Identification, characterization, and evolution of a primate beta-defensin gene cluster.

Defensins are members of a large diverse family of cationic antimicrobial peptides that share a signature pattern consisting of six conserved cysteine residues. Defensins have a wide variety of functions and their disruption has been implicated in various human diseases. Here we report the characterization of DEFB119-DEFB123, five genes in the human beta-defensin cluster locus on chromosome 20q11.1. The genomic structures of DEFB121 and DEFB122 were determined in silico. Sequences of the five macaque orthologs were obtained and expression patterns of the genes were analyzed in humans and macaque by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Expression was restricted to the male reproductive tract. The genes in this cluster are differentially regulated by androgens. Evolutionary analyses suggest that this cluster originated by a series of duplication events and by positive selection. The evolutionary forces driving the proliferation and diversification of these defensins may be related to reproductive specialization and/or the host-parasite coevolutionary process.

Primate epididymis-specific proteins: characterization of ESC42, a novel protein containing a trefoil-like motif in monkey and human.

Epididymal secreted proteins promote sperm maturation and fertilizing capacity by interacting with sperm during passage through the epididymis. Here we investigate the molecular basis of sperm maturation by isolating cDNA clones for novel epididymis-specific expressed sequences. Thirty-six novel cDNAs were isolated and sequenced from a subtracted Macaca mulatta epididymis library. The clones encode proteins with a range of motifs characteristic of protein-modifying enzymes, protease inhibitors, hydrophobic ligand-binding and transport proteins, extracellular matrix-interacting proteins, and transcription regulatory factors. The full length coding sequences were obtained for 11 clones representing a range of abundance levels. Expression of each is regionally localized and androgen regulated. The most abundant, ESC42, contains a cysteine-rich region similar to the signature binding domain of the trefoil family of motogenic wound repair proteins. The monkey and human proteins are nearly 90% identical. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the protein is most abundant in the epithelium of the caput and is also present in the lumen and bound to sperm. The ESC42 gene, located on chromosome 20q11, contains two exons encoding two nearly identical predicted signal peptides and a third exon encoding the rest of the protein.

Cloning and sequencing of human Eppin: a novel family of protease inhibitors expressed in the epididymis and testis.

In this report we describe the discovery of Eppin (Epididymal protease inhibitor), a gene on human chromosome 20 expressing three mRNAs encoding two isoforms of a cystine-rich protein containing both Kunitz-type and WAP-type four disuffide core protease inhibitor consensus sequences. Analysis of Eppin's genomic sequence from chromosome 20q12-13.2 predicts the existence of all three splice variants of Eppin and that all the exons conform to the AG/GT splicing rule. The presence of single bands on a Southern blot of human genomic DNA suggests that Eppin is a single copy gene. TATA box transcription initiation sites are present for both of the different Eppin 5' UTRs and examination of the promoter region 1800 bp upstream of the start codon revealed a number of putative transcription enhancer binding sites typical of genes expressed in the epididymis or testis. Northern blot and tissue specific PCR data indicate Eppin-1 is expressed only in the testis and epididymis; Eppin-2 is expressed only in the epididymis and Eppin-3 only in the testis. Antiserum prepared against recombinant EPPIN recognizes several strong bands on Western blots of human epididymal extracts from the caput and corpus regions. Immunohistochemistry indicates a strong pattern of expression by the ciliated cells of the efferent ducts and strong staining of ejaculated spermatozoa. Eppin represents the first member of a family of protease inhibitors characterized by dual inhibitor consensus sequences, both WAP-type and Kunitz-type consensus sequences. A second family member is predicted to exist on chromosome 20 approximately 4 kb downstream from Eppin's exon I, which has two WAP-type sequences and one Kumtz-type consensus sequence.

HE2beta and HE2gamma, new members of an epididymis-specific family of androgen-regulated proteins in the human.

