Ku70 and Ku86 proteins that play a role in DNA repair processes, suggesting that DNA repair processes may have been disrupted by this agent. Flow cytometry analysis showed that flavopiridol (300 nM, 1 day) accumulated the cells in G(1) and G(2) phases, with a significant reduction in the S phase component. This cell cycle redistribution is likely another mechanism underlying flavopiridol-induced cell radiosensitivity. Flavopiridol down-regulated cyclin D1 and cyclin E protein levels and also inhibited phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, which is inconsistent with the observed cell cycle arrest. Among the cdks tested, cdk-9, the catalytic subunit of positive transcription elongation factor b, was significantly down-regulated by flavopiridol, suggesting that flavopiridol may modulate cellular transcription processes. Furthermore, flavopiridol on its own induced apoptosis in the OCA-I cells, whereas in combination with radiation, exerted no additional increase in apoptosis. Taken together, our data show that flavopiridol strongly augmented the response of ovarian carcinoma cells to radiation and that the underlying mechanisms included inhibition of sublethal DNA damage repair and cell cycle redistribution. At the molecular level, transcriptional regulation by flavopiridol may have been involved.
Cancer Res 2003 Jun 15
PMID:Flavopiridol, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, enhances radiosensitivity of ovarian carcinoma cells. 1281 Jun 57

The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) promotes tumor progression through activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. MMP-9 is a gelatinase secreted by both cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells, and it contributes to TNF-alpha-stimulated tumor invasion and metastasis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), the catalytic component of positive transcription elongation factor-b, phosphorylates serine 2 residues in the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II for productive transcription elongation and is up-regulated upon exposure to various stresses. This study investigated roles of CDK9 in TNF-alpha-stimulated MMP-9 expression in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. CDK9 activity was inhibited using three different strategies, including the CDK9 pharmacological inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB), a dominant-negative CDK9, and a CDK9-specific small interfering RNA. All three approaches reduced TNF-alpha-mediated accumulation of MMP-9 in the conditioned media as demonstrated by gelatin zymography. In contrast, transforming growth factor-beta1-induced accumulation of MMP-2 was unaffected by DRB. Expression of the MMP-9 gene was examined using reverse transcription real time PCR and using a transient transfection assay to evaluate MMP-9 promoter activity. DRB reduced the TNF-alpha-induced increase in MMP-9 mRNA levels but did not effect transforming growth factor-beta1-induced MMP-2 mRNA expression. Consistently DRB and dominant-negative CDK9 completely abrogated TNF-alpha-stimulated human MMP-9 promoter activity. TNF-alpha did not regulate expression or localization of CDK9 or its regulatory partner Cyclin T. However, TNF-alpha stimulated CDK9 binding to Cyclin T and MMP-9 gene occupancy by both CDK9 and the serine 2-phosphorylated form of RNA polymerase II. Our findings indicate that CDK9 mediates TNF-alpha-induced MMP-9 transcription. Disruption of TNF-alpha signaling using CDK9 inhibitors could serve as a potential therapeutic strategy against tumor invasion and metastasis.
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PMID:Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 is required for tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. 1552 90

To find new genes involved in esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis, we constructed custom cDNA arrays and used the arrays to compare gene expression profiles of 12 matched normal and malignant esophageal samples including seven superficial cancer tissues. The arrays represented nearly 4000 genes, including 1728 that were specifically selected based on pilot studies to find genes that were differentially expressed in esophageal cancers. Expression values for all genes were normalized for each sample and were compared in normal versus tumor tissues. There was a marked decrease in the levels of the transcriptional elongation factor A gene in all 12 of the squamous cell cancer samples compared to matched normal samples. Because the transcription elongation factor A gene has not been previously reported to be involved in cancer development, our results suggest that further investigation of its role in esophageal carcinogenesis is warranted.
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PMID:Differential expression of TCEAL1 in esophageal cancers by custom cDNA microarray analysis. 1577 40

Proteomics methods were used to characterize proteins that change their form or abundance in the nucleus of NRK49F rat kidney fibroblasts during prolonged hypoxia (1% O(2), 12 h). Of the 791 proteins that were monitored, about 20% showed detectable changes. The 51 most abundant proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. Changes in nuclear receptor transcription factors (THRalpha1, RORalpha4, HNF4alpha, NUR77), other transcription factors (GATA1, AP-2alpha, OCT1, ATF6alpha, ZFP161, ZNF354A, PDCD2), and transcription cofactors (PC4, PCAF, MTA1, TCEA1, JMY) are indicative of major, co-ordinated changes in transcription. Proteins involved in DNA repair/recombination, ribosomal RNA synthesis, RNA processing, nuclear transport, nuclear organization, protein translation, glycolysis, lipid metabolism, several protein kinases (PKCdelta, MAP3K4, GRK3), as well as proteins with no established functional role were also observed. The observed proteins suggest nuclear regulatory roles for proteins involved in cytosolic processes such as glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism, and roles in overall nuclear structure/organization for proteins previously associated with meiosis and/or spermatogenesis (synaptonemal complex proteins 1 and 2 (SYCP1, SYCP2), meiosis-specific nuclear structural protein 1 (MNS1), LMNC2, zinc finger protein 99 (ZFP99)). Proteins associated with cytoplasmic membrane functions (ACTN4, hyaluronan mediated motility receptor (RHAMM), VLDLR, GRK3) and/or endocytosis (DNM2) were also seen. For 30% of the identified proteins, new isoforms indicative of alternative transcription were detected (e.g., GATA1, ATF6alpha, MTA1, MLH1, MYO1C, UBF, SYCP2, EIF3S10, MAP3K4, ZFP99). Comparison with proteins involved in cell death, cancer, and testis/meiosis/spermatogenesis suggests commonalities, which may reflect fundamental mechanisms for down-regulation of cellular function.
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PMID:Proteomics profiling of nuclear proteins for kidney fibroblasts suggests hypoxia, meiosis, and cancer may meet in the nucleus. 1594 58

Using a high-throughput cell-based assay, we identified a nucleoside analogue 4-amino-6-hydrazino-7-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-7H-pyrrolo(2,3-d)-pyrimidine-5-carboxamide (ARC), which has the properties of a general transcriptional inhibitor. Specifically, ARC inhibits the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by positive transcription elongation factor-b, leading to a block in transcriptional elongation. ARC was able to potently repress p53 targets p21 and hdm2 (human homologue of mdm2) protein levels, but dramatically increased p53 levels similar to other transcriptional inhibitors, including flavopiridol. This increase in p53 corresponded to the down-regulation of short-lived protein hdm2, which is a well-established negative regulator of p53. Remarkably, ARC induced potent apoptosis in human tumor and transformed, but not in normal cells, and possessed strong antiangiogenic activity in vitro. Although ARC promoted the accumulation of p53, ARC-induced apoptosis in tumor cells was p53-independent, suggesting that it may be useful for the treatment of tumors with functionally inactive p53. Furthermore, cell death induced by ARC had a strong correlation with down-regulation of the antiapoptotic gene survivin, which is often overexpressed in human tumors. Taken together, our data suggests that ARC may be an attractive candidate for anticancer drug development.
Cancer Res 2006 Mar 15
PMID:A novel transcriptional inhibitor induces apoptosis in tumor cells and exhibits antiangiogenic activity. 1654 Jun 79

Pleomorphic salivary gland adenomas are characterized by recurrent chromosome rearrangements of 8q12, leading to activation of the PLAG1 oncogene. Here we demonstrate that CHCHD7-PLAG1 is a novel and recurrent gene fusion generated by a cytogenetically cryptic rearrangement in pleomorphic adenomas. CHCHD7 is a newly identified member of a multifamily of proteins containing a conserved (coiled coil 1)-(helix 1)-(coiled coil 2)-(helix 2) domain. Northern blot analysis revealed that the gene is ubiquitously expressed. Its biological function is unknown and the gene has hitherto not been associated with neoplasia. CHCHD7 and PLAG1 are located head-to-head about 500 bp apart in 8q12. Molecular analyses of 27 tumors revealed CHCHD7-PLAG1 fusions in three tumors, two of which had t(6;8) and t(8;15) translocations as the sole anomalies and one a normal karyotype. FISH analyses of interphase nuclei and nuclear chromatin fibers of a fourth adenoma with a normal karyotype revealed that a second fusion partner gene, TCEA1, located about 2 Mb centromeric to PLAG1, also is fused to PLAG1 as a result of a cryptic 8q rearrangement. The breakpoints in both fusions occur in the 5'-noncoding regions of the genes, leading to activation of PLAG1 by promoter swapping/substitution. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that the PLAG1 protein was overexpressed in epithelial, myoepithelial, and mesenchymal-like tumor cells in tumors with both fusions. Our findings further emphasize the significance of PLAG1 activation in pleomorphic adenomas and demonstrate that the gene is more frequently activated than previously anticipated.
Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2006 Sep
PMID:CHCHD7-PLAG1 and TCEA1-PLAG1 gene fusions resulting from cryptic, intrachromosomal 8q rearrangements in pleomorphic salivary gland adenomas. 1673

The Werner syndrome helicase (WRN) participates in DNA replication, double strand break repair, telomere maintenance, and p53 activation. Mutations of wrn cause Werner syndrome (WS), an autosomal recessive premature aging disorder associated with cancer predisposition, atherosclerosis, and other aging related symptoms. Here, we report that WRN is a novel cofactor for HIV-1 replication. Immortalized human WRN(-/-) WS fibroblasts, lacking a functional wrn gene, are impaired for basal and Tat-activated HIV-1 transcription. Overexpression of wild-type WRN transactivates the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) in the absence of Tat, and WRN cooperates with Tat to promote high-level LTR transactivation. Ectopic WRN induces HIV-1 p24(Gag) production and retroviral replication in HIV-1-infected H9(HIV-1IIIB) lymphocytes. A dominant-negative helicase-minus mutant, WRN(K577M), inhibits LTR transactivation and HIV-1 replication. Inhibition of endogenous WRN, through co-expression of WRN(K577M), diminishes recruitment of p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor (PCAF) and positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to Tat/transactivation response-RNA complexes, and immortalized WRN(-/-) WS fibroblasts exhibit comparable defects in recruitment of PCAF and P-TEFb to the HIV-1 LTR. Our results demonstrate that WRN is a novel cellular cofactor for HIV-1 replication and suggest that the WRN helicase participates in the recruitment of PCAF/P-TEFb-containing transcription complexes. WRN may be a plausible target for antiretroviral therapy.
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PMID:The Werner syndrome helicase is a cofactor for HIV-1 long terminal repeat transactivation and retroviral replication. 1731 67


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