Showing papers on "Upstream activating sequence published in 1983"

cis and trans activation of globin gene transcription in transient assays.

Abstract: We examined the effects of the simian virus 40 enhancer sequence on transcription of cloned human alpha- and beta-globin genes shortly after their introduction into cultured mammalian cells. We find that (i) detectable transcription of the beta-globin gene but not the alpha-globin gene requires linkage to the enhancer; (ii) the enhancer increases the amount of beta-globin RNA at least 100-fold but results in only a 5- to 10-fold increase in the amount of alpha-globin RNA; (iii) plasmid replication does not increase the level of beta-globin RNA, regardless of linkage to the enhancer, but does result in an approximately equal to 50-fold increase in the level of alpha-globin RNA; (iv) the enhancer is not required for and does not increase transcription of either gene in 293 cells, an adenovirus 5-transformed human kidney cell line. We also show that an enhancer sequence is not required for activity of the normally enhancer-dependent simian virus 40 early promoter in 293 cells, indicating that these cells contain a trans-acting factor(s) that circumvents the requirement for the enhancer sequence.

Sequences controlling in vitro transcription of SV40 promoters.

Abstract: A series of deletion mutants of SV40 were tested for early and late promoter activity in vitro in a transcription extract prepared from HeLa cells. These mutants had previously been characterized for expression in vivo. Transcription in vitro from both the SV40 early and late promoters was strongly dependent on an upstream region of DNA that contains six direct GC repeats. Sequences spanning two or more of these repeats stimulated transcription in a bidirectional fashion, at distances of 50-200 bp. These sequences may function by mediating the activity of a specific transcriptional factor. Little effect on transcription in vitro was observed upon deletion of the 72-bp enhancer elements. With this exception, the sequence dependence of early and late transcription in vitro was similar to that observed previously in vivo, both of the region including the GC repeats and of the early TATA sequence.

The primary structure and expression of four cloned human histone genes

Abstract: The complete nucleotide sequence of four human histone genes has been determined. Each gene codes for a core histone protein which is very homologous with the corresponding calf thymus of rat histones. The 5' and 3' flanking regions of the human histone genes contain previously identified concensus sequences: the TATA box, the GACTTC element; the CCAAT sequence; the 3' terminal dyad symmetry element thought to be involved in transcription termination; and a recently identified H2b specific upstream sequence. A putative H2a specific upstream sequence 5'-TTCTTGGACTCCTCTTTTC-3' is present approximately 40 base pairs upstream from the TATA box in the human H2a gene promoter. Nuclease S1 analysis of the human histone mRNAs encoded within each of these clones demonstrates that the mRNA terminii map to the expected positions relative to the known concensus sequences, and that the abundance of each mRNA is regulated during the HeLa cell cycle. Finally, in contrast to the H2b, H3 and H4 mRNAs encoded within clones pHh 4A/pHh4C, pHh5B and pHu4A, respectively, the H2a mRNA encoded by Hh5G is not present in human placental RNA.

Functional analysis of a herpes simplex virus type 1 promoter: identification of far-upstream regulatory sequences

Abstract: We have performed a functional analysis of DNA sequences upstream from the gene for IE mRNA3 of herpes simplex virus type 1. Nucleotide sequences involved in initiation and positive regulation of transcription have been defined by construction of specific deletions in vitro. Transcription was assayed in vivo by microinjection into Xenopus oocytes, or by introduction of plasmid DNA into tissue culture cells and measurement of transient expression. Three functional promoter elements have been defined: i) Sequences between -16 and -37 which are not essential for transcription but are required for accurate initiation. ii) Proximal promoter sequences which are sufficient for transcription initiation in the absence of upstream sequences. iii) Far-upstream promoter sequences (more than 108bp upstream) which increase transcription in oocytes, and contain positive regulatory sequences (-174 to -331) which respond strongly to a factor in the virus inoculum.

Far upstream sequences are required for efficient transcription from the adenovirus-2 E1A transcription unit

Abstract: We have investigated the requirement for sequences located upstream from the TATA box for efficient transcription from the Adenovirus-2 (Ad2) E1A promoter. A series of deletions located within the E1A promoter upstream sequences were introduced into recombinants which contain or do not contain the E1A structural sequences. The amount of E1A-specific RNA produced after transfection into HeLa cells was determined by quantitative S1 nuclease analysis. We demonstrate that sequences located more than 231 bp upstream from the E1A capsite are required for efficient transcription from the E1A promoter. However, the requirement for these stimulatory sequences is less pronounced in recombinants which contain the E1A structural sequences than in those in which these sequences have been deleted. We demonstrate also that these Ad2 stimulatory sequences activate transcription in cis when inserted upstream from the heterologous -34 to +33 Ad2 major late promoter (Ad2MLP) element which is otherwise inactive when transfected into HeLa cells. These results suggest that the 270 bp Ad2 left-terminal segment contains an enhancer-like element.

