Disruption of the yeast N-myristoyl transferase gene causes recessive lethality.

The structural gene for N-myristoyl transferase (NMT1) has been cloned from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene encodes a polypeptide of 455 amino acids (Mr = 52,837) that has no identifiable significant primary sequence homology with any protein in currently available databases. Overexpression of NMT activity was achieved by means of the yeast episomal plasmid YEp24 without obvious effects on growth kinetics, cell morphology, or acylprotein metabolic labeling patterns. Insertional mutagenesis of the NMT1 locus on yeast chromosome XII caused recessive lethality, indicating that this protein acyltransferase activity is necessary for vegetative cell growth.

Gap junctional communication modulates gene expression in osteoblastic cells.

Bone-forming cells are organized in a multicellular network interconnected by gap junctions. In these cells, gap junctions are formed by connexin43 (Cx43) and connexin45 (Cx45). Cx43 gap junctions form pores that are more permeable to negatively charged dyes such as Lucifer yellow and calcein than are Cx45 pores. We studied whether altering gap junctional communication by manipulating the relative expression of Cx43 and Cx45 affects the osteoblast phenotype. Transfection of Cx45 in cells that express primarily Cx43 (ROS 17/2.8 and MC3T3-E1) decreased both dye transfer and expression of osteocalcin (OC) and bone sialoprotein (BSP), genes pivotal to bone matrix formation and calcification. Conversely, transfection of Cx43 into cells that express predominantly Cx45 (UMR 106-01) increased both cell coupling and expression of OC and BSP. Transient cotransfection of promoter-luciferase constructs and connexin expression vectors demonstrated that OC and BSP gene transcription was down-regulated by Cx45 cotransfection in ROS 17/2. 8 and MC3T3-E1 cells, in association with a decrease in dye coupling. Conversely, cotransfection of Cx43 in UMR 106-01 cells up-regulated OC and BSP gene transcription. Activity of other less specific osteoblast promoters, such as osteopontin and osteonectin, was less sensitive to changes in gap junctional communication. Thus, altering gap junctional permeability by manipulating the expression of Cx43 and Cx45 in osteoblastic cells alters transcriptional activity of osteoblast-specific promoters, presumably via modulation of signals that can diffuse from cell to cell. A communicating intercellular network is required for the full elaboration of a differentiated osteoblastic phenotype.

Mechanism of awareness of hypoglycemia. Perception of neurogenic (predominantly cholinergic) rather than neuroglycopenic symptoms.

We sought 1) to determine which symptoms of hypoglycemia are reproducible, 2) to pharmacologically distinguish neurogenic (autonomic) from neuroglycopenic symptoms, and 3) to test the hypothesis that awareness of hypoglycemia is the result of perception of neurogenic rather than neuroglycopenic symptoms. Awareness of hypoglycemia and 19 symptoms were quantitated in 10 normal, young adults, each studied on four occasions in random sequence, during 1) clamped euglycemia (approximately 5 mM), 2) clamped hypoglycemia (approximately 2.5 mM), 3) clamped hypoglycemia with combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade (phentolamine and propranolol), and 4) clamped hypoglycemia with pan-autonomic blockade (phentolamine, propranolol and atropine). Significant (ANOVA, P < 0.001) treatment effects on the awareness of hypoglycemia ("blood sugar low") were noted. No change occurred in the score for this during euglycemia, but the mean +/- SE increase was 2.1 +/- 0.4 during hypoglycemia. This increase was not reduced significantly by adrenergic blockade (1.6 +/- 0.5), but was reduced significantly and substantially (approximately 70%) by pan-autonomic blockade (0.6 +/- 0.3). Significant neurogenic symptoms included shaky/tremulous (P < 0.001), heart pounding (P < 0.001), and nervous/anxious (P = 0.002), all adrenergic; and sweaty (P < 0.001), hungry (P < 0.001), and tingling (P = 0.009), all cholinergic. Significant neuroglycopenic symptoms, those produced by hypoglycemia but not reduced by pan-autonomic blockade, included warm (P < 0.001), weak (P = 0.011), difficulty thinking/confused (P = 0.004), and tired/drowsy (P = 0.003). We conclude that muscarinic cholinergic mechanisms mediate an important and previously uncharacterized component of the neurogenic symptoms of hypoglycemia and awareness of hypoglycemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Msx-2/Hox 8.1: a transcriptional regulator of the rat osteocalcin promoter.

