Structure determination of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 × 2) surface using total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD).

The exact structure of the rutile-TiO2(110)-(1 × 2) surface, which had been under debate over the past 30 years, was investigated using the newly developed technique of total-reflection high-energy positron diffraction (TRHEPD), which is a positron counterpart of reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). The rocking-curves for the 00-spot obtained from the experimental diffraction patterns were compared to the curves for various models calculated with a full-dynamical theory. It was found that the rocking-curves matched those for a surface consisting of a Ti2O3 configuration, originally suggested by Onishi and Iwasawa [H. Onishi and Y. Iwasawa, Surf. Sci., 1994, 313, L783], but with a further modification of atomic positions close to the ones proposed by Wang et al. [Q. Wang, A. R. Oganov, Q. Zhu and X. F. Zhou, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2014, 113, 266101]. This result demonstrates that TRHEPD can distinguish between the existence and absence of the oxygen atoms on the topmost surface, and between the Ti atoms residing in positions at the interstitial-vertical sites and those at interstitial-horizontal sites.

Results of chemoradiotherapy for stage I esophageal cancer in medically inoperable patients compared with results in operable patients.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate long-term results of chemoradiotherapy for clinical T1b-2N0M0 esophageal cancer and to compare outcomes for operable and inoperable patients. Patients with stage I esophageal cancer (Union for International Cancer Control [UICC] 2009), excluding patients with cT1a esophageal cancer, were studied. All patients had histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma. Operable patients received cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy of 60 Gy including a 2-week break. Inoperable patients received nedaplatin and 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy of 60-70 Gy without a pause. End-points were overall survival rate (OS), cause-specific survival rate (CSS), progression-free survival rate (PFS), and locoregional control rate (LC). Thirty-seven operable patients and 30 medically inoperable patients were enrolled. There was a significant difference in only age between the operable group and inoperable group (P = 0.04). The median observation period was 67.9 months. In all patients, 5-year OS, CSS, PFS, and LC were 77.9%, 91.5%, 66.9%, and 80.8%, respectively. Comparison of the operable group and inoperable group showed that there was a significant difference in OS (5-year, 85.5% vs. 68.7%, P = 0.04), but there was no difference in CSS, PFS, or LC. Grade 3 or more late toxicity according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 3.0 was found in seven patients. Even in medically inoperable patients with stage I esophageal cancer, LC of more than 80% can be achieved with chemoradiotherapy. However, OS in medically inoperable patients is significantly worse than that in operable patients.

Proper SUMO-1 conjugation is essential to DJ-1 to exert its full activities.

DJ-1 is a multifunctional protein that plays roles in transcriptional regulation and antioxidative stress, and loss of its function is thought to result in the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we report that DJ-1 was sumoylated on a lysine residue at amino-acid number 130 (K130) by PIASxalpha or PIASy. The K130 mutation abrogated all of the functions of DJ-1, including ras-dependent transformation, cell growth promotion and anti-UV-induced apoptosis activities. Sumoylation of DJ-1 was increased after UV irradiation concomitant with a pI shift to an acidic point of DJ-1. Furthermore, L166P, a mutant DJ-1 found in PD patients, and K130RX, an artificial mutant containing four mutations in DJ-1, were improperly sumoylated, and they became insoluble, partly localized in the mitochondria and degraded by the proteasome system. Both L166P-expressing cells and DJ-1-knockdown cells were found to be highly susceptible to UV-induced cell apoptosis.

Endogenous acyl ghrelin is involved in mediating spontaneous phase III-like contractions of the rat stomach.

