"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

Signal responsive transcriptional control in bacteria is mediated through both specific and global regulatory circuits to attune promoter output to prevailing conditions. Divergent transcription of a regulatory gene and a cognate promoter under its control provides an opportunity for interplay between transcription dependent on RNA polymerases utilizing various σ-factors, each of which programs the holoenzyme to recognize different classes of promoters. The work presented in this thesis analyses the consequences and mechanisms behind interplay between σ54- and σ70-dependent transcription within the dmp-system of Pseudomonas sp. CF600. The dmp-system confers the ability to grow at the expense of (methyl)phenols and is controlled by two promoters that drive non-overlapping divergent transcription from a common intergenic region: i) the σ54-Po promoter, which controls an operon encoding a suit of specialized catabolic enzymes, and ii) the σ70-Pr promoter, which controls production of the aromatic sensor DmpR - a mechano-activator whose transcription-promoting activity is obligatory for activity of the σ54-Po promoter. The σ54-Po promoter and its dependence on two non-classical transcriptional regulators - the alarmone ppGpp and its co-factor DksA that directly target RNA polymerase - are the focus of the first part of the thesis. These studies utilized ppGpp and DksA deficient strains, mutant RNA polymerases that bypass the need for ppGpp and DksA, reconstituted in vitro transcription systems, and a series of DmpR-regulated hybrid σ54-promoters with different affinities for σ54-RNA polymerase, together with analysis of protein levels of key transcriptional components. Collectively with previous work, these studies provide the experimental support for a robust but purely passive mechanism for ppGpp and DksA global regulation of σ54-transcription, which is likely to also be pertinent for transcription mediated via any alternative σ-factor (Papers I-III). The second part of the thesis focuses on additional roles of ppGpp and DksA through their direct and indirect effects on the activity of the σ70-Pr promoter. These studies unexpectedly revealed that the σ70-Pr promoter is regulated by a novel mechanism in which σ54-RNA polymerase occupancy and activity at the σ54-Po promoter stimulates σ70-Pr output. Evidence is presented that ppGpp and DksA, through DmpR levels, control a feed forward loop to reinforce silence of the σ54-Po promoter under high energy conditions with robust transcription from σ54-Po when the catabolic enzymes are needed. The interplay outlined above effectively places a σ70-dependent promoter under dual control of two forms of RNA polymerases, and also makes it subservient to regulatory signals that elicit activity of σ54-RNA polymerase. The possibility that such dual sensitivity may be a prevalent, but previously unappreciated, mechanism by which bacteria integrate diverse and/or conflicting signals to gain appropriate transcriptional control is discussed.

The transcription factor NF-κB interacts with many other co-regulator proteins that modulate its binding and transcriptional activity. One of these co-regulators, Pirin, is an iron-dependent metalloprotein that has been shown to enhance the DNA binding of NF-κB homodimers. Here, we characterize the interactions between Pirin and its known NF-κB binding partners and examined the role of Bcl-3, a protein that is required for Pirin’s interaction with p50. In addition, we use site-directed mutagenesis to alter conserved residues within Pirin’s metal binding environment and observed how it affected the DNA binding and conformation of the Pirin-NF-κB complex. These studies show that, while a similar enhancing effect on DNA binding is observed, the interactions of Pirin with different NF-κB members are distinct from each other and could possibly have different physiological purposes.

The initiation of cancer metastasis usually requires Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), by which tumor cells lose cell-cell interactions and gain the ability of migration and invasion. Previous study demonstrated that p68 RNA helicase, a prototypical member of the DEAD-box RNA helicases, functions as a mediator to promote platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced EMT through facilitating nuclear translocation of β-catenin in colon cancer cells. In this context, p68 RNA helicase was found to be phosphorylated at the tyrosine 593 residue (referred as phosphor-p68) by c-Abl kinase, and this phosphorylation is required for the activation of β-catenin signaling and the consequent EMT. The phosphor-p68 RNA helicase-mediated EMT was characterized by the repression of an epithelial marker, E-cadherin, and the upregulation of a mesenchymal marker, Vimentin. E-cadherin, a major cell-cell adhesion molecule that is involved in the formation of adherens junctions, has been shown to sequester β-catenin at the cell membrane and thus inhibit its transcriptional activity. The functional loss of E-cadherin is the fundamental event of EMT. Despite the role of phosphor-p68 RNA helicase in regulating nuclear translocation of β-catenin, whether phosphor-p68 is involved in the regulation of E-cadherin remains unknown. Here, our data indicated that phosphor-p68 RNA helicase initiated EMT by transcriptional upregulation of Snail1, a master transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin. The data suggest that phosphor-p68 RNA helicase displaced HDAC1 from the chromatin remodeling MBD3:Mi-2/NuRD complex at the Snail1 promoter, thereby activating the transcription of Snail1. In the xenograft tumor model, abolishing the phosphorylation of p68 RNA helicase by the expression of Y593F mutant resulted in a significant reduction of metastatic potential in human colon cancer cells. Analyses in the colon cancer tissues also revealed that the tyrosine 593 phosphorylation level of p68 RNA helicase is substantially enhanced in the tumor tissues comparing to that in the corresponding normal counterparts, suggesting a correlation of phosphor-p68 and tumor progression. In conclusion, we showed that tyrosine phosphorylation of p68 RNA helicase positively correlated to the malignant status of colon cancer progression. The molecular basis behind this correlation could be partly through the transcriptional regulation of Snail1.

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.

The phaseolin (phas) promoter drives the copious production of transcripts encoding the protein phaseolin during seed embryogenesis but is silent in vegetative tissues when a nucleosome is positioned over its three phased TATA boxes. Transition from the inactive state in transgenic Arabidopsis leaves was accomplished by ectopic expression of the transcription factor PvALF (Phaseolus vulgaris ABI3-like factor), and application of abscisic acid (ABA). PvALF belongs to a family of seed-specific transcriptional activators that includes the maize viviparious1 (VP1) and the Arabidopsis abscisic acid-insensitive3 (ABI3) proteins. The major goal of the study is to gain insight to the regulation of seed-specific gene expression in three different aspects. First, since ABI3 (homolog of PvALF) is involved in ABA-mediated expression of several seed-specific protein genes in Arabidopsis, understanding its transcriptional regulation will provide insight to the mechanism by which PvALF expression is controlled. To achieve this, ABI3 promoter deletion analysis using either $-glucuronidase (gus) or green fluorescent protein (gfp) reporter gene fusions have identified various regulatory regions within the ABI3 promoter including two upstream activating sequences and a minimal seed specific expression region. In addition, a 405 bp 5' UTR was shown to play a negative role in ABI3 expression, possibly through post-transcriptional mechanisms. Second, placement of PvALF expression under control of an estradiol-inducible promoter permitted chronological ChIP analysis of changes in histone modifications, notably increased acetylation of H3-K9, as phas chromatin is remodeled (potentiated). A different array of changes (trimethylation of H3-K4) is associated with ABA-mediated activation. In contrast, H3-K14 acetylation decreased upon phas potentiation and increased on activation. Whereas decreases in histone H3 and H4 levels were detected during PvALF-mediated remodeling, slight increases occurred following ABA-mediated activation, suggesting the restoration of histone-phas interactions or the redeposition of histones in the phas chromatin. The observed histone modifications thus provide insight to the factors involved in euchromatinization and activation of a plant gene. Finally, ectopically expressed ABI5 and PvALF renders the activation of phas ABA-independent, suggesting ABI5 acts downstream of ABA during phas activation.

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

Not available / text