We recently defined an element (ACTAATTGG) within the rat osteocalcin (OC) promoter at -84 to -92 which provides approximately 70% of basal promoter activity in osteoblastic cell lines and binds a specific nuclear factor found in OC-producing ROS 17/2.8 osteosarcoma cells. Since this element closely resembles the recently described Msx-1 (Hox 7.1) homeodomain DNA binding cognate, we examined rodent osteoblastic cells lines for expression of Msx homeodomain-encoding messages. We have found and cloned a cDNA for rat Msx-2 (Hox 8.1) from a ROS 17/2.8 library and detect high levels of expression in various osteoblastic cell lines (ROS 17/2.8, RCT3, RCT1) as well as in culture passage 3 neonatal rat calvarial osteoblastic cells. Little to no expression was detected in phenotypically immature MC3T3E1 osteoblastic cells or in a variety of nonosteoblastic (ROS 25/1, C2C12, TRAB 11) mesenchymal cell lines. Dexamethasone (DEX) down-regulates Msx-2 message levels in both RCT3 and ROS 17/2.8 cells. Recombinant rat Msx-2 homeodomain expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein binds to the rat OC promoter region -74 to -100 as determined by gel shift analysis. Recognition is dependent upon the intact ACTAATTGG motif at -84 to -92. In transient cotransfection assays using MC3T3E1 cells (which expresses very little or no endogenous Msx-2), Msx-2 suppresses the rat OC promoter 2- to 3-fold via the Msx-2 binding motif at -84 to -92. However, in ROS 17/2.8 cells, where a high level of endogenous Msx-2 mRNA is present, expression of exogenous Msx-2 does not suppress the rat OC promoter; surprisingly, Msx-2 further augments basal promoter activity by approximately 50-70%, again dependent upon the ACTAATTGG motif at -84 to -92. These data directly demonstrate that the Msx-2 homeodomain binds the rat OC promoter and that Msx-2 can act as a sequence-specific transcriptional regulator of the rat OC promoter in cultured osteoblastic cell lines. This activity is dependent upon the specific osteoblastic cellular context, similar to previous observations in nonosseous systems with other homeodomain transcription factors. These data suggest that Msx-2 may play a role in the transcriptional regulation of the osteoblast phenotype during development in the morphogenetic fields where it is expressed.

Activity of the rat osteocalcin basal promoter in osteoblastic cells is dependent upon homeodomain and CP1 binding motifs.

A detailed analysis of the transcriptional machinery responsible for osteoblast-specific gene expression should provide tools useful for understanding osteoblast commitment and differentiation. We have defined three cis-elements important for basal activity of the rat osteocalcin (OC) promoter, located at about -200 to -180, -170 to -138, and -121 to -64 relative to the transcription initiation site. A motif (TCTGATTGTGT) present in the region between -200 and -170 that binds a multisubunit CP1/NFY/CBF-like CAAT factor complex contributes significantly to high level basal activity and presumably functions as the CAAT box for the rat OC promoter. We show that the region -121 to 32 is sufficient to confer osteoblastic cell type specificity in transient transfection assays of cultured cell lines using luciferase as a reporter. The basal promoter is active in rodent osteoblastic cell lines, but not in rodent fibroblastic or muscle cell lines. Although the rat OC box (-100 to -74) contains a CAAT motif, we could not detect CP1-like CAAT factor binding to this region. In fact, we demonstrate that a Msx-1 (Hox 7.1) homeodomain binding motif (ACTAATTG; bottom strand) in the 3'-end of the rat OC box is necessary for high level activity of the rat OC basal promoter in osteoblastic cells. A nuclear factor that recognizes this motif appears to be present in osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells, which produce OC, but not in fibroblastic ROS 25/1 cells, which fail to express OC. This ROS 17/2.8 nuclear factor also recognizes the A/T-rich DNA cognates of the homeodomain-containing POU family of transcription factors. Taken together, these data suggest that a ubiquitous CP1-like CAAT factor and a cell type-restricted homeodomain containing (Msx or POU family) transcription factor interact with the proximal rat OC promoter to direct appropriate basal OC transcription in osteoblastic cells.

The rat osteocalcin fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-responsive element: an okadaic acid-sensitive, FGF-selective transcriptional response motif.

We recently identified a bipartite element in the rat osteocalcin (OC) promoter that confers synergistic induction by fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGF2) and cAMP. A GCAGTCA motif (OCFRE) at -146 to -138 in the OC promoter is necessary for synergy and participates in a FGF2-regulated DNA-protein interaction. We have isolated the FGF-regulated component of this transcriptional response for detailed study. Two or three copies of the OC promoter fragment -154 to -113 with the intact OCFRE confer 10- or 30-fold FGF2-inductive responses, respectively, on the unresponsive basal promoter 92 OCLUC (luciferase reporter) in MC3T3-E1 cells; a single copy is insufficient. As in the native context, induction depends upon an intact OCFRE motif (mutant GCATTTA motifs unresponsive). FGF receptor 1 can mediate activation; expression of this receptor in L6 cells (no endogenous FGF receptors) permits FGF2 induction of (OCFRE)2 92 OCLUC. FGF2 induction of (OCFRE)2 92 OCLUC in MC3T3-E1 cells is not recapitulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor I, or transforming growth factor-beta (< 10% the activity of FGF2). OCFRE activation is not inhibited by kinase inhibitors H-89, wortmannin, staurosporine, KN-62, or H-7. However, the phosphoprotein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid (OKA), calyculin A, and vanadate decrease FGF induction of (OCFRE)2 92 OCLUC or (OCFRE)3 92 OCLUC, without inhibiting induction of the interstitial collagenase promoter. OKA and calyculin A do not decrease OCFRE DNA-protein interactions, suggesting that important protein-protein interactions are phosphatase regulated. These data provide evidence that; 1) FGF receptors elaborate transcriptional activation signals that functionally differ from those of other receptor tyrosine kinases; 2) an OKA-sensitive phosphatase participates in FGF receptor-dependent activation of the OCFRE; and 3) two transcriptional activation signals are initiated by FGF receptor activation in MC3T3-E1 cells, reflected in the divergent sensitivities of OCFRE and interstitial collagenase promoter induction to OKA and vanadate.