In humans and dogs, it is known that motilin regulates phase III contractions of migrating motor complex (MMC) in the fasted state. In rats, however, motilin and its receptor have not been found, and administration of motilin failed to induce any phase III-like contractions. Ghrelin was discovered as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) from the rat stomach. Ghrelin promotes gastric premature phase III (phase III-like contractions) in the fasted state in rats. We hypothesized that endogenous ghrelin regulates spontaneous phase III-like contractions in rats. Strain gauge transducer was sutured on the antrum and a catheter was inserted into the jugular vein. We studied the effects of i.v. administration of ghrelin and a GHS-R antagonist on gastric phase III-like contractions in conscious rats. Plasma level of ghrelin was measured by a radioimmunoassay. Ghrelin augmented spontaneous phase III-like contractions and a GHS-R antagonist significantly attenuated the occurrence of spontaneous phase III-like contractions. During the phase I period, plasma ghrelin level increased to its peak then returned to basal level, subsequently phase III-like contractions were observed. These results suggest that endogenous ghrelin regulates gastric phase III-like contractions in rats.

Replication of cloned DNA containing the Alu family sequence during cell extract-promoting simian virus 40 DNA synthesis.

The replicating activity of several cloned DNAs containing putative origin sequences was examined in a cell-free extract that absolutely depends on simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen promoting initiation of SV40 DNA replication in vitro. Of the three DNAs containing the human Alu family sequence (BLUR8), the origin of (Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasmid 2 micron DNA (pJD29), and the yeast autonomous replicating sequence (YRp7), only BLUR8 was active as a template. Replication in a reaction mixture with BLUR8 as a template was semiconservative and not primed by a putative RNA polymerase III transcript synthesized on the Alu family sequence in vitro. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the small-sized DNA produced in a short-term incubation was converted to full-length closed circular and open circular DNAs in alkaline sucrose gradients. DNA synthesis in extracts began in a region of the Alu family sequence and was inhibited 80% by the addition of anti-T serum. Furthermore, partially purified T antigen bound the Alu family sequence in BLUR8 by the DNA-binding immunoassay. These results suggest that SV40 T antigen recognizes the Alu family sequence, similar to the origin sequence of SV40 DNA, and initiates semiconservative DNA replication in vitro.

New class of polyomavirus mutant that can persist as free copies in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

A small circular DNA was found extrachromosomally in a clone of F9 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells at high copy numbers per cell. The DNA was cloned in plasmid pUC19. Restriction endonuclease analyses of the DNA indicated that the DNA (fPyF9) was a mutant of polyomavirus (Py) DNA and had a mutation in a noncoding regulatory region. There have been many reports on the isolation of Py mutants capable of replication in undifferentiated cells. However, fPyF9 was different from other Py mutants in the following aspects: it was harbored stably as a free copy at 1 X 10(4) to 5 X 10(4) copies per cell in EC cells; it replicated in undifferentiated cells better than in differentiated cells; it was extremely rearranged in the sequences of the enhancer B domain; and it carried in the enhancer B domain three copies of an exogenous sequence which does not exist in Py strain A2. From these observations, we propose a new class of Py EC mutant which has an autonomous state similar to that of plasmid and small circular DNA in host cells.

A novel DNA replication origin identified in the human heat shock protein 70 gene promoter.

A general and sensitive method for the mapping of initiation sites of DNA replication in vivo, developed by Vassilev and Johnson, has revealed replication origins in the region of simian virus 40 ori, in the regions upstream from the human c-myc gene and downstream from the Chinese hamster dihydrofolate reductase gene, and in the enhancer region of the mouse immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene. Here we report that the region containing the promoter of the human heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) gene was identified as a DNA replication origin in HeLa cells by this method. Several segments of the region were cloned into pUC19 and examined for autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) activity. The plasmids carrying the segments replicated episomally and semiconservatively when transfected into HeLa cells. The segments of ARS activity contained the sequences previously identified as binding sequences for a c-myc protein complex (T. Taira, Y. Negishi, F. Kihara, S. M. M. Iguchi-Ariga, and H. Ariga, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1130:166-174, 1992). Mutations introduced within the c-myc protein complex binding sequences abolished the ARS activity. Moreover, the ARS plasmids stably replicated at episomal state for a long time in established cell lines. The results suggest that the promoter region of the human hsp70 gene plays a role in DNA replication as well as in transcription.

