The FMR-1 protein is cytoplasmic, most abundant in neurons and appears normal in carriers of a fragile X premutation.

Fragile X mental retardation syndrome is caused by the unstable expansion of a CGG repeat in the FMR-1 gene. In patients with a full mutation, abnormal methylation results in suppression of FMR-1 transcription. FMR-1 is expressed in many tissues but its function is unknown. We have raised monoclonal antibodies specific for the FMR-1 protein. They detect 4-5 protein bands which appear identical in cells of normal males and of males carrying a premutation, but are absent in affected males with a full mutation. Immunohistochemistry shows a cytoplasmic localization of FMR-1. The highest levels were observed in neurons, while glial cells contain very low levels. In epithelial tissues, levels of FMR-1 were higher in dividing layers. In adult testis, FMR-1 was detected only in spermatogonia. FMR-1 was not detected in dermis and cardiac muscle except under pathological conditions.

Cellular localization of the Huntington's disease protein and discrimination of the normal and mutated form.

Huntington's disease (HD) results from the expansion of a polyglutamine encoding CAG repeat in a gene of unknown function. The wide expression of this transcript does not correlate with the pattern of neuropathology in HD. To study the HD gene product (huntingtin), we have developed monoclonal antibodies raised against four different regions of the protein. On western blots, these monoclonals detect the approximately 350 kD huntingtin protein in various human cell lines and in neural and non-neural rodent tissues. In cell lines from HD patients, a doublet protein is detected corresponding to the mutated and normal huntingtin. Immunohistochemical studies in the human brain using two of these antibodies detects the huntingtin in perikarya of some neurons, neuropiles, varicosities and as punctate staining likely to be nerve endings.

Rapid effect of heat shock on two heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated antigens in HeLa cells.

During severe heat shock, which known to interrupt both splicing of RNA transcripts and nucleocytoplasmic transport, it is to be expected that the substructure of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP) is altered in some way. Recently, we have shown that such a stress actually induces rapid alterations at the level of individual proteins (Lutz, Y., M. Jacob, and J.-P. Fuchs. 1988 Exp. Cell Res. 175:109-124). Here we report further investigations on two related 72.5-74-kD hnRNP proteins whose behavior is also rapidly modified by a heat shock at 45 degrees C, whereas no effect is observed at 42 degrees C. Using a monoclonal antibody, we show that in situ the antigens are available only when the cells are heat shocked at 45 degrees C. Subcellular fractionation shows that in normal cells the antigens are associated with the bulk of hnRNP (50-200S). During heat shock, whereas the overall characteristics of the bulk of preexisting hnRNP are unchanged, these antigens rapidly switch to a subpopulation of hnRNP with larger average size (50 to less than 300S) and increased stability. Structural analysis of the associated hnRNP in normal and stressed cells shows that in both cases the antigens are associated with the nuclear matrix subcomplex of hnRNP, which in situ is part of the internal nuclear matrix. Such hnRNP antigens, which are rapidly redistributed during a heat shock at the upper temperature range of the stress response, might well be involved in splicing and/or transport control.

Retinoic acid receptor gamma: specific immunodetection and phosphorylation.

Synthetic peptides corresponding to cDNA-deduced amino acid sequences unique to the human and mouse retinoic acid receptor gamma 1 (hRAR-gamma 1 and mRAR-gamma 1, respectively) were used to generate anti-RAR-gamma 1 antibodies. Four mAbs were selected, which were directed against peptides found in region A1 (Ab1 gamma (A1)), region F (Ab2 gamma (mF) and Ab4 gamma (hF)) and region D2 (Ab5 gamma (D2)). These antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated and recognized by Western blotting RAR-gamma 1 proteins in COS-1 cells transfected with expression vectors containing the RAR-gamma 1 cDNAs. They all reacted with both human and mouse RAR-gamma 1 proteins, except Ab4 gamma (hF) that was specific for hRAR-gamma 1. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies, directed against a peptide from the mRAR-gamma 1 F region were also obtained (RP gamma (mF)) and found to be specific for mouse RAR-gamma 1 protein. Furthermore, in gel retardation/shift assays the antibodies specifically retarded the migration of complexes obtained with a RA response element (RARE). Antibodies raised against regions D2 and F also recognized the RAR-gamma 2 isoform which differs from RAR-gamma 1 only in the A region. On the other hand, antibodies directed against the A1 region of RAR-gamma 1 (Ab1 gamma (A1)) only reacted with the RAR-gamma 1 protein. The antibodies characterized here allowed us to detect the presence of mRAR-gamma 1 and gamma 2 isoforms in mouse embryos and F9 embryonal carcinoma cells nuclear extracts. They were also used to demonstrate that the mRAR-gamma 1 protein can be phosphorylated and that the phosphorylation occurs mainly in the NH2-terminal A/B region.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases during rat skin wound healing: evidence that membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase is a stromal activator of pro-gelatinase A.