Characterization of retinoic acid- and cell-dependent sequences which regulate zif268 gene expression in osteoblastic cells.

We have previously shown that retinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation in an osteoblastic cell line derived from embryonic rat calvaria and that RA has selective effects on zif268 gene expression in these preosteoblastic cells,distinct from those in more mature osteoblasts. In this study we demonstrate that the RA-dependent transcriptional increase in zif268 gene expression is mediated by the interaction of RA receptors (RARs) with a 17 base pair sequence in the zif268 promoter containing a single half-site motif (GTTCA), identical to each of the direct repeats seen in the RAR beta 2 gene. The sequence appears relatively RA-specific, since the zif268 RA-responsive element is not activated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or thyroid hormone (T3). However, cotransfection of RAR expression vectors and an SV-40 promoter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) construct containing the single zif268 RA-responsive motif into CV-1 cells demonstrates that the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-RARs transactivate through this element. Extensive mutagenesis of the zif268 promoter region containing the RA response element (RARE) motif confirms that the transactivation and nuclear protein binding activity of this region requires only the half-site motif. The direct involvement of RAR in this DNA-protein interaction has been demonstrated by competitive gel retardation analysis using consensus RAREs and super-shifting of the DNA-protein complex with mouse alpha- or gamma-RAR monoclonal antibodies. In addition, we found that cell-specific suppression of RA-stimulated zif268 gene expression can be attributed to a 29 base pair nucleotide sequence, located downstream of the RA-responsive region in the zif268 gene. This sequence appears to be bound specifically by nuclear protein(s) from several cell types, including osteoblasts. The presence of this sequence in cis to the zif268 RARE or the consensus beta RARE completely blocks the RA-responsiveness of the zif268 gene in differentiated osteoblasts. These data extend the broad spectrum of RA-responsive sequences necessary for DNA binding and transactivation to include regulation via single RARE half-site motifs and suggest that the lack of RA responsiveness in differentiated osteoblasts may be mediated by cell-specific suppression of gene expression.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling activates the human interstitial collagenase promoter via the bipartite Ets-AP1 element.

Interstitial collagenases participate in the remodeling of skeletal matrix and are regulated by fibroblast growth factor (FGF). A 0.2-kb fragment of the proximal human interstitial collagenase [matrix metalloproteinase (MMP1)] promoter conveys 4- to 8-fold induction of a luciferase reporter in response to FGF2 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. By 5'-deletion, this response maps to nucleotides -100 to -50 relative to the transcription initiation site. The 63- bp MMP1 promoter fragment -123 to -61 confers this FGF2 response on the rous sarcoma virus minimal promoter. Intact Ets and AP1 cognates in this element are both required for responsiveness. The AP1 site supports basal and FGF-inducible promoter activity. The intact Ets cognate represses basal transcriptional activity in both heterologous and native promoter contexts and is also required for FGF activation. FGF2 up-regulates a DNA-binding activity that recognizes the MMP1 AP1 cognate and contains immunoreactive Fra1 and c-Jun. Both constitutive and FGF-inducible DNA-binding activities are present in MC3T3-E1 cells that recognize the MMP1 Ets cognate; prototypic Ets transcriptional activators are not present in these complexes. Inhibitors of protein kinase C, phosphatidyl inositol 3-OH kinase, and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase do not attenuate MMP1 promoter activation. FGF2 activates ERK1/ERK2 signaling in osteoblasts; however, 25 microM MAPK-ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 (inhibits by > 85% the phosphorylation of ERK1/ERK2) has no effect on MMP1 promoter activation by FGF2. Ligand-activated and constitutively active FGF receptors initiate MMP1 induction. Dominant negative Ras abrogates MMP1 induction by constitutively active FGFR2-ROS, but dominant negative Rho and Rac do not inhibit induction. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase MKP2 [inactivates extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) = Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) > p38 MAPK] completely abrogates MMP1 activation, whereas PAC1 (inactivates ERK = p38 > JNK) attenuates but does not completely prevent induction. Thus, a Ras- and MKP2-regulated MAPK pathway, independent of ERK1/ERK2 MAPK activity, mediates FGF2 transcriptional activation