HE2 is an epididymis-specific sperm-binding secretory protein. We isolated a family of HE2-related complementary DNAs from a human caput/corpus library. The transcripts code for identical 71-amino acid N-termini and different C-termini, and 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions. Compared with the original HE2, HE2beta and HE2gamma proteins have a 25-amino acid deletion near the C-terminus, and HE2gamma isoforms have a second deletion. These frame-shifting deletions result in C-termini differing in length, amino acid sequence, including number of cysteines, and isoelectric point. Identical sequences and deletion start and stop points indicate the HE2 isoforms are derived from alternative splicing of 8 or more exons of a single gene. Northern hybridization revealed that the 0.9-kb messenger RNA (mRNA) is most abundant in human caput; there is much less of it (20%) in corpus and little (<5%) in cauda. In castrated Macaca mulatta, HE2 mRNA decreased to 10% of sham-operated levels. Testosterone replacement maintained HE2 mRNA 3- to 5-fold higher than castrate levels, indicating its androgen dependence. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the beta1 form is highly expressed in principal cells of the initial segment and caput. It is secreted into the lumen and binds to the sperm surface in the postacrosomal and neck regions. The beta2 form is expressed in principal cells primarily in efferent ducts.

Protein inhibitor of activated STAT-1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-1) is a nuclear receptor coregulator expressed in human testis.

An androgen receptor (AR) interacting protein was isolated from a HeLa cell cDNA library by two-hybrid screening in yeast using the AR DNA+ligand binding domains as bait. The protein has sequence identity with human protein inhibitor of activated signal transducer and activator of transcription (PIAS1) and human Gu RNA helicase II binding protein (GBP). Binding of PIAS1 to human AR DNA+ligand binding domains was androgen dependent in the yeast liquid beta-galactosidase assay. Activation of binding by dihydrotestosterone was greater than testosterone > estradiol > progesterone. PIAS1 binding to full-length human AR in a reversed yeast two hybrid system was also androgen dependent. [35S] PIAS1 bound a glutathione S-transferase-AR-DNA binding domain (amino acids 544-634) fusion protein in affinity matrix assays. In transient cotransfection assays using CV1 cells with full-length human AR and a mouse mammary tumor virus luciferase reporter vector, there was an androgen-dependent 3- to 5-fold greater increase in luciferase activity with PIAS1 over that obtained with an equal amount of control antisense cDNA or mutant PIAS1. Constitutive transcriptional activity of the AR N-terminal+DNA binding domain was increased 6-fold by PIAS1. PIAS1 also enhanced glucocorticoid receptor transactivation in response to dexamethasone but inhibited progesterone-induced progesterone receptor transactivation in the same assay system. mRNA for PIAS1 was highly expressed in testis of human, monkey, rat, and mouse. In rat testis the onset of PIAS1 mRNA expression coincided with the initiation of spermatogenesis between 25-30 days of age. Immunostaining of human and mouse testis with PIAS1-specific antiserum demonstrated coexpression of PIAS1 with AR in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. In addition, PIAS1 was expressed in spermatogenic cells. The results suggest that PIAS1 functions in testis as a nuclear receptor transcriptional coregulator and may have a role in AR initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis.

Cloning and characterization of an androgen-dependent acidic epididymal glycoprotein/CRISP1-like protein from the monkey.

A cDNA encoding an acidic epididymal glycoprotein (AEG)-like, CRISP1 (cysteine-rich secretory protein) protein from the monkey (Macaca mullata) epididymis has been cloned and sequenced. The monkey AEG (mAEG) has an open reading frame that encodes a protein containing 249 amino acids with a deduced molecular mass of 28 kDa. The mAEG protein sequence is 85% identical to human and 44% identical to mouse CRISP1, including all 16 conserved cysteine residues. mAEG also shows a significant amino acid homology with other CRISP proteins, rat AEG/DE, human TPX1/CRISP2, and guinea pig acrosomal autoantigen 1 (AA1). In addition, mAEG shows somewhat less homology to a toxin from the Mexican beaded lizard and to a human glioma pathogenesis-related protein. Northern blot analysis shows that the mRNA for mAEG is expressed in all the regions of the epididymis except the caput and was not detected in the testis, prostate, seminal vesicle, and brain. In castrated animals, mAEG gene expression in the epididymis is significantly diminished; however, testosterone enanthate replacement restored the normal level of expression, demonstrating that expression of mAEG is androgen dependent. Western blot analysis of monkey epididymal regions using mouse antirecombinant human AEG identified a 28-kDa protein only in the caudal region. Immunohistochemical analysis identified mAEG only in the principal cells of the cauda epididymal epithelium. Immunofluorescence analysis identified mAEG on the principal piece of the sperm tail and as small patches over the middle piece and head regions. The results described in the present study suggest that mAEG (CRISP1) is secreted in the monkey epididymis, regulated by androgens and present on epididymal spermatozoa.