Skin wound healing depends on cell migration and extracellular matrix remodeling. Both processes, which are necessary for reepithelization and restoration of the underlying connective tissue, are believed to involve the action of extracellular proteinases. We screened cDNA libraries and we found that six matrix metalloproteinase genes were highly expressed during rat skin wound healing. They were namely those of stromelysin 1, stromelysin 3, collagenase 3, gelatinase A (GelA), gelatinase B, and membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). The expression kinetics of these MMP genes, the tissue distribution of their transcripts, the results of cotransfection experiments in COS-1 cells, and zymographic analyses performed using microdissected rat wound tissues support the possibility that during cutaneous wound healing pro-GelA and pro-gelatinase B are activated by MT1-MMP and stromelysin 1, respectively. Since MT1-MMP has been demonstrated to be a membrane-associated protein (Sato, H., T. Takino, Y. Okada, J. Cao, A. Shinagawa, E. Yamamoto, and M. Seiki. 1994. Nature (Lond.). 370: 61-65), our finding that GelA and MT1-MMP transcripts were expressed in stromal cells exhibiting a similar tissue distribution suggests that MT1-MMP activates pro-GelA at the stromal cell surface. This possibility is further supported by our observation that the processing of pro-GelA to its mature form correlated to the detection of MT1-MMP in cell membranes of rat fibroblasts expressing the MT1-MMP and GelA genes. These observations, together with the detection of high levels of the mature GelA form in the granulation tissue but not in the regenerating epidermis, suggest that MT1-MMP and GelA contribute to the restoration of connective tissue during rat skin wound healing.

Characterization of a premeiotic germ cell-specific cytoplasmic protein encoded by Stra8, a novel retinoic acid-responsive gene.

The full-length cDNA corresponding to Stra8, a novel gene inducible by retinoic acid (RA) in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells, has been isolated and shown to encode a 45-kD protein. Both Stra8 mRNA and protein were induced in cells treated by all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acids. Two-dimensional gel analysis and dephosphorylation experiments revealed that the two stereoisomers of RA differentially regulate the phosphorylation status of the Stra8 protein, which was shown to exist in differently phosphorylated forms. Subcellular fractionation and immunocytochemistry studies showed that the Stra8 protein is cytoplasmic. During mouse embryogenesis, Stra8 expression was restricted to the male developing gonads, and in adult mice, the expression of Stra8 was restricted to the premeiotic germ cells. Thus, Stra8 protein may play a role in the premeiotic phase of spermatogenesis.

Cloning of the 62-kilodalton component of basic transcription factor BTF2.

Cloning of the mammalian basic transcription factors serves as a major step in understanding the mechanism of transcription initiation. The 62-kilodalton component (p62) of one of these transcription factors, BTF2 was cloned and overexpressed. A monoclonal antibody to this polypeptide inhibited transcription in vitro. Immunoaffinity experiments demonstrated that the 62-kilodalton component is closely associated with the other polypeptides present in the BTF2 factor. Sequence similarity suggests that BTF2 may be the human counterpart of RNA polymerase II initiation factor b from yeast.

ICBP90, a novel human CCAAT binding protein, involved in the regulation of topoisomerase IIalpha expression.

The one-hybrid system with an inverted CCAAT box as the DNA target sequence was used to identify proteins acting on key DNA sequences of the promoter of the topoisomerase IIalpha gene. Screening of cDNA libraries from the leukemia Jurkat cell line and from the adult human thymus resulted in the isolation of a novel protein of 793 amino acids (89,758 Da). This protein has in vitro CCAAT binding properties and has been called ICBP90. Adult thymus, fetal thymus, fetal liver, and bone marrow, known as active tissues in terms of cell proliferation, are the tissues richest in ICBP90 mRNA. In contrast, highly differentiated tissues and cells such as the central nervous system and peripheral leukocytes are free of ICBP90 mRNA. Western blotting experiments showed a simultaneous expression of topoisomerase IIalpha and ICBP90 in proliferating human lung fibroblasts. Simultaneous expression of both proteins has also been observed in HeLa cells, but in both proliferating and confluent cells. Overexpression of ICBP90 in COS-1-transfected cells induced an enhanced expression of endogenous topoisomerase IIalpha. Immunohistochemistry experiments showed that topoisomerase IIalpha and ICBP90 were coexpressed in proliferating areas of paraffin-embedded human appendix tissues and in high-grade breast carcinoma tissues. We have identified ICBP90, which is a novel CCAAT binding protein, and our results suggest that it may be involved in topoisomerase IIalpha expression. ICBP90 may also be useful as a new proliferation marker for cancer tissues.

