Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-116).

Interferon regulatory factor-8 (Irf-8), a hematopoietic transcriptional regulator, controls myeloid-cell proliferation and coordinates innate and adaptive host immune responses. Mice from the BXH-2 recombinant inbred strain carry an endogenous R294C mutation in Irf-8. This loss-of-function mutation induces clonal infiltration of undifferentiated Mac-1+/Gr-1 + granulocytic precursors in BXH-2 mice, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and splenomegaly similar to those seen in human chronic myeloid leukemia. It also renders the host permissible to the otherwise avirulent Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), and negatively affects survival or recovery of these mice to other infectious pathogens. Here, we generated a polyc1onal anti-Irf-8 antibody to better characterize the effects of the R294C mutation on Irf-8 protein expression, stability, and inducibility in hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic tissues. We found that mutant Irf-8C294-expressing tissues consistently displayed reduced Irf-8 abundance compared to their wild-type counterparts in both primary splenocytes and following transfection into heterologous cells, presumably due to decreased stability or increased rate of degradation of the mutant isoform. Results also indicate that native Irf-8 is also expressed in the heart, and to a lesser extent, in the kidneys. Since neither of these organs is well-known to be associated with hematopoietic or immune functions, this finding strengthens the possibility that Irf-8 may exert additional regulatory functions in other cellular contexts. Taken together, our study provides a better understanding about the molecular features of the mutant Irf-8 C294 protein and contributes to a growing body of evidence in support of Irf-8 expression in non-hematopoietic tissues.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2001. / Vita. Bibliography: 108-125.

Orientador: Maeli Dal Pai Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T16:06:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carvalho_RobsonFrancisco_D.pdf: 1253559 bytes, checksum: e244961263e728fe00882d5f5d14b262 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Introdução: A Insuficiência Cardíaca (IC) está associada a uma miopatia do músculo esquelético com aumento da expressão das isoformas rápidas da cadeia pesada de miosina (MHC) e alterações na matriz extracelular (MEC). Os mecanismos moleculares que controlam a expressão de MHC durante a IC ainda não foram descritos. Os fatores de regulação miogênica (MRF), uma família de fatores transcricionais que controlam vários genes músculo-específicos, podem estar relacionados com essa miopatia. As alterações da MEC podem estar associadas a um aumento na expressão de RNA mensageiro e na atividade das metaloproteinases da MEC (MMP), uma família de endopeptidases dependentes de zinco que degradam a maioria dos componentes da MEC e que são indispensáveis para a remodelação do tecido conjuntivo ao redor das fibras musculares. Objetivos: Analisar no músculo esquelético de ratos Wistar com IC induzida pela monocrotalina: 1) a expressão de RNA mensageiro para os MRF, as isoformas proteicas de MHC e a atrofia nos músculos Sóleo (SOL) e Extensor Longo dos Dedos (EDL); 2) a expressão de RNA mensageiro e a atividade das MMP nos músculos SOL, EDL e diafragma (DIA). Métodos: A expressão do RNA mensageiro para MyoD, miogenina, MRF4, MMP2 e MMP9 foi determinada por RT-PCR; as isoformas de MHC foram separadas por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida e a atividade das MMP, por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilaminda contendo gelatina na presença de SDS em condições não redutoras. Resultados: 1) Embora a composição de MHC do músculo esquelético de ratos com IC não tenha sido alterada, a expressão relativa do RNA mensageiro para a MyoD nos músculos SOL e EDL, e a de MRF4 no músculo SOL foi significativamente diminuída, enquanto que a expressão relativa de RNA mensageiro para a miogenina não se alterou em ambos os músculos. A diminuição na expressão relativa de RNA mensageiro para o MRF4 está associada à atrofia do SOL em resposta à IC. 2) A IC aumentou a expressão de RNA mensageiro e a atividade da MMP9 nos músculos SOL, EDL e DIA, e aumentou a expressão de RNA mensageiro da MMP2 no músculo