[Differential analysis of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis profiles in the protective effects of resveratrol on HaCaT cells induced by UVB irradiation].

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the differences of protein expression and possible protective mechanisms of resveratrol (Res) on human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) irradiated by ultraviolet B (UVB). METHODS: MTT test was used to assay the effects of Res on the proliferation of HaCaT cells. The tested objects were divided into four groups, the control, UVB irradiation, Res intervention and UVB + Res intervention (r-u) groups. Then the protein of cells in the four groups was separated by a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and the differentially expressed protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. RESULTS: Ten differential expressed protein spots were analyzed, and eight kinds of protein were identified. Except for four kinds of uncharacterized protein, the level of Histone H1.2 was up-regulated in UVB group (P < 0.05), the levels of TFIIE-beta and zinc finger were down-regulated in both UVB and r-u groups, and the level of MAGOH was down-regulated significantly in UVB group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The differentially expressed protein spots related to the protection of Res on HaCaT cells irradiated by UVB were found with the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

HCV NS5A interacts with p53 and inhibits p53-mediated apoptosis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes a persistent infection, chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV NS5A, one of non-structural proteins of HCV, was suggested to play a role in oncogenic transformation. Since the tumor suppressor p53 is important for preventing neoplastic transformation, we investigated the functional effects of HCV NS5A on p53. In vitro and in vivo coimmunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy were used to determine the interaction of NS5A and p53. HCV NS5A binds directly to p53 and colocalizes p53 in the perinuclear region. NS5A inhibits transcriptional transactivation by p53 in a dose-dependent manner by use of a reporter assay. Down regulation of endogenous p21/waf1 expression, which is activated by p53 in Hep3B cells, by NS5A was demonstrated by using FLAG- and FLAG-NS5A Hep3B stable cell lines. The effect of NS5A on p53-mediated apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry in both NS5A permanently and transiently transfected Hep3B cells with exogenous p53. The p53-induced apoptosis was abrogated by NS5A and the inhibition effect correlates well with the binding ability of NS5A to p53. In addition, HCV NS5A protein interacts with and colocalizes hTAF(II)32, a component of TFIID and an essential coactivator of p53, in vivo. These results suggest that HCV NS5A interacts with and partially sequestrates p53 and hTAF(II)32 in the cytoplasm and suppresses p53-mediated transcriptional transactivation and apoptosis during HCV infection, which may contribute to the hepatocarcinogenesis of HCV infection.

A Drosophila Polycomb group complex includes Zeste and dTAFII proteins.

A goal of modern biology is to identify the physical interactions that define 'functional modules' of proteins that govern biological processes. One essential regulatory process is the maintenance of master regulatory genes, such as homeotic genes, in an appropriate 'on' or 'off' state for the lifetime of an organism. The Polycomb group (PcG) of genes maintain a repressed transcriptional state, and PcG proteins form large multiprotein complexes, but these complexes have not been described owing to inherent difficulties in purification. We previously fractionated a major PcG complex, PRC1, to 20-50% homogeneity from Drosophila embryos. Here, we identify 30 proteins in these preparations, then further fractionate the preparation and use western analyses to validate unanticipated connections. We show that the known PcG proteins Polycomb, Posterior sex combs, Polyhomeotic and dRING1 exist in robust association with the sequence-specific DNA-binding factor Zeste and with numerous TBP (TATA-binding-protein)-associated factors that are components of general transcription factor TFIID (dTAFIIs). Thus, in fly embryos, there is a direct physical connection between proteins that bind to specific regulatory sequences, PcG proteins, and proteins of the general transcription machinery.