Two independent activation domains in c-Ets-1 and c-Ets-2 located in non-conserved sequences of the ets gene family.

The c-Ets-1 oncoprotein is a transcription activator that specifically binds to DNA. We show, using fusion proteins with heterologous DNA-binding domains, that chicken c-Ets-1 (p68) contains two independent activation domains. The N-terminal activation domain is absent in c-Ets-1 (p54) that is generated from an alternatively spliced mRNA. A closely related member of the ets gene family, c-Ets-2, also contains two separate activation domains. They lie in the regions of the protein that are least conserved with c-Ets-1, suggesting that the activating function will determine the different physiological roles of these two proteins. The activation domains of c-Ets-1 (p68) and -2 are separated by a moderately conserved region that does not activate on its own. These sequences appear to affect stimulation by the domains, suggesting that they regulate transcription activation. Competition experiments show that c-Ets-1 and -2 interact with a common limiting coactivator. These studies provide important clues about the physiological roles of closely related members of the ets gene family.

The ternary complex factor Net contains two distinct elements that mediate different responses to MAP kinase signalling cascades.

The ternary complex factors (TCFs), Elk-1, Sap-1a and Net, are key integrators of the transcriptional response to different signalling pathways. Classically, three MAP kinase pathways, involving ERK, JNK, and p38, transduce various extracellular stimuli to the nucleus. Net is a repressor that is converted into an activator by Ras/ERK signalling. Net is also exported from the nucleus in response to stress stimuli transduced through the JNK pathway, leading to relief from repression. Here we show that ERK and p38 bind to the D box and that binding is required for phosphorylation of the adjacent C-terminally located C-domain. The D box as well as the phosphorylation sites in the C-domain (the DC element) are required for transcription activation by Ras. On the other hand, JNK binds to the J box in the middle of the protein, and binding is required for phosphorylation of the adjacent EXport motif. Both the binding and phosphorylation sites (the JEX element) are important for Net export. In conclusion, specific targeting of Net by MAP kinase pathways involves two different docking sites and phosphorylation of two different domains. These two elements, DC and JEX, mediate two distinct functional responses.

Jun and Fos heterodimerize with ATFa, a member of the ATF/CREB family and modulate its transcriptional activity.

Three related clones encoding proteins (ATFa1, 2 and 3) with specific ATF/CRE DNA-binding activities have been isolated from HeLa cell cDNA libraries. All three isoforms have weak effects on the basal activity of the adenovirus E2a promoter. We present evidence suggesting that a C-terminal element of the ATFa molecules negatively interferes with the intrinsic activation function of these proteins. We also show that coexpression of ATFa with c-Jun, Jun-B or Jun-D stimulates ATFa-dependent reporter activity, while coexpression of c-Fos has no effect. Deletion analyses indicate that the metal-binding region of ATFa is dispensible for this effect, but that the domain comprising the leucine-zipper region of ATFa is required. Reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation experiments and electrophoretic band-shift assays with in vitro synthesized proteins reveal direct interactions between ATFa and Jun or Fos. The ATFa/c-Jun heterodimers, but not the ATFa/c-Fos complexes, bind efficiently to ATF, CRE or AP1 sites. The detection of ATFa-Jun complexes in crude extracts from HeLa cells transfected with ATFa and c-Jun expression vectors suggests that such ATFa/c-Jun heterodimers also form in vivo. Altogether these results indicate that the ATFa proteins may contribute to the modulation of the activity of the Jun/Fos complexes by altering their DNA-binding and transcriptional properties.

Retinoic acid receptor-beta: immunodetection and phosphorylation on tyrosine residues.