DIA. Conclusão: Nossos resultados sugerem um potencial papel para os MRF e para as MMP na miopatia do músculo esquelético na IC / Abstract: Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with a skeletal muscle myopathy with increased expression of fast myosin heavy chains (MHC) and extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations. The skeletal muscle-specific molecular regulatory mechanisms controlling MHC expression during HF have not been described. Myogenic regulatory factors (MRF), a family of transcriptional factors that control the expression of several skeletal muscle-specific genes, may be related to these alterations. The ECM alterations may be associated with enhanced mRNA expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade most ECM components and appear indispensable for the breakdown of the connective tissue surrounding muscle fibers. Objectives: This investigation was undertaken in order to examine in Wistar rat skeletal muscle with monocrotaline-induced HF: 1) potential relationships between MRF mRNA expression and MHC protein isoforms and atrophy in Soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles; 2) MMP mRNA expression and their potential relationships with changes in MMP activity in SOL, EDL, and diaphragm (DIA) muscles. Methods: MyoD, myogenin, MRF4, MMP2, and MMP9 were determined by using RTPCR; MHC isoforms were separated by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and MMP activity by electrophoresis in gelatin-containing polyacrylamide gel in the presence of SDS under nonreducing conditions. Results: 1) Despite no change in MHC composition of Wistar rat skeletal muscles with HF, the mRNA relative expression of MyoD in SOL and EDL muscles and that of MRF4 in SOL muscle were significantly reduced, whereas myogenin was not changed in both muscles. This down-regulation in the mRNA relative expression of MRF4 in SOL was associated with atrophy in response to HF. 2) HF increased MMP9 mRNA expression and activity in SOL, EDL, and DIA and MMP2 mRNA expression in DIA. Conclusion: Taken together; our results show a potential role for MRF and MMP in skeletal muscle myopathy during HF / Doutorado / Histologia / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Maeli Dal Pai Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T01:50:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barretto_JeaneMarleneFogacadeAssis_D.pdf: 16620509 bytes, checksum: f55fbc50c521ec1697bb9e56f7c70d08 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: o desenvolvimento da musculatura em animais utilizados como alimento tem importância na qualidade e no aumento da massa muscular. Esse estudo teve por objetivo avaliar as características morfológicas e o crescimento da musculatura miotomal em tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) submetida à dieta com suplementação de vitamina C. O experimento foi realizado a partir da primeira alimentação exógena até 60 dias. As larvas foram distribuídas em cinco tratamentos, numa densidade de 10 indivíduos/L onde foram administrados os seguintes níveis de suplementação de vitamina C/ kg de ração balanceada: T1 = sem suplementação, T2 = 250 mg, T3 = 500 mg, T4 =1000 mg, T5 = sem suplementação até o vigésimo dia do tratamento, e com suplementação de 500 mg do vigésimo primeiro ao sexagésimo dia de experimento. Foram realizadas cinco repetições por tratamento com distribuição randômica. Cinco peixes de cada tratamento foram anestesiados com Ms-222 - SIGMA, sacrificados e a biometria foi efetuada após 20, 40 e 60 dias de experimento. Após isso, amostras de músculo foram congeladas em n-hexana resfriada em nitrogênio líquido e cortes histológicos foram submetidos à coloração HE (para análise da morfologia geral da musculatura), à reação mATPase, após pré incubação ácida (para a análise das características da ATPase miofibrilar) e à reação NADH-TR (para análise do metabolismo oxidativo das fibras). Aos 20 e 60 dias do experimento, cinco amostras de cada tratamento foram submetidos às reações imunohistoquímicas MyoD e miogenina (fatores de transcrição miogênica - para avaliar o grau de proliferação e diferenciação das celulas precursoras miogênicas). Também foram coletadas amostras de músculo para fixação em formalina neutra tamponada, processadas para serem embebidos em paraplast e os cortes histológicos foram submetidos à reação imunohistoquímica