The transcriptional promoter sequences for the Rhizobium meliloti nitrogen fixation genes nifA and nifB were cloned to a β-galactosidase gene fusion plasmid vector and transferred by homologous recombination to a specialized transducing phage. The promoter fusions were then transduced to a recombination deficient strain of Escherichia coli as single-copy lysogens and analysed under defined aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The lysogenic strains contained plasmids encoding either of two transcriptional activator proteins, NifA or FixJ, produced from a constitutive plasmid promoter. The expression of the nifA and the nifB promoters was found to be sensitively regulated by the carbon source used for anaerobic fermentation or anaerobic respiration, the redox potential of the terminal electron acceptor used for anaerobic respiration, and the growth phase of anaerobic cultures. The repression of nit promoter expression by oxygen respiration was specifically compared to anaerobic respiration of alternative electron acceptors. Both nifA and nifB promoter expression decreased exponentially as the reduction potential of the terminal respiration reaction increased. The repressive effect of oxygen appears to be due soley to the exponential relationship between nit promoter expression and the redox potential of oxygen respiration. In addition to separate fusions of the nifA and nifB promoters to β-galactosidase, a single-copy fusion of the entire nifA-nifB region was constructed. In this construct, plasmid-encoded FixJ protein stimulated the expression of a chromosomal nifA gene to produce the NifA protein, which then stimulated the expression of the nitB promoter. This strain produced 20-fold lower activity than a strain in which nifB promoter expression was stimulated by plasmid-encoded NifA protein. Finally, the nifA locus was found to contain a transcriptionally active element, oriented opposite to the nifA promoter. / Graduation date: 1992

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Surgery / Master / Master of Philosophy

"September, 2002." / Bibliography: leaves 93-106. / 106 leaves : ill. (some col.), plates ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / In this thesis the biochemical and genetic characterization of Fkh2p identifies it as a major component of SFF. It has been shown to bind DNA in an Mcm1p dependent manner and the Fkh2p DNA binding domain is essential for this interaction. The protein interaction domain of Mcm1p has been demonstrated to be essential for ternary complex formation. Fkh2p, along with a functionally redundant protein Fkh1p, has been show to control the periodic expression of the CLB2 cluster genes. The functional characterisation of the Fkh2p domains reveals an important role for both the Forkhead associated domain and the C-terminus. Ndd1p. another protein important for mitotic progression, is shown to be important for CLB2 cluster regulation by de-repressing Fkh2p and activating gene expression. The role of cdk activity is shown to act through the CLB2 cluster upstream activating sequences, possibly through Ndd1p. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, 2003

Two novel and highly related C₂H₂ zinc finger proteins (CTIP1/BCL11A/EVI9 and CTIP2/BCL11B/Rit1) have been implicated in COUP-TF signaling, etiology of myeloid and lymphoid malignancies, and hematopoietic cell development. However, the precise cellular function(s) and the contribution of these proteins to neoplastic processes and hematopoietic cell development remain unknown. The goal of the studies described herein was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional repression mediated by these proteins to understand their biological properties, and ultimately, their cellular function(s). CTIP proteins repressed transcription of a reporter gene in a TSA-insensitive manner, suggesting that this repression mechanism(s) may not involve TSA-sensitive histone deacetylation catalyzed by member(s) of class I and II HDACs. One possible mechanism is that CTIP proteins may exert ISA-insensitive histone deacetylation catalyzed by TSA-insensitive HDAC(s), such as SIRT1, to repress transcription. In deed, SIRT1 was found to interact with CTIP proteins both in vitro and in mammalian cells, and was recruited to the promoter template in a CTIP-dependent manner. The proline-rich regions of CTIP proteins and the sirtuin homology domain of SIRT1 were found to be essential for mediating CTIPs•SIRT1 interactions. Moreover, column chromatography revealed that SIRT1 and CTIP2 were components of a large complex in Jurkat cell nuclear extracts. Based on the findings that SIRT1 associates with CTIP proteins in mammalian cells, SIRT1 may underlie the transcriptional repression activity of CTIP proteins. The following results support the hypothesis that SIRT1 may underlie the mechanism(s) of CTIP-mediated transcriptional repression. First, CTIP-mediated transcriptional repression was inhibited, at least partially, by nicotinamide, an inhibitor of the NAD⁺-dependent, TSA-insensitive HDACs. Second, the decrease in levels of acetylated histones H3 and/or H4 at the promoter region of a reporter gene was observed upon overexpression of CTIP proteins, and this effect was inhibited, at least partially, by nicotinamide. Third, endogenous SIRT1 was recruited to the promoter template of a reporter gene in mammalian cells upon overexpression of CTIP proteins. Fourth, SIRT1 enhanced the transcriptional repression mediated by CTIP proteins and this enhancement required the catalytic activity of SIRT1. Finally, SIRT1 enhanced the deacetylation of template-associated histones H3 and/or H4 in CTIP-transfected cells. In summary, results described herein strongly suggest that CTIP-mediated transcriptional repression involves the recruitment of SIRT1 to the template, at which the TSA-insensitive, but nicotinamide-sensitive histone deacetylase catalyzes deacetylation of promoter-associated histones H3 and/or H4. These results contribute additional understanding to the molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional activity of CTIP proteins, which might be helpful for identification and characterization of the target genes under the control of CTIP proteins in cells of hematopoietic system and/or the central nervous system. / Graduation date: 2004

Polypurine·polypyridine (pur·pyr) tracts are a run of all purines on one strand and all pyrimidines on the complementary DNA strand. Statistical overrepresentation of the tracts in eukarocytes suggests a cellular role or roles. The tracts from triplex DNA <i>in vitro</i> and there is evidence for triplex DNA <i>in vivo</i>. Several cellular roles are possible for triplex DNA. The presence of the tracts in gene 5' flanking regions suggets a regulatory role. This work investigates the role of triplex DNA in the cell, particularly in the regulation of transcription. Proteins mediate DNA looping in the regulation of transcription and in its condensation in chromosomes. Such looping may also be mediated by transmolecular triplexes, formed between separated pur·pyr tracts. Formation of pyr·pur·pyr transmolecular triplexes was investigated using linear and circular plasmid models containing separated pur·pyr tracts able to form a triplex with each other, but not within a tract. Transmolecular triplex loops (T-loops) formed in circular DNA, suggesting a possible regulatory or structural role <i>in vivo</i>. The following model shows a T-loop formed at pH 4. At pH 6, a duplex partially reforms and single-stranded region(s) trap the structure. and single-stranded region(s) trap the structure. T-loops were used as a model to test the Idea that a single-strand extruded by triplex formation in the 5' flanking region of a gene could promote transcription. Transcription was inhibited in T-loops, suggesting such structures could block transcriptional elongation if formed <i>in vivo</i>. The ability of polyamine analogues to promote triplex formation was also tested using T-loops. Pentamines promoted T-loop formation at lower concentrations than tetramines. Spatial distribution of charge was also important. A triplex role in transcriptional regulation was investigated using two examples of human genes with 5' flanking pur·pyr tracts. The effect of triplex-specific antibodies on expression of c-' myc' was investigated using agarose-encapsulated nuclei. Triplex formation between c-'src' promoter pur·pyr tracts was visualized as gel band shift die to dimerization between linear plasmid fragments containing individual tracts. A transmolecular triplex was proposed as one way in which the c-'src' tracts could form a triplex <i>in vivo</i> which might be involved in the regulation of transcription.

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

Not available / text