Polyclonal (RP) and monoclonal (Ab) antibodies were raised against synthetic peptides (or fusion proteins) corresponding to amino acid sequences unique to human and mouse retinoic acid receptor-beta (RAR beta) isoforms. Antibodies directed against the A2 region [Ab6 beta 2(A2), Ab7 beta 2(A2), and RP beta 2(A2)], the D2 region [RP beta(D2)], or the F region [Ab8 beta(F)2, RP beta(F)1, and RP beta(F)2] were selected. The monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against the D2 and F regions specifically immunoprecipitated and recognized by Western blotting all human and mouse RAR beta isoforms (mRAR beta 1, -beta 2, -beta 3, and -beta 4), produced in COS-1 cells transfected with expression vectors containing the corresponding RAR beta cDNA. Furthermore, in gel retardation assays, the monoclonal antibodies supershifted RAR beta protein-RA response element oligonucleotide complexes. Antibodies directed against the A2 region were specific for the RAR beta 2 isoform. The above antibodies allowed us to detect the presence of mRAR beta 2 proteins in mouse embryos and to show that their presence in embryonal carcinoma cells (F9 and P19 cell lines) is dependent upon RA treatment. The antibodies were also used to demonstrate that RAR beta proteins produced by transfection in COS-1 cells are phosphorylated. RAR beta 2 phosphorylation was not affected by RA treatment, whereas the phosphorylation of RAR beta 1 and RAR beta 3 isoforms was greatly enhanced by RA. We also show that, in contrast to RAR alpha 1 and RAR gamma 1, RAR beta 2 proteins contain phosphotyrosine residues and are only weakly phosphorylated in vitro by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. These results support our previous proposal that the various receptors have distinct functions in the RA-signaling pathway.

ATR-X mutations cause impaired nuclear location and altered DNA binding properties of the XNP/ATR-X protein.

Mutations in the XNP/ATR-X gene, located in Xq13.3, are associated with several X linked mental retardation syndromes, the best known being alpha thalassaemia with mental retardation (ATR-X). The XNP/ATR-X protein belongs to the family of SWI/SNF DNA helicases and contains three C2-C2 type zinc fingers of unknown function. Previous studies have shown that 65% of mutations of XNP have been found within the zinc finger domain (encoded by exons 7, 8, and the beginning of exon 9) while 35% of the mutations have been found in the helicase domain extending over 3 kb at the C-terminus of the protein. Although different types of mutations have been identified, no specific genotype-phenotype correlation has been found, suggesting that gene alteration leads to a loss of function irrespective of mutation type. Our aims were to understand the function of the XNP/ATR-X protein better, with specific attention to the functional consequences of mutations to the zinc finger domain. We used monoclonal antibodies directed against the XNP/ATR-X protein and performed immunocytochemical and western blot analyses, which showed altered or absent XNP/ATR-X expression in cells of affected patients. In addition, we used in vitro experiments to show that the zinc finger domain can mediate double stranded DNA binding and found that the DNA binding capacity of mutant forms in ATR-X patients is severely reduced. These data provide insights into the understanding of the functional significance of XNP/ATR-X mutations.

Nuclear detection of cellular retinoic acid binding proteins I and II with new antibodies.

Apart from the retinoic acid nuclear receptor family, there are two low molecular weight (15 kD) cellular retinoic acid binding proteins, named CRABPI and II. Mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised against these proteins by using as antigens either synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acid sequences unique to CRABPI or CRABPII, or purified CRABP proteins expressed in E. coli. Antibodies specific for mouse and/or human CRABPI and CRABPII were obtained and characterized by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. They allowed the detection not only of CRABPI but also of CRABPII in both nuclear and cytosolic extracts from transfected COS-1 cells, mouse embryos, and various cell lines.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies recognising defined regions of the human oestrogen receptor.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies were raised against the N-terminal (amino acids 151-165) and the very C-terminal (amino acids 578-595) regions of the human oestrogen receptor (hER). These antibodies recognise the hER by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation and gel retardation assays. The presence of hER is used prognostically in human breast cancer. We have tested the reactivity of our monoclonal antibodies on breast cancer sections, comparing with the commonly used Abbott rat monoclonal antibody H222. These studies show that the two monoclonal antibodies described here are highly versatile and will be useful tools for in vivo and in vitro studies of hER function. Furthermore, we show that the corresponding epitopes can be used as molecular "tags" for heterologous proteins and offer a powerful means of purifying and/or characterizing over-produced fusion proteins containing these regions.

BCL-2 counteracts Doppel-induced apoptosis of prion-protein-deficient Purkinje cells in the Ngsk Prnp(0/0) mouse.