Androgen receptor expression in androgen-independent prostate cancer is associated with increased expression of androgen-regulated genes.

The human prostate cancer (CaP) xenograft, CWR22, mimics human CaP. CWR22 grows in testosterone-stimulated nude mice, regresses after castration, and recurs after 5-6 months in the absence of testicular androgen. Like human CaP that recurs during androgen deprivation therapy, the recurrent CWR22 expresses high levels of androgen receptor (AR). Immunohistochemical, Western, and Northern blot analyses demonstrated that AR expression in the androgen-independent CWR22 is similar to AR expression in the androgen-dependent CWR22 prior to castration. Expression of prostate-specific antigen and human kallikrein-2 mRNAs, two well-characterized androgen-regulated genes in human CaP, was androgen dependent in CWR22. Despite the absence of testicular androgen, prostate-specific antigen and human kallikrein-2 mRNA levels in recurrent CWR22 were higher than the levels in regressing CWR22 tumors from 12-day castrate mice and similar to those in the androgen-stimulated CWR22. Other AR-regulated genes followed a similar pattern of expression. Differential expression screening identified androgen regulation of alpha-enolase and alpha-tubulin as well as other unknown mRNAs. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5, the homeobox gene Nkx 3.1, the AR coactivator ARA-70, and cell cycle genes Cdk1 and Cdk2 were androgen regulated in CWR22. In recurrent CWR22, the steady-state levels of all these AR-dependent mRNAs were similar to those in the androgen-stimulated CWR22, despite the absence of testicular androgen. Expression of AR and AR-regulated genes in the androgen-deprived recurrent CWR22 at levels similar to the androgen-stimulated CWR22 suggests that AR is transcriptionally active in recurrent CWR22. Induction of these AR-regulated genes may enhance cellular proliferation in relative androgen absence but through an AR-dependent mechanism. Alternatively, in androgen-independent tumors, induced expression of the AR-regulated gene network might result from a non-AR transcription control mechanism common to these genes.

Dehydroepiandrosterone activates mutant androgen receptors expressed in the androgen-dependent human prostate cancer xenograft CWR22 and LNCaP cells.

An androgen receptor (AR) gene mutation identified in the androgen-dependent human prostate cancer xenograft, CWR22, changed codon 874 in the ligand-binding domain (exon H) from CAT for histidine to TAT for tyrosine and abolished a restriction site for the endonuclease SfaNI. SfaNI digestion of AR exon H DNA from normal but not from prostate cancer tissue indicated H874Y is a somatic mutation that occurred before the initial tumor transplant. CWR22, an epithelial cell tumor, expresses a 9.6-kb AR mRNA similar in size to the AR mRNA in human benign prostatic hyperplasia. AR protein is present in cell nuclei by immunostaining as in other androgen-responsive tissues. Transcriptional activity of recombinant H874Y transiently expressed in CV1 cells in the presence of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone was similar to that of wild type AR. With dihydrotestosterone at a near physiological concentration (0.01 nM), H874Y and wild type AR induced 2-fold greater luciferase activity than did the LNCaP mutant AR T877A. The adrenal androgen, dehydroepiandrosterone (10 and 100 nM) with H874Y stimulated a 3- to 8-fold greater response than with wild type AR and at 100 nM the response was similar with the LNCaP mutant. H874Y, like the LNCaP cell mutant, was more responsive to estradiol and progesterone than was wild type AR. The antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide (10 nM) had greater agonist activity (4- to 7-fold) with both mutant ARs than with wild type AR. AR mutations that alter ligand specificity may influence tumor progression subsequent to androgen withdrawal by making the AR more responsive to adrenal androgens or antiandrogens.

Stage-specific expression of B cell translocation gene 1 in rat testis.