Autonomous replicating sequences from mouse cells which can replicate in mouse cells in vivo and in vitro.

We have already reported that the cloned mouse DNA fragment (pMU65) could replicate in a simian virus 40 T antigen-dependent system in vivo and in vitro (H. Ariga, Z. Tsuchihashi, M. Naruto, and M. Yamada, Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:563-568, 1985). The plasmid p65-tk, containing the thymidine kinase (tk) gene of herpes simplex virus and the BglII-EcoRI region of pMU65 homologous to the simian virus 40 origin of DNA replication, was constructed. The p65-tk persisted episomally in tk+ transformants after the transfection of p65-tk into mouse FM3Atk- cells. The copy numbers of p65-tk in FM3Atk+ cells were 100 to 200 copies per cell. Furthermore, the p65-tk replicated semiconservatively, and the initiation of DNA replication started from the mouse DNA sequences when the replicating activity of p65-tk was tested in the in vitro DNA replication system developed from the FM3A cells. These results show that a 2.5-kilobase fragment of mouse DNA contains the autonomously replicating sequences.

BOX DNA: a novel regulatory element related to embryonal carcinoma cell differentiation.

BOX DNA was previously isolated from the DNA sequence inserted in the enhancer B domain of mutant polyomavirus (fPyF9) DNA. We also reported that BOX DNA functioned negatively on DNA replication and transcription of another polyomavirus mutant (PyhrN2) in F9-28 cells, a subclone of mouse F9 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells expressing the polyomavirus large T antigen. In this study, we demonstrate that BOX DNA enhances transcription from the thymidine kinase (TK) promoter in various EC cells. One or three copies of BOX DNA, linked to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene under the control of the herpes simplex virus TK promoter, activated promoter activity in F9, P19, and ECA2 cells. Band shift assays using BOX DNA as a probe revealed that specific binding proteins were present in all EC cells examined; the patterns of BOX DNA-protein complexes were the same among them. A mutation introduced within BOX DNA abolished enhancer activity as well as the formation of specific DNA-protein complexes. In non-EC cells, including L and BALB/3T3 cells, the enhancer activity of BOX DNA on the TK promoter was not observed, although binding proteins specific to the sequence exist. In band shift assays, the patterns of the DNA-protein complexes of either L or BALB/3T3 cells were different from those of EC cells. Furthermore, the enhancer activity of BOX DNA decreased upon differentiation induction in all EC cells examined, of different origins and distinct differentiation ability. In parallel with the loss of enhancer activity, the binding proteins specific for BOX DNA decreased in these cells. Moreover, we cloned a genomic DNA of F9, termed BOXF1, containing BOX DNA sequence approximately 400 bp upstream from the RNA start site of the gene. BOXF1, containing a TATA-like motif and the binding elements for Sp1 and Oct in addition to BOX DNA, possessed promoter activity deduced by a BOXF1-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct. Deletion analyses of the construct revealed that the transcription of BOXF1 gene is regulated by BOX DNA, preferentially in undifferentiated EC cells versus differentiated cells. Hence, BOX DNA is probably a novel transcriptional element related to EC cell differentiation.

Effect of silencer on polyomavirus DNA replication.

We have cloned the cellular sequence termed box DNA from the enhancer region of polyomavirus F9 mutant fPyF9. Box DNA functions as a negative transcriptional element (silencer) in undifferentiated F9 cells but not in differentiated L cells. Plasmid DNAs containing the origin and enhancer of polyomavirus were used to measure simultaneously transcriptional and replication activities in transfected cells. DNA replication activity was significantly reduced under conditions in which the silencer was able to reduce enhancer activity in F9 cells. On the other hand, when the silencer could not repress enhancer activity in MOP-8 cells, which are mouse NIH 3T3 cells producing polyomavirus T antigen constitutively, replication activity was still intact. The silencer itself had no effect on DNA replication or transcription in either type of cells. Furthermore, the insertion of a 6-base oligonucleotide within a consensus sequence of box DNA abolished the repressive effect of the silencer on DNA replication and enhancer activities. These results suggest that enhancer factors, interacting with silencer factors, may be closely associated with the mechanism of replication.