PCNA (Antígeno Nuclear de Proliferação Celular). A suplementação com os maiores níveis de vitamina C e após o período de restrição promoveu maior ganho de massa corpórea. O crescimento muscular em todos os tratamentos ocorreu principalmente por hiperplasia. Durante o experimento não foram observadas alterações morfológicas e histoquímicas nas fibras musculares. A suplementação de 500mg vit C kg-1da ração após a restrição por 20 dias promoveu a proliferação e a diferenciação das células precursoras miogênicas 500mg vit C kg-1 da ração foi o nível de suplementação apropriado para a miogênese e o desenvolvimento da Tilápia / Abstract: Muscle development in animais utilized for food has importance to muscle quality and mass increase. The aim of this study was evaluate the morphologic and the growth characteristics of the miotomal muscle in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) submitted to a vitamin C supplemented diet. The experiment was carried through from the first exogenous feeding up to 60 days. The larvae were distributed into five treatments, in aquaria at 10/L density. The levels of vitamin C supplement/kg of ration were: T1=no supplement, T2=250mg vit C kg-1 of diet, T3=500mg vit C kg-1of diet, T4= 1000mg vit C kg-1 of diet, T5= no supplement until 20 days and 500mg vit C kg-1 of diet on days 20 to 60. There were 5 repetitions for each treatment. After 20, 40 and 60 days, 5 fish from each treatment were anaesthetized with MS-222 - SIGMA, sacrificed and weighed. Muscle fragments were cooled in liquid nitrogen. Histological sections were submitted to the following reactions: Haematoxilin-Eosin (for analysis of the muscle morphology and to determine muscle fibers diameters); Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Tetrazolium Reductase (NADH-TR), for muscle fibre metabolic evaluation (oxidative and glycolitic); and miofibrillar ATPase (mATPase), in pH 9.4, after acid preincubation to study myosin ATPase characteristics. After 20 and 60 days, muscle samples from five fish of each treatment were immersed in n-Hexane cooled in liquid nitrogen and histological sections were submitted to the MyoD and myogenin immunohistochemical reaction to evaluate cell proliferation and differentiation. Another five fish per treatment were embedded in Paraplast and histological sections were submitted to PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) immunohistochemical reaction to evaluate the degree of cell proliferation per treatment. During the experiment, ali treatments increased in weight and length. Weight differences were significant only on day 60. Supplementation with high vitamin C levels and after a period of restriction promoted an increase in body mass. Muscle fiber morphology, metabolic and myosin ATPase characteristics were normal and similar in all treatments. Muscle growth in all treatments was predominantly by hyperplasia. Proliferation and differentiation of myogenic precursor cells was higher with 500mg vit C kg-1 of supplemented diets throughout the experiment. Restriction of this supplementation for 20 days did not harm differentiation and still promoted myogenic precursor cell proliferation. The appropriate levei of vitamina C to myogenesis and the development of the Tilapia was 500mg vit C kg-1 of the ration / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Maeli Dal Pai Silva / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T13:18:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Almeida_FernandaLosiAlvesde_M.pdf: 1065788 bytes, checksum: 0b390cd2e5f289613db5ad2ca384e439 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Nos peixes, o crescimento do tecido muscular ocorre por hipertrofia e/ou hiperplasia a partir da proliferação e diferenciação de mioblastos adultos ou células miossatélites, processos regulados pela expressão diferencial dos fatores de regulação miogênica (MRFs). O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os mecanismos de crescimento muscular hiperplasico e hipertrofico e a expressão do MRF MyoD, na musculatura branca do pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), durante o crescimento. Exemplares juvenis (n=5) e adultos (n=5) de pacu foram anestesiados, sacrificados e determinados o peso corporal (g) e o comprimento total (cm). Fragmentos musculares brancos da região dorsal de cada exemplar, em cada fase estudada, foram congelados e