Transcription modulation in vitro of the fibroin gene exerted by a 200-base-pair region upstream from the "TATA" box.

Abstract: We have previously reported that the 5'-flanking sequence upstream from the "TATA" box modulates the faithful transcription initiation of the fibroin gene in a homologous whole cell extract prepared from the silk glands, whereas such a modulating effect is not observed in a HeLa cell extract. Subsequently we have determined that major signals responsible for the modulating effect are located within a 200-base-pair region upstream from the TATA box, mainly in a distal region between nucleotide positions -238 and -116 and in a proximal one between -73 and -53. Inversion of the sequence element -234 to -66 did not alter its modulating effect. A similar modulating effect by the upstream region of the sericin gene was also observed in the silk gland extract but not in the HeLa cell extract. In contrast, a modulating effect by the upstream region of the adenovirus 2 major late gene was observed in the HeLa cell extract but not in the silk gland extract. Thus, the modulating effect by the upstream regions of these genes is exerted only in their own homologous extracts.

Homologous upstream sequences near Epstein-Barr virus promoters

Abstract: The sequence of the 17,166-base-pair EcoRI C fragment of Epstein-Barr virus DNA, cell line B95-8, was determined. In vitro transcription was used to identify three RNA polymerase II promoters within this fragment of the virus. Cytoplasmic poly(A)+ RNAs starting at these points were demonstrated in B95-8 cells induced into virus production with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Uninduced B95-8 cells contained much less of these RNAs. The upstream sequences near the three promoters show striking homologies that may be involved in transcriptional control.

Sequence requirement for transcription in vivo of the human preproenkephalin A gene.

Abstract: The nucleotide sequence of the 5'-flanking region of the cloned human preproenkephalin A gene, extending to 949 bp upstream of the capping site, has been determined. The preproenkephalin A gene, when joined with an SV40 vector and introduced into COS monkey cells, is efficiently transcribed from its own promoter. To assess the DNA sequence required for promoter function, we have constructed a series of 5'-deletion mutants of a fusion gene that consists of the 949-bp 5'-flanking sequence and capping site of the preproenkephalin A gene and the structural sequence of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. The deletions up to 757-172 bp upstream of the capping site exert essentially no effect on the expression of the fusion gene, whereas the deletions up to 145, 111, 81 and 67 bp upstream of the capping site result in a gradual decrease in the transcriptional efficiency. No detectable amount of the fusion gene transcript is produced with the mutants having deletions up to 67, 43 and 28 bp upstream of the capping site. These results indicate that a functional promoter of the preproenkephalin A gene lies between 67 and 171 bp upstream of the capping site. This promoter region corresponds to a highly GC-rich segment with short repeated sequences and palindromes.

Sequence Requirement for Transcription in vitro of the Human Corticotropin/β-Lipotropin Precursor Gene

Abstract: Using HeLa whole cell extracts, we have demonstrated that transciption in vitro of the cloned human and bovine corticotropin/β-lipotropin precursor genes is initiated accurately and efficiently. DNA sequences required for promoter function have been assessed by using a series of 5′-deletion mutants of a fusion gene that contains the 5′-flanking sequence and capping site of the human corticotropin/β-lipotropin precursor gene and the structural sequence of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. The results obtained have shown that the region between 22 base pairs and 35 base pairs upstream from the capping site is essential for the correct and efficient transcriptional initiation in vitro. Thus, the ‘TATA box’ present in this region seems to be the main promoter element for transcription of the human corticotropin/β-lipotropin precursor gene in the HeLa cell-free system. We have also developed a transcription system in vitro from the corticotropin-producing mouse pituitary tumor cell line AtT-20 in culture. Deletion mapping of the fusion gene promoter has indicated that the ‘TATA box’ region is required for the accurate and efficient transcriptional initiation in this system as well. Characteristic of this system is that the deletion of the sequence lying between 53 base pairs and 59 base pairs upstream from the capping site increases the transcriptional efficiency. Because this effect is observed in the AtT-20 cell-free system, but hardly in the HeLa cell-free system, it seems reasonable to assume that the interaction of this upstream sequence with some factor(s) in the AtT-20 cell extract is responsible for the modulation of transcription of the human corticotropin/β-lipotropin precursor gene.