Identification of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase as a transcriptional coactivator of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax protein.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) encodes a transcriptional activator, Tax, whose activity is believed to contribute significantly to cellular transformation. Tax stimulates transcription from the proviral promoter as well as from promoters for a variety of cellular genes. The mechanism through which Tax communicates to the general transcription factors and RNA polymerase II has not been completely determined. We investigated whether Tax could function directly through the general transcription factors and RNA polymerase II or if other intermediary factors or coactivators were required. Our results show that a system consisting of purified recombinant TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIIE, TFIIF, CREB, and Tax, along with highly purified RNA polymerase II, affinity-purified epitope-tagged TFIID, and semipurified TFIIH, supports basal transcription of the HTLV-1 promoter but is not responsive to Tax. Two additional activities were required for Tax to stimulate transcription. We demonstrate that one of these activities is poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a molecule that has been previously identified to be the transcriptional coactivator PC1. PARP functions as a coactivator in our assays at molar concentrations approximately equal to those of the DNA and equal to or less than those of the transcription factors in the assay. We further demonstrate that PARP stimulates Tax-activated transcription in vivo, demonstrating that this biochemical approach has functionally identified a novel target for the retroviral transcriptional activator Tax.

Mammalian histone acetyltransferase complexes.

Over the last decade, great progress has been made in elucidating how the human genome operates in the chromatin context. This paper describes our work on two human acetyltransferases, PCAF and TIP60, and their interaction partners. This study provides new clues on the function of these enzymes. In a striking parallel with the general transcription factor TFIID, PCAF complex contains proteins that have histone-like domains. We speculate that these subunits can presumably form a nucleosome-like structure on DNA, which would allow PCAF to contribute to the maintenance of an active state of chromatin. On the other hand, TIP60 complex contains two eukaryotic homologs of bacterial RuvB helicase/ATPse, involved in recombination and repair. Accordingly, expression of a dominant negative mutant of TIP60 in living cells interferes with their ability to repair DNA damage, which points out, for the first time, a role for a histone acetyltransferase in a process other than transcription. We also have evidence implicating TIP60 in the apoptotic response to DNA damage.

Mammalian histone acetyltransferase complexes

Over the last decade, great progress has been made in elucidating how the human genome operates in the chromatin context. This paper describes our work on two human acetyltransferases, PCAF and TIP60, and their interaction partners. This study provides new clues on the function of these enzymes. In a striking parallel with the general transcription factor TFIID, PCAF complex contains proteins that have histone-like domains. We speculate that these subunits can presumably form a nucleosome-like structure on DNA, which would allow PCAF to contribute to the maintenance of an active state of chromatin. On the other hand, TIP60 complex contains two eukaryotic homologs of bacterial RuvB helicase/ATPse, involved in recombination and repair. Accordingly, expression of a dominant negative mutant of TIP60 in living cells interferes with their ability to repair DNA damage, which points out, for the first time, a role for a histone acetyltransferase in a process other than transcription. We also have evidence implicating TIP60 in the apoptotic response to DNA damage.

cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation and DNA binding activity are increased in the anterior pituitary gland following glucocorticoid depletion.

Activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during stress is associated with increased expression of genes that code for regulatory hormones such as corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and ACTH. The identity of the transcription factors that mediate these changes in gene expression is not known. In the present study we have investigated the expression of the cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB) in mouse pituitary, and its regulation during a pharmacological paradigm that simulates activation of the CRF-ACTH axis. Using Western blots and DNA binding assays we have shown that both CREB protein (43 kDa) and CRE binding exhibit a readily-detectable basal level of activity in the pituitary. Following treatment with the 11 beta-hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone, CRE binding activity was increased at 1 and 2 h but levels of CREB protein were not found to be consistently elevated. However, using a Ser133 phosphopeptide-specific antibody, that detects the functionally important phosphorylated form of CREB (P-CREB), we have shown that levels of pituitary P-CREB are markedly elevated following metyrapone. The same antibody was also used in DNA binding assays, and in the presence of this antiserum CRE binding activity in samples extracted from metyrapone-treated animals was reduced to levels similar to controls. Parallel experiments have confirmed previous studies showing increases in c-Fos expression and AP-1 DNA binding activity following metyrapone treatment but we have shown that c-Fos-associated binding activity does not appear to contribute to the increase in activity detected using the CRE binding probe. Our evidence of functionally relevant changes in pituitary CREB activity following glucocorticoid depletion must be viewed in the context of numerous other novel pituitary transcription factors that are implicated in HPA regulation, but our use of mice as an experimental model has facilitated the use of novel mouse mutants that can be used to dissect the role of individual factors.