Negative transcriptional regulatory element that functions in embryonal carcinoma cells.

We have cloned the polyomavirus mutant fPyF9, which persists in an episomal state in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells (K. Ariizumi and H. Ariga, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:3920-3927, 1986). fPyF9 carries three copies of exogenous sequences, the prototype of which is a 21-base-pair repeat (box DNA), in the region of the enhancer B domain of wild-type polyomavirus DNA. The consensus sequence, GCATTCCATTGTT, is 13 base pairs long. The box DNA inserted into fPyF9 appeared to come from a cellular sequence and was present in many kinds of DNAs, including F9 chromosomal DNA. The biological function of box DNA was analyzed by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression assays, using chimeric plasmids containing box DNA conjugated with simian virus 40 promoter elements. The results showed that box DNA repressed the activities both of the simian virus 40 promoter and enhancer only in transfected undifferentiated F9 cells and not in differentiated LTK- cells. Box DNA functioned independently of orientation and position with respect to the promoter in an enhancerlike manner, although the effect of box DNA was opposite that of the enhancer. The XhoI linker insertion into the consensus sequences of box DNA abolished the repression activity, and the protein(s) recognizing the consensus sequences was identified only in F9 cells, not in L cells. These analyses suggest that box DNA may be a negative regulatory element that functions in undifferentiated cells.

Cloned mouse DNA fragments can replicate in a simian virus 40 T antigen-dependent system in vivo and in vitro.

Mouse liver DNA was cut out with BamHI and cloned into YIp5, which contained the URA3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in pBR322. Of the several plasmids isolated, two plasmids, pMU65 and pMU111, could transform S. cerevisiae from the URA- to the URA+ phenotype and could replicate autonomously within the transformant, indicating that mouse DNA fragments present in pMU65 or pMU111 contain autonomously replicating sequences (ARS) for replication in S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, to determine the correlation between ARS function in yeast cells and that in much higher organisms, we tried to challenge these plasmids with the simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication system. Of the two plasmids tested, the EcoRI-BglII region of pMU65 could be hybridized with a chemically synthesized 13-nucleotide fragment corresponding to the origin region of SV40 DNA. Both pMU65 (the EcoRI-BglII region cloned in pBR322) and its subclone pMU65EB could replicate semiconservatively, and initiation of DNA replication started from the EcoRI-BglII region when the replicating activity of these plasmids was tested in the in vitro SV40 DNA replication system we have established before. Furthermore, pMU65 and pMU65EB could replicate autonomously within monkey Cos cells which produce SV40 T antigen constitutively. These results show that a 2.5-kilobase fragment of the EcoRI-BglII region in pMU65 contains the ARS needed for replication in the SV40 DNA replication system.

Sp1 cooperates with c-Myc to activate transcription of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT).

Telomerase activation is thought to be a critical step in cellular immortalization and carcinogenesis. The human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) is a rate limiting determinant of the enzymatic activity of human telomerase. In the previous study, we identified the proximal 181 bp core promoter responsible for transcriptional activity of the hTERT gene. To identify the regulatory factors of transcription, transient expression assays were performed using hTERT promoter reporter plasmids. Serial deletion assays of the core promoter revealed that the 5'-region containing the E-box, which binds Myc/Max, as well as the 3'-region containing the GC-box, which binds Sp1, are essential for transactivation. The mutations introduced in the E-box or GC-box significantly decreased transcriptional activity of the promoter. Overexpression of Myc/Max or Sp1 led to significant activation of transcription in a cell type-specific manner, while Mad/Max introduction repressed it. However, the effects of Myc/Max on transactivation were marginal when Sp1 sites were mutated. Western blot analysis using various cell lines revealed a positive correlation between c-Myc and Sp1 expression and transcriptional activity of hTERT. Using fibroblast lineages in different stages of transformation, we found that c-Myc and Sp1 were induced to a dramatic extent when cells overcame replicative senescence and obtained immortal characteristics, in association with telomerase activation. These findings suggest that c-Myc and Sp1 cooperatively function as the major determinants of hTERT expression, and that the switching functions of Myc/Max and Mad/Max might also play roles in telomerase regulation.