B Cell translocation gene 1 (BTG1) is a member of a new family of putative antiproliferative factors. They are characterized by their rapid, but transient, expression in response to factors that induce growth arrest and subsequent differentiation. In immature rat Sertoli cell cultures, BTG1 messenger RNA (mRNA) increases rapidly after FSH stimulation. We obtained the full-length coding sequence of rat BTG1 complementary DNA for Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization to determine the temporal expression and spatial distribution of BTG1 mRNA in the rat testis. Northern analysis of isolated adult germ cells and in situ hybridization analysis of adult seminiferous epithelium demonstrated that BTG1 expression was first evident in late primary spermatocytes. The level of BTG1 mRNA was also elevated in secondary spermatocytes, but was maximal in postmeiotic round spermatids where levels were 5 times the background. BTG1 mRNA was not detectable in cells in the M phase of meiosis or spermatids undergoing nuclear elongation and condensation. The oscillation of BTG1 expression from the late prophase of the first meiotic division through spermatozoa release suggests BTG1 involvement in spermatogenesis. High levels of BTG1 mRNA at entry into terminal spermatid differentiation suggests a role consistent with that proposed for the BTG1 family of antiproliferative factors.

Follicle-stimulating hormone regulation of AP-1: inhibition of c-jun and stimulation of jun-B gene transcription in the rat Sertoli cell.

The proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun and the related jun-B encode the components of transcription factor, AP-1, a heterodimeric DNA-binding protein that mediates hormone and growth factor-regulated gene expression. In the rat Sertoli cell, FSH rapidly inhibited c-jun gene expression while it stimulated c-fos and jun-B as well as the expression of the more slowly responding, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and inhibin alpha-subunit. These early effects of FSH were not inhibited by cycloheximide. Nuclear run-off analyses demonstrated that the FSH-dependent decline in c-jun and increases in c-fos, jun-B, tPA and inhibin alpha-subunit mRNAs were regulated at the transcriptional level. The rates of degradation of c-fos, c-jun and jun-B mRNAs were unaffected by FSH while tPA and inhibin alpha-subunit mRNAs were stabilized. After 8 h of FSH treatment, the transcription of all five genes returned to basal rates. These data demonstrate immediate-early regulation by FSH of the expression of genes encoding components of the transcription factor, AP-1.

Constitutive transcription of yeast ribosomal protein gene TCM1 is promoted by uncommon cis- and trans-acting elements.

The DNA sequence UAST (TCGTTTTGTACGTTTTTCA) was found to mediate transcription of yeast ribosomal protein gene TCM1. UAST was defined as a transcriptional activator on the basis of loss of transcription accompanying deletions of all or part of UAST, orientation-independent restoration of transcription promoted by a synthetic UAST oligomer inserted either into TCM1 or into the yeast CYC1 gene lacking its transcriptional activation region, and diminished transcription following nucleotide alterations in UAST. UAST bound in vitro to a protein denoted TAF (TCM1 activation factor); TAF was concluded to be a transcriptional activator protein because nucleotide alterations in UAST that diminished transcription in vivo also diminished TAF binding in vitro. The sequence of UAST bore no obvious resemblance to UASrpg, the principal cis-acting element common to most yeast ribosomal protein genes. Likewise, TAF was distinguished from the UASrpg-binding protein TUF, since (i) TAF and TUF were chromatographically separable, (ii) binding of either TAF or TUF to its corresponding UAS was unaffected by an excess of UASrpg or UAST DNA, respectively, and (iii) photochemical cross-linking experiments showed that TAF was a protein of 147 kilodaltons (kDa), while TUF was detected as an approximately 120-kDa polypeptide, consistent with its known size. Cross-linking experiments also revealed that both UAST and UASrpg bound a second heretofore unobserved 82-kDa protein; binding of this additional protein appeared to require binding of TAF or TUF. On the basis of the biochemical characterization of TAF and a lack of sequence similarity between UAST and UASrpg, we suggest that transcription of TCM1 is mediated by a cis-acting sequence and at least one trans-acting factor different from the elements which promote transcription of most other ribosomal protein genes. A second trans-acting factor may be shared by TCM1 and other ribosomal protein genes; this factor could mediate coordinate regulation of these genes.