imersos em nhexano congelado em nitrogenio liquido. Cortes histológicos (10 µm), obtidos em criostato, foram submetidos à  coloração hematoxilina-eosina para avaliação da morfologia e morfometria das fibras musculares brancas. Foi calculado o menor diametro de 100 fibras musculares brancas em cada animal de cada fase estudada. As fibras musculares foram distribuídas em classes, na dependência do seu diametro (<20, 20-50, >50 µm), para avaliar o grau de crescimento hipertrófico e hiperplá¡sico da musculatura. A expressão do MRF MyoD na musculatura branca foi analisada por Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase apos Transcrição Reversa (RT - PCR). Todos os produtos visualizados em gel de agarose a 1% foram clonados e sequenciados. A morfologia da musculatura dos exemplares juvenis e adultos foi semelhante, apresentando um padrão em mosaico caracterizado por fibras de diferentes diâmetros. Nos exemplares juvenis, foi observado um predomínio de fibras com diametro menor que 20 µm, caracterizando intensa hiperplasia. Nos exemplares adultos, houve o predomínio de fibras musculares com diâmetro maior que 50 µm, caracterizando intensa hipertrofia da musculatura. A expressão do RNAm para o gene MyoD foi significativamente maior na fase juvenil, se comparada com a fase adulta. Foi obtida a sequencia consenso parcial do gene MyoD (338 pares de bases) expresso na musculatura branca do pacu. Essa sequencia apresentou similaridade com as sequencias de MyoD de varias especies de vertebrados, incluindo peixes teleósteos. A expressão diferencial do MRF MyoD, observada nas fases de crescimento juvenil e adulta do pacu, possivelmente seja responsavel pelas diferenças observadas no padrão de crescimento, com a hiperplasia predominando nos juvenis e a hipertrofia, nos adultos / Abstract: Skeletal muscle growth in fish occurs by hypertrophy and hyperplasia and is dependent of the proliferation and differentiation of myogenic progenitor cells, events regulated by the diferential expression of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). The aim of this study was to analyze the hyperplasia and hypertrophy processes and the MRF MyoD expression in the white muscle in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) during growth. Juvenile (n=5) and adult (n=5) fishes were anaesthetized, sacrificed and the weight (g) and the total length (cm) were determined. White muscle samples from dorsal region of each sample, in each growth phase, were collected and and immersed in n- Hexane cooled in liquid nitrogen. Transverse sections (10 µm thick), obtained in a cryostat, were stained with Haematoxilin-Eosin to morphological and morphometric analysis. We calculated the smallest diameter from 100 white muscle fibres per animal in each group. White muscle fibers were grouped in three classes: <20, 20-50 and >50 µm to evaluate hypertrophy and hyperplasia in pacu white skeletal muscle. MyoD gene expression was determined by using RT-PCR. All PCR products visualized in 1% agarose gels were cloned and sequenced. Juvenile and adult pacu fish skeletal muscle showed similar morphology, with mosaic pattern characterized by fibers with different diameters. The great number of muscle fibers with diameter inferior 20 µm observed in juvenile fish confirms the active hyperplasic process. In adult fish, most fibers were over 50 µm diameter and denote the more intense muscle fiber hypertrophy. MyoD mRNA level in the juvenile fish was higher compared to adult fish. A consensus partial sequence for MyoD gene (338 bases pairs) was obtained. This sequence showed similarity with various vertebrate species, including teleost fishes. Differential expression of MyoD gene observed in white muscle of pacu possibly is related to differences in growth patterns during the phases analysed, with predominance of hyperplasia in juveniles and hypertrophy in adult fish / Mestrado / Histologia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Maeli Dal Pai Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T19:10:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aguiar_DaniloHenrique_D.pdf: 1937310 bytes, checksum: 7d4d18b54f38b44a48ac5bd8892e54d5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Nos peixes, o conhecimento dos fatores que controlam o crescimento muscular e a análise das proteínas miofibrilares, é importante para entender a dinâmica do crescimento, a