Protein complexes bearing myc-like antigenicity recognize two distinct DNA sequences.

The products of the myc proto-oncogene family have been suggested to carry functions important for cell proliferation, differentiation and neoplasia, but the molecular mechanisms of such biological effects have not yet been clarified. We have previously reported that the c-myc protein or protein(s) complexed with the c-myc protein bind to a specific sequence in the region upstream of the c-myc gene, where there exist an origin of cellular DNA replication (ori) and also a transcriptional enhancer. It was recently reported that the c-myc protein forms complexes with a novel helix-loop-helix leucine zipper protein (Max), and that the Myc-Max complex specifically recognizes a DNA sequence different from the sequence we have defined in the c-myc gene. In this report we examine the nuclear extract prepared from human Raji cells for binding to the two different sequences which have been reported as specific binding sequences for c-myc protein or c-myc protein complexes. The binding to one sequence was inhibited in the presence of excess amount of the other sequence, suggesting that the same protein(s) may be necessary for binding to either of the two sequences. Since binding to both sequences was cancelled by pretreatment of the Raji extract with an anti-c-myc protein antibody, it is suggested that proteins carrying myc-like antigenicity are necessary for efficient binding of the nucleoprotein complexes to the two distinct DNA sequences.

Cloning of the p53-dependent origin of cellular DNA replication.

We have recently reported that the c-myc protein may promote cellular DNA replication by binding to the origin of DNA replication (ori) and that an origin of human DNA replication which can autonomously replicate in human cells was cloned as a binding sequence of c-myc protein (Iguchi-Ariga et al., 1987). Here we report that cellular tumor antigen p53 may also participate in cellular DNA replication and another origin of DNA replication was cloned as a possible p53-binding sequence. The sequence could autonomously replicate in Raji cells which express p53 at a high level but not in HL-60 cells in which the coding gene for p53 is largely deleted. Little homology of the sequences was found between c-myc protein-binding ori and p53-binding ori. This suggests that c-myc protein and p53 may independently recognize different ori in chromosomal DNA.

Cross-family interaction between the bHLHZip USF and bZip Fra1 proteins results in down-regulation of AP1 activity.

Heterodimerization among the basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins or among the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLHZip) proteins confers a multitude of combinational activities to these transcription factors. To further examine the function of the bHLHZip protein, USF, we screened for cellular proteins which could directly interact with USF using the yeast two-hybrid system. A bZip protein, Fra1, was found to efficiently interact with USF. USF specifically interacts with Fra1 but not with other closely related family members, c-Fos, Fra2, FosB, or with c-Jun. Both the bHLHZip and the N-terminal regions of Fra1 are required for efficient interaction with USF. In vivo association between USF and Fra1 has been demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. Expression of exogenous USF led to a decrease in AP1-dependent transcription in F9 cells. Co-expression of exogenous Fra1 restored the AP1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. These data show that USF and Fra1 physically and functionally interact demonstrating that cross-talk occurs between factors of distantly related transcription families.

Identification and cDNA cloning of single-stranded DNA binding proteins that interact with the region upstream of the human c-myc gene.