The pro-apoptotic factor BAX has recently been shown to contribute to Purkinje cell (PC) apoptosis induced by the neurotoxic prion-like protein Doppel (Dpl) in the prion-protein-deficient Ngsk Prnp(0/0) (NP(0/0)) mouse. In view of cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) ability to counteract Dpl neurotoxicity and favor neuronal survival like BCL-2, we investigated the effects of the anti-apoptotic factor BCL-2 on Dpl neurotoxicity by studying the progression of PC death in aging NP(0/0)-Hu-bcl-2 double mutant mice overexpressing human BCL-2 (Hu-bcl-2). Quantitative analysis showed that significantly more PCs survived in NP(0/0)-Hu-bcl-2 double mutants compared with the NP(0/0) mutants. However, number of PCs remained inferior to wild-type levels and to the increased number of PCs observed in Hu-bcl-2 mutants. In the NP(0/0) mutants, Dpl-induced PC death occurred preferentially in the aldolase C-negative parasagittal compartments of the cerebellar cortex. Activation of glial cells exclusively in these compartments, which was abolished by the expression of Hu-bcl-2 in the double mutants, suggested that chronic inflammation is an indirect consequence of Dpl-induced PC death. This partial rescue of NP(0/0) PCs by Hu-bcl-2 expression was similar to that observed in NP(0/0):Bax(-/-) double mutants with bax deletion. Taken together, these data strongly support the involvement of BCL-2 family-dependent apoptotic pathways in Dpl neurotoxicity. The capacity of BCL-2 to compensate PrP(c) deficiency by rescuing PCs from Dpl-induced death suggests that the BCL-2-like property of PrP(c) may impair Dpl-like neurotoxic pathways in wild-type neurons.

BAX contributes to Doppel-induced apoptosis of prion-protein-deficient Purkinje cells.

Research efforts to deduce the function of the prion protein (PrPc) in knock-out mouse mutants have revealed that large deletions in the PrPc genome result in the ectopic neuronal expression of the prion-like protein Doppel (Dpl). In our analysis of one such line of mutant mice, Ngsk Prnp0/0 (NP0/0), we demonstrate that the ectopic expression of Dpl in brain neurons induces significant levels of cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) death as early as six months after birth. To investigate the involvement of the mitochondrial proapoptotic factor BAX in the Dpl-induced apoptosis of PCs, we have analyzed the progression of PC death in aging NP0/0:Bax-/- double knockout mutants. Quantitative analysis of cell numbers showed that significantly more PCs survived in NP0/0:Bax-/- double mutants than in the NP0/0:Bax+/+ mutants. However, PC numbers were not restored to wildtype levels or to the increased number of PCs observed in Bax-/- mutants. The partial rescue of NP0/0 PCs suggests that the ectopic expression of Dpl induces both BAX-dependent and BAX-independent pathways of cell death. The activation of glial cells that is shown to be associated topographically with Dpl-induced PC death in the NP0/0:Bax+/+ mutants is abolished by the loss of Bax expression in the double mutant mice, suggesting that chronic inflammation is an indirect consequence of Dpl-induced PC death.

Characterization of KNbO(3) crystal for frequency doubling of a tunable pulsed near-infrared laser.

Using KNbO(3) crystals for second-harmonic generation in the blue spectral range, we have obtained conversion efficiencies as high as 53.7%. To our knowledge this value is the highest reported for a pulsed laser. A gainswitched nanosecond Ti:sapphire oscillator, amplified by a Cr:LiSrAlF(6) multipass amplifier, was used as the fundamental light source. The maximum energy obtained at the harmonic wavelength of 430 nm was 38 mJ for a bandwidth of 230 MHz.

Definition of the DNA-binding site repertoire for the Drosophila transcription factor SNAIL.

The Drosophila gene snail (sna) which encodes a zinc finger protein is essential for dorsal-ventral pattern formation in the developing embryo. We have defined a repertoire of SNAIL (SNA) binding sites using recombinant SNA proteins to select specific binding sequences from a pool of random sequence nucleotides. The bound sequences which were selected by multiple rounds of gel retardation and amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were subsequently cloned and sequenced. The consensus sequence, 5'G/A A/t G/A A CAGGTG C/t A C 3', with a highly conserved core of 6 bases, CAGGTG, shares no significant homology with known binding sequences of other Drosophila zinc finger proteins. However, the CAGGTG core is identical to the core motif of aHLH (helix-loop-helix) binding sites. The strongest SNA binding is obtained with sequences containing this core motif whereas reduced binding is seen for sequences with canonical CANNTG HLH motifs. Interestingly, SNA binding is detected in the promoter region of the snail gene. Transient expression in co-transfection experiments using a SNA binding element (SBE) linked to a heterologous promoter indicates that SNA has the ability to function as a transcription activator.

Efficient pulsed 946-nm laser emission from Nd:YAG pumped by a titanium-doped sapphire laser.

Efficient pulsed room-temperature laser emission at 946 nm is obtained from a Nd:YAG rod pumped by a Ti-doped sapphire laser in the free-running mode. Three bonded YAG rods of 3-mm diameter with different Nd concentrations and active lengths were tested. A maximum output energy of 83.5 mJ at 3 Hz was obtained with a slope efficiency of 32.3% in an end-pumping configuration.