plasticidade e as adaptações musculares, principalmente, em espécies com grande valor comercial como a tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). No presente estudo, utilizou-se a tilápia do Nilo em quatro estágios: alevinos de 35 dias (0.65g ± 0.08); juvenis de 60 dias (13.67g ± 1.35); adultos de 90 dias (73.18g ± 4.70) e adultos de 190 dias (349.76g ± 34.62). Em cada estágio, fragmentos musculares foram coletados e submetidos às seguintes análises: morfométrica, para caracterizar o crescimento muscular hiperplásico e hipertrófico no músculo branco; imunohistoquímica, para analisar a expressão dos fatores de regulação miogênica MyoD e miogenina e a expressão da proteína PCNA no músculo branco; histoquímica da ATPase miofibrilar (mATPase) e à eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida ¿ duodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS-PAGE) para observar as características da mATPase e da cadeia pesada da miosina nos músculos branco e vermelho, respectivamente. Os resultados indicaram que a expressão de MyoD e miogenina foi similar em alevinos, juvenis e adultos de 90 dias, porém, em adultos de 190 dias a expressão de miogenina foi maior do que a de MyoD. A expressão do PCNA, em cada estágio, foi mais acentuada do que MyoD e miogenina com picos no estágio de alevinos e adultos de 90 dias. A expressão de MyoD e miogenina nos estágios de alevinos, juvenis e adultos de 90 dias, mostrou que a hiperplasia e a hipertrofia ocorreram como resultado da proliferação e da diferenciação dos mioblastos. O aumento da expressão de miogenina em adultos de 190 dias, indicou que a diferenciação celular e a hipertrofia foi mais significativa nesse estágio. A análise da mATPase indicou, além da presença de fibras musculares vermelhas e brancas, fibras híbridas tanto no músculo vermelho como no músculo branco, ao longo do crescimento muscular da tilápia. A partir de alevinos, o músculo vermelho da região superficial mostrou a presença de cadeia pesada da miosina slow e o músculo branco, que forma a maior parte da massa muscular, cadeia pesada da miosina fast. Essas isoformas apresentaram massa molecular semelhante à cadeia pesada da miosina do tipo I do músculo sóleo de rato. No músculo branco, a partir dos alevinos, foi observada outra isoforma de miosina de massa molecular superior à cadeia pesada da miosina do tipo I do músculo sóleo de rato. No músculo vermelho a partir dos adultos, observou-se outra isoforma de miosina de massa molecular semelhante à cadeia pesada da miosina do tipo II do músculo sóleo de rato. A expressão das isoformas de cadeias pesadas da miosina no músculo estriado esquelético da tilápia do Nilo durante o crescimento, pode estar relacionada com a plasticidade fenotípica que ocorre durante o crescimento muscular e reflete na capacidade desses peixes de se adaptar às variações ambientais, importantes para a sobrevivência / Abstract: In fish, the knowledge of factors that control the muscle growth and the myofibrillar proteins analyze is important to understand the dynamic of growth, the plasticity and the muscle adaptations, mainly, in species with high commercial valuable, as the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In the present study, Nile tilapia into four age stages were used: 35 day alevins (0.65g ± 0.08); 60 day juveniles (13.67g ± 1.35); 90 day adults (73.18g ± 4.70) and 190 day adults (349.76g ± 34.62). In each stage, muscle fragments were collected and submitted to the following analyzes: morphometric, to characterize the hyperplastic and hypertrophyc growth in the white muscle; immunohistochemical, to analize the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin expression, and the PCNA protein expression in white muscle; histochemical of the myofibrillar ATPase (mATPase) and electrophoresis by sodium duodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the red and white muscle to observed mATPase and myosin heavy chain characteristics, respectively. The results indicate that MyoD and myogenin expression was similar in alevins, juveniles and 90 day adults, however, in 190 day adults the myogenin was higher than the MyoD expression. The PCNA expression, in each stage, was higher than MyoD and myogenin with peaks in alevins and 90 day adults. The MyoD expression in alevins, juveniles and 90 day adults, showed that the hyperplasia and hypertrophy occurred due to