We have previously reported that a c-myc protein complex binds to the region upstream of the c-myc gene, where exist an origin of cellular DNA replication (ori) and a transcriptional enhancer. Both functions require a 21 bp long sequence, while the c-myc protein complex recognizes a 7 bp consensus therein. It was recently reported that single-stranded DNA binding proteins bound specifically to sequences that play roles in DNA replication or transcription. We examined for proteins binding to the single-stranded DNAs of the 21 bp element (myc(H-P)21). In a band shift assay with HL60 cells nuclear extract, probes of either the plus strand or the minus strand gave rise to specific signals. Mutation introduced within a short consensus (A/TCTA/TA/TT) present in both strands completely abolished binding in either case. Southwestern blotting analysis showed that proteins of molecular weight 105, 80, 50, 45, 40, 39.5 and 14 kDa bound sequence-specifically to either strand and 22 kDa to minus strand to the cognate A/TCTA/TA/TT consensus. These single-stranded DNA binding proteins were named MSSP, c-myc gene single strand binding proteins. We attempted to isolate the cDNAs encoding these proteins by screening a human cDNA library with the plus single-stranded oligonucleotide as a probe. Among several positive clones, we have characterized one, termed MSSP-1. MSSP-1 produced in E. coli as a fusion protein with GST specifically interacted with single-stranded TCTTAT (plus myc(H-P)21) and ACT-ATT (in minus myc(H-P)21), the consensus of which can be referred to as A/TCTA/TA/TT. Sequence analysis of MSSP-1 cDNA revealed that two domains thereof are homologous to the RNA binding motifs common to several ribonucleoproteins. Interestingly, the MSSP-1/GST fusion protein specifically recognized myc(H-P)21 not only in single-stranded but also in double-stranded forms. Binding properties of MSSP-1 imply its functions in DNA replication. Furthermore, when the AT stretch in the SV40 ori core was substituted by TCTTAT, MSSP-1 promoted viral DNA replication depending on the consensus sequences.

A eukaryotic nuclear protein of 130 kDa binds to a bacterial cAMP responsive element.

It has been known that one of the signal transduction mechanisms in Escherichia coli is mediated by cAMP which binds to the receptor protein (CAP), and that CAP complexed with cAMP facilitates gene expression by binding to the specific sequences. To identify a molecular mechanism in eukaryotes similar to a cAMP-mediated pathway in E. coli, the function of the CAP binding site of lac gene in E. coli and the protein(s) interacting with it were examined in a mammalian system. From transient expression studies of the fusion gene between the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and lac genes, it was found that the lacCAP binding site could act as an enhancer activity on the SV40 promoter, and also as an additive enhancer activity to the SV40 enhancer in HeLa cells. However, the activity was not stimulated by cpt-cAMP (a highly stable analogue of cAMP) in HeLa cells, although it was induced in PC12 cells. These results suggest that a bacterial cAMP responsive element may function also in eukaryotes as a cis-acting element in a cell type dependent manner. Results from gel mobility shift assays showed that a protein(s) exists that specifically binds to the lacCAP binding site in eukaryotic nuclear extracts. As one of the proteins binding to the above site, we have identified a 130 kDa protein by using the Southwestern method. Although a function of the 130 kDa protein has not yet been understood, there is a possibility that the 130 kDa protein may play a role in the regulation of cAMP-dependent gene expression.

The upstream region of the mouse N-myc gene: identification of an enhancer element that functions preferentially in neuroblastoma IMR32 cells.

The various members of the myc gene family, including c-myc and N-myc, are supposed to play a role in the regulation of cell cycle and proliferation. Whereas c-myc is expressed nearly ubiquitously, the N-myc gene product is found mainly in actively proliferating neural tissues such as early development tissues or in retinoblastomas and neuroblastomas. In this report, the upstream region of mouse N-myc gene was ligated to pSVPCAT, which carries the simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter and bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, and transcriptional activities were examined by CAT and S1 protection assays after transfection of the DNAs into human cervical carcinoma HeLa or neuroblastoma IMR32 cells. Several regulatory regions were identified: two promoting regions (-980 to -860 and -279 to +108) and an inhibiting one (-860 to -797). The region spanning positions -980 to -860 increased CAT expression independently of orientation and distance to the SV40 promoter, indicating that the element is a typical enhancer. Moreover, the expression levels from this enhancer were higher in IMR32 cells than in HeLa cells, indicating that action has, if not cell-type specificity, cell-type preference. These findings may provide useful bases for the understanding of the cell-type specific regulation of N-myc expression.