The late cornified envelope (LCE) gene cluster within the epidermal differentiation complex on human chromosome one (mouse chromosome three) contains multiple conserved genes encoding stratum-corneum proteins. Within the LCE cluster, genes form "groups" based on chromosomal position and protein homology. We link a recently accepted nomenclature for the LCE cluster (formerly XP5, small proline-rich-like, late-envelope protein genes) to gene structure, groupings, and chromosomal organization, and carry out a pan-cluster quantitative expression analysis in a variety of tissues and environmental conditions. This analysis shows that (i) the cluster organizes into two "skin" expressing groups and a third group with low-level, tissue-specific expression patterns in all barrier-forming epithelia tested, including internal epithelia; (ii) LCE genes respond "group-wise" to environmental stimuli such as calcium levels and ultraviolet (UV) light, highlighting the functional significance of groups; (iii) in response to UV stimulation there is massive upregulation of a single, normally quiescent, non-skin LCE gene; and (iv) heterogeneity occurs between individuals with one individual lacking expression of an LCE skin gene without overt skin disease, suggesting LCE genes affect subtle attributes of skin function. This quantitative and pan-cluster expression analysis suggests that LCE groups have distinct functions and that within groups regulatory diversification permits specific responsiveness to environmental challenge.
Inheritance of a mutant allele of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 confers increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Likewise, inheritance of a mutant allele of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) results in the development of retinoblastoma and/or osteosarcoma, and both alleles are often mutated or inactivated in sporadic forms of these and other cancers. We now demonstrate that the product of the RB1 gene, Rb, regulates the expression of the murine Brca1 and human BRCA1 genes through its ability to modulate E2F transcriptional activity. The Brca1 gene is identified as an in vivo target of E2F1 in a transgenic mouse model. The Brca1 promoter contains E2F DNA-binding sites that mediate transcriptional activation by E2F1 and repression by Rb. Moreover, ectopic expression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4 can stimulate the Brca1 promoter in an E2F-dependent manner, and this is inhibited by coexpression of the p16INK4a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. The human BRCA1 promoter also contains a conserved E2F site and is similarly regulated by E2F1 and Rb. This functional link between the BRCA1 and Rb tumor suppressors may provide insight into the mechanism by which BRCA1 inactivation contributes to cancer development.The mechanism by which loss of BRCA1 function leads to breast and ovarian cancer is unclear. A general role for BRCA1 in cell growth control is suggested by BRCA1's growth-regulated and ubiquitous expression pattern (1-4). Involvement of BRCA1 in DNA repair, replication, and transcriptional regulation have all been suggested. The BRCA1 protein associates with the RAD51 DNA repair factor as well as the BRCA2 and BARD1 proteins (5, 6). These proteins colocalize in nuclear foci, termed "dots," that dissipate upon DNA damage and may reappear at replication structures containing PCNA (7). BRCA1 is also found in complexes containing RNA polymerase II and has a carboxyl-terminal acidic region that can function as a transcriptional activation domain (8 -10). Several recent reports have demonstrated that BRCA1 physically associates with the p53 tumor suppressor protein and functions as a transcriptional coactivator for p53 (11,12). BRCA1 can induce apoptosis and this activity is enhanced by coexpression of p53 (11,13,14). This correlates with the ability of BRCA1 to significantly augment transcriptional activation of the bax gene by p53 (11). BRCA1 can also induce apoptosis through the p53-independent stimulation of GADD45 expression and the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) pathway (14).Inactivation of the Rb tumor suppressor, through mutation of the RB1 gene or deregulation of cyclin D-associated kinase activity, is a common event in many cancers (15). Recent data suggests that the resultant activation of E2F transcription factors contributes to tumor development (16 -18). The Rb-E2F pathway regulates the expression of many genes whose products are required for DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression. Transcriptional activation of at le...
We have determined the role of the uvrA, uvrB, and uvrC genes in Escherichia coli cells in repairing DNA damage induced by three benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide isomers. Using the phi X174 RF DNA-E. coli transfection system, we have found that BPDE-I or BPDE-II modified phi X174 RF DNA has much lower transfectivity in uvrA, uvrB, and uvrC mutant cells compared to wild type cells. In contrast, BPDE-III modification of phi X174 RF DNA causes much less difference in transfectivity between wild type and uvr- mutant cells. Moreover, BPDE-I and -II-DNA adducts are much more genotoxic than are BPDE-III-DNA adducts. Using purified UVRA, UVRB, and UVRC proteins, we have found that these three gene products, working together, incise both BPDE-I- and BPDE-III-DNA adducts quantitatively and, more importantly, at the same rate. In general, UVRABC nuclease incises on both the 5' (six to seven nucleotides) and 3' (four nucleotides) sides of BPDE-DNA adducts with similar efficiency with few exceptions. Quantitation of the UVRABC incision bands indicates that both of these BPDE isomers have different sequence selectivities in DNA binding. These results suggest that although UVR proteins can efficiently repair both BPDE-I- and BPDE-III-DNA adducts, in vivo the uvr system is the major excision mechanism for repairing BPDE-I-DNA adducts but may play a lesser role in repairing BPDE-III-DNA adducts. It is possible the low lethality of BPDE-III-DNA adducts is due to less complete blockage of DNA replication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Covalent binding of the carcinogen, 7r,8t-dihydroxy-9t,10t-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), to DNA causes changes in the conformation of the DNA around the site of the adduct. However, the influence of such carcinogen-DNA adducts on interactions of the DNA with specific proteins has received little attention. Binding of the transcription factor, Sp1, to GC-box sequences in the promoter of the hamster adenosine phosphoribosyl transferase gene is a useful model system. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays, competition experiments and DNase I footprinting demonstrated specific binding of affinity-purified, human Sp1 to two adjacent GC-boxes in the promoter fragment. Unexpectedly, modification of this DNA fragment to high levels (approximately 7% of the nucleotides) with BPDE caused a substantial (5- to 10-fold) increase in the apparent affinity of Sp1. A heterologous DNA fragment that contained no GC-boxes did not compete for the binding of Sp1 to the promoter, unless it was previously modified with BPDE. In addition, two DNA fragments that contained no GC-boxes exhibited Sp1-dependent mobility shifts only when modified by BPDE. DNase I footprinting of the BPDE-modified, Sp1-bound promoter fragment did not reveal specific sites of binding, suggesting that numerous BPDE-DNA adduct sites can interact with the protein. A model in which Sp1 binding to non-target sites is enhanced by a static bend or an induced flexibility at the site of an adduct is discussed.
Background: Overexpression of the bZip transcription factor, ATF3, in basal epithelial cells of transgenic mice under the control of the bovine cytokeratin-5 (CK5) promoter has previously been shown to induce epidermal hyperplasia, hair follicle anomalies and neoplastic lesions of the oral mucosa including squamous cell carcinomas. CK5 is known to be expressed in myoepithelial cells of the mammary gland, suggesting the possibility that transgenic BK5.ATF3 mice may exhibit mammary gland phenotypes.
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