the results of myoblasts proliferation and differentiation. The increased of myogenin expression in 190 day adults indicated that cellular differentiation and the hypertrophy was more expressive in this stage. The mATPase showed, beyond red and white muscle fibers, hybrid fibers in both red and white muscle during growth. From alevins, the red muscle showed slow myosin heavy chain (MHCs) and the white muscle, fast myosin heavy chain (MHCf). These isoforms had a molecular mass similar to the type I myosin heavy chain (MHCI) of soleus rat muscle. In the white muscle, from alevins was observed other myosin isoform with molecular mass superior to the MHCI of soleus rat muscle. In the red muscle, in adults, was observed other myosin isoform with molecular mass similar to the type II myosin heavy chain (MHC II) of soleus rat muscle. The expression of myosin isoforms in the skeletal muscle of Nile tilapia during growth, can be related to the phenotypic plasticity that occur during muscle growth and reflects this fish capacity to adapt to changes in environmental conditions which are important for its survival / Doutorado / Histologia / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Skeletal muscle differentiation requires synergy between tissue-specific transcription factors, chromatin remodeling enzymes and the general transcription machinery. Here we demonstrate that two distinct protein arginine methyltransferases are required to complete the differentiation program. Prmt5 is a type II methyltransferase, symmetrically dimethylates histones H3 and H4 and has been shown to play a role in transcriptional repression. An additional member of the Prmt family, Carm1 is a type I methyltransferase, and asymmetrically methylates histone H3 and its substrate proteins. MyoD regulates the activation of the early class of skeletal muscle genes, which includes myogenin. Prmt5 was bound to and dimethylates H3R8 at the myogenin promoter in a differentiation-dependent fashion. When proteins levels of Prmt5 were reduced by antisense, disappearance of H3R8 dimethylation and Prmt5 binding was observed. Furthermore, binding of Brg1 to regulatory sequences of the myogenin promoter was abolished. All subsequent events relying on Brg1 function, such as chromatin remodeling and stable binding by muscle specific transcription factors such as MyoD, were eliminated. Robust association of Prmt5 and dimethylation of H3R8 at myogenin promoter sequences was observed in mouse satellite cells, the precursors of mature myofibers. Prmt5 binding and histone modification were observed to a lesser degree in mature myofibers. Therefore, these results indicate that Prmt5 is required for dimethylating histone at the myogenin locus during skeletal muscle differentiation in order to facilitate the binding of Brg1, the ATPase subunit of the chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF. Further exploration of the role of Prmt5 during the activation of the late class of muscle genes revealed that though Prmt5 is associated with and dimethylates histones at the regulatory elements of late muscle genes in tissue and in culture, it was dispensable for late gene activation. Previous reports had indicated that Carm1 was involved during late gene activation. We observed that Carm1 was bound to and responsible for dimethylating histones at late muscle gene promoters in tissue and in culture. In contrast to Prmt5, a complete knockout of Carm1 resulted in abrogation of late muscle gene activation. Furthermore, loss of Carm1 binding and dimethylated histones resulted in a disappearance of Brg1 binding and chromatin remodeling at late muscle gene loci. Time course chromatin immunoprecipitations revealed that Carm1 binding and histone dimethylation occurred concurrently with the onset of late gene activation. In vitro binding assays revealed that an interaction between Carm1, myogenin and Mef2D exists. These results demonstrate that Carm1 is recruited to the regulatory sequences of late muscle genes via its interaction with either myogenin or Mef2D and is responsible for dimethylates histones in order to facilitate the binding of Brg1. Therefore, these results indicate that during skeletal muscle differentiation, distinct roles exist for these Prmts such that Prmt5 is required for activation of early genes while Carm1 is essential for late gene induction.

No description available.

