The monoamine oxidases play a vital role in the metabolism of biogenic amines in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues. Using oligonucleotide probes derived from three sequenced peptide fragments, we have isolated cDNA clones that encode the A and B forms of monoamine oxidase and have determined the nucleotide sequences of these cDNAs. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences shows that the A and B forms have subunit molecular weights of 59,700 and 58,800, respectively, and have 70% sequence identity. Both sequences contain the pentapeptide Ser-Gly-Gly-Cys-Tyr, in which the obligatory cofactor FAD is covalently bound to cysteine. Based on differences in primary amino acid sequences and RNA gel blot analysis of mRNAs, the A and B forms of monoamine oxidase appear to be derived from separate genes.Monoamine oxidases A and B [MAO A and MAO B, respectively; amine:oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating) (flavin-containing), EC 1.4.3.4] in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues catalyze the oxidative deamination of neuroactive and vasoactive amines (1) and the oxidation of xenobiotics, including the parkinsonism-producing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (2, 3). These enzymes, which are integral proteins of the outer mitochondrial membrane (4), are distinguished by differences in substrate preference (5), inhibitor specificity (6), tissue and cell distribution (7), and immunological properties (8,9). MAO A preferentially oxidizes the biogenic amine serotonin and is inactivated irreversibly by the acetylenic inhibitor clorgyline. MAO B preferentially oxidizes phenylethylamine and benzylamine and is inactivated by the irreversible inhibitors pargyline and deprenyl. The level of MAO activity in almost all human tissues consists of a mixture of both forms of the enzyme, but placental tissue contains predominantly MAO A (10), whereas platelets and lymphocytes express only MAO B (11,12). MAO A and B from several tissue sources and species appear to consist of two subunits with approximate molecular masses of 60 kDa (13,14 (15,19). Peptide maps obtained from proteinase digestion of [3H]pargyline-labeled crude or partially purified MAO A and B suggest that these enzymes differ in their amino acid sequences (17,20). Furthermore, differences in degrees of photo-dependent inactivation of these two enzymes suggest the existence of conformational or structural differences in their active sites (21-23).To clarify the molecular basis of structural and functional differences between these important enzymes, we have isolated and characterized cloned cDNAsI encoding these proteins. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences for human liver MAO A and B show that these two proteins are derived from separate genes. MATERIALS AND METHODSConstruction and Screening of the Human Liver cDNA Library. A Agt1O library was constructed from poly(A)+ mRNA isolated from human liver (24). The phage library contained 2 x 106 individual clones of which 5 x 105 clones were subjected to hy...

The yeast two-hybrid system was used to isolate a clone from a 17-day-old mouse embryo cDNA library that codes for a novel 812-aa long protein fragment, glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1), that can interact with the hormone binding domain (HBD) Steroid hormone receptors belong to a structurally and functionally related group of intracellular proteins, known as the nuclear receptor or steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily, that serve as ligand-activated transcriptional regulators (1). Binding of the cognate hormone to steroid receptors causes a conformational change that allows the receptors to dissociate from an inhibitory complex of proteins, bind as dimers to specific regulatory sequences (enhancer elements) that are associated with the target genes regulated by the hormone, and modulate the transcription of the target genes. DNA binding by hormone-activated steroid receptors has been shown to cause chromatin remodeling, but the mechanism of transcriptional regulation is also believed to involve some type of direct or indirect interaction of the DNA-bound receptor with the transcription machinery.Like other nuclear receptors, steroid receptors are composed of three major functional domains: an N-terminal transcriptional activation domain (AD), a central DNA binding domain (DBD), and a C-terminal hormone binding domain (HBD) (1, 2). In spite of this nomenclature, both the Nterminal AD and the HBD contribute to the transcriptional activation function of steroid receptors (3, 4). In the absence of the HBD, the N-terminal AD, called AF-1, can function in a hormone-independent manner in mammalian cells. In contrast, the transcriptional activation function of the HBD, called AF-2, is hormone dependent. Although each isolated AD has some activity in mammalian cells, these two together appear to function synergistically.The mechanism by which DNA-bound steroid receptors can activate transcription initiation from associated promoters is still unknown. It is proposed that DNA-binding transcriptional activator proteins, including the steroid receptors, stimulate the efficiency of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II by either directly or indirectly affecting the assembly of basal transcription factors into a preinitiation complex (1, 5). In addition to RNA polymerase II, the preinitiation complex consists of seven basal transcription factors, namely TFIIA, TFIIB, TATA-box binding protein (a subunit of TFIID), TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH, and TFIIJ. This complex alone can initiate transcription at a basal rate from TATA-containing promoters, whereas additional TFIID subunits are required for TATA-less promoters and for enhancer-activated transcription. Some of the basal transcription factors may be the targets for regulation by DNA-binding transcriptional activator proteins. Although examples of direct interaction between basal transcription factors and some DNA-binding transcriptional activators have been reported, in most cases the DNAbound transcriptional activator proteins require ...