Nuclear hormone receptors (NHR) constitute a superfamily of ligand inducible transcriptional activators that enable an organism to regulate development and homeostasis through switching on or off target genes in response to stimuli reflecting changes in environment as well as endocrine. NHRs include classical steroid hormone receptors (GR, AR, ER and MR) and retinoid, thyroid hormone receptors. One long-term goal of our lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms through which the transcriptional activity of NHRs is regulated. Extensive studies in the past few years have revealed that in addition to the dependence on ligand availability, the transcriptional activity of NHRs is also regulated by two types of proteins: co activators and corepressors. In the absence of ligand, many NHRs, including TR and RAR can actively repress target gene transcription with the help of corepressors, proteins that physically interact with both NHRs and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Functional interactions between NHRs and corepressors therefore lead to tightly compact and transcriptionally non-permissive chromatin structures after the removal of obstructive acetyl groups from histone tails by HDACs. On the other hand, ligand binding stabilizes NHRs in a conformation that favors interaction with proteins other than corepressors; many of these proteins are able to potentiate the transcriptional activity of NHRs through various mechanisms, such as histone acetylation, chromatin remodeling and recruitment of basal transcription machinery and are collectively termed coactivators. Two highly related corepressors, SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors) and N-CoR (nuclear receptor corepressor), have been cloned. This research in corepressor SMRT started by a systematic study of its subcellular localization. We found that SMRT predominantly forms a specific nuclear punctuate structure that does not appear to overlap with any other well-known subnuclear domains/speckles. Although our searching for specific sequence signals that may determine the specific speckle localization of SMRT did not yield conclusive results, we discovered the colocalization of unliganded RAR and certain HDACs, including HDAC1, 3,4 and 5, in the SMRT nuclear speckles. Moreover, SMRT is likely to be the organizer of such speckles since it appears to be able to recruit other proteins into these speckles. The presence of HDAC1 in the SMRT speckles suggests a direct association between these two proteins, which has not been detected by previous biochemical analyses. Interestingly, HDAC1 point mutants that are completely defective in deacetylase activity failed to locate to SMRT nuclear speckles, while another partially active mutant maintained the colocalization. These discoveries may indicate SMRT nuclear speckles as novel nuclear domains involved in transcriptional repression. More physiologically relevant support for this hypothesis arises from study of HDAC4 and 5. HDAC4 and 5 are potent inhibitors of transcriptional activator MEF2C. Nuclear presence of HDAC4/5 can block the activation of MEF2C, which is required during muscle differentiation. Normally, HDAC4 is predominantly located in cytoplasm. However, we found that in the presence of SMRT overexpression, HDAC4 was found mostly in SMRT nuclear speckles. This accumulation enhanced HDAC4 mediated inhibition on MEF2C transcriptional activity in a transient transfection assay. SMRT overexpression also resulted in accumulation of HDAC5 in the SMRT nuclear speckles compared to the nuclear diffuse distribution in the absence of SMRT. Again, this accumulation of HDAC5 in nuclear speckles correlated with enhanced inhibition of MEF2C. Taken together, our study suggested that instead of being merely a corepressor for NHRs, SMRT might function as an organizer of a nuclear repression domain, which may be involved in a broad array of cellular processes. In contrast to the limited number of corepressors, numerous co activators have been identified; the SRC (or p160) family is relatively well studied. This family includes three highly related members, SRC-1, TIF2/GRIP1, RAC3/AIB1/ACTR/p/CIP. Similar domain structures are shared among these factors, with the most highly conserved region, the bHLH-PAS domain found within the N terminal ~400 amino acid residues. This study of RAC3 aims to identify the function of the highly conserved N terminal bHLH-PAS domain by isolating interacting proteins through yeast two-hybrid screening. One candidate gene isolated encodes the C terminal fragment of the human homologue of the yeast protein MMS19. Functional studies of this small fragment revealed that it specifically interacted with human estrogen receptors (ERs) and inhibited ligand induced transcriptional activity of ERs in the transient transfection assay. Then we cloned the full-length human MMS19 cDNA and characterized the hMMS19 as a weak coactivator for estrogen receptors in the transient transfection assay. Furthermore, when tested on separate AF-1 or AF-2 of ERs, hMMS19 specifically enhanced AF-1 but had no effect on AF-2. These results identified hMMS19 as a specific coactivator for ER AF-1.