Most eukaryotic transcriptional regulators act in an RNA polymerase (Pol)-selective manner.Here we show that the human Maf1 protein negatively regulates transcription by all three nuclear Pols. Changes in Maf1 expression affect Pol I-and Pol III-dependent transcription in human glioblastoma lines. These effects are mediated, in part, through the ability of Maf1 to repress transcription of the TATA binding protein, TBP. Maf1 targets an Elk-1-binding site in the TBP promoter, and its occupancy of this region is reciprocal with that of Elk-1. Similarly, Maf1 occupancy of Pol III genes is inversely correlated with that of the initiation factor TFIIIB and Pol III. The phenotypic consequences of reducing Maf1 expression include changes in cell morphology and the accumulation of actin stress fibers, whereas Maf1 overexpression suppresses anchorage-independent growth. Together with the ability of Maf1 to reduce biosynthetic capacity, these findings support the idea that Maf1 regulates the transformation state of cells.

Wolves (Canis lupus) and arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) are the only canid species found throughout the mainland tundra and arctic islands of North America. Contrasting evolutionary histories, and the contemporary ecology of each species, have combined to produce their divergent population genetic characteristics. Arctic foxes are more variable than wolves, and both island and mainland fox populations possess similarly high microsatellite variation. These differences result from larger effective population sizes in arctic foxes, and the fact that, unlike wolves, foxes were not isolated in discrete refugia during the Pleistocene. Despite the large physical distances and distinct ecotypes represented, a single, panmictic population of arctic foxes was found which spans the Svalbard Archipelago and the North American range of the species. This pattern likely reflects both the absence of historical population bottlenecks and current, high levels of gene flow following frequent long-distance foraging movements. In contrast, genetic structure in wolves correlates strongly to transitions in habitat type, and is probably determined by natal habitat-biased dispersal. Nonrandom dispersal may be cued by relative levels of vegetation cover between tundra and forest habitats, but especially by wolf prey specialization on ungulate species of familiar type and behaviour (sedentary or migratory). Results presented here suggest that, through its influence on sea ice, vegetation, prey dynamics and distribution, continued arctic climate change may have effects as dramatic as those of the Pleistocene on the genetic structure of arctic canid species.

Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, enhancing the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. RNA polymerase (pol) III transcribes a variety of small, untranslated RNAs, including tRNAs and 5S rRNAs, which determine the biosynthetic capacity of cells. Increased RNA pol III-dependent transcription, observed in transformed cells and human tumors, is required for oncogenic transformation. Given that alcohol consumption increases risk for liver cancer, we examined whether alcohol regulates this class of genes. Ethanol induces RNA pol III-dependent transcription in both HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes in a manner that requires ethanol metabolism and the activation of JNK1. This regulatory event is mediated, at least in part, through the ability of ethanol to induce expression of the TFIIIB components, Brf1, and the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Induction of TBP, Brf1, and RNA pol III-dependent gene expression is driven by enhanced c-Jun expression. Ethanol promotes a marked increase in the direct recruitment of c-Jun to TBP, Brf1, and tRNA gene promoters. Chronic alcohol administration in mice leads to enhanced expression of TBP, Brf1, tRNA, and 5S rRNA gene transcription in the liver. These alcohol-dependent increases are more pronounced in transgenic animals that express the HCV NS5A protein that display increased incidence of liver tumors. Together, these results identify a new class of genes that are regulated by alcohol through the co-regulation of TFIIIB components and define a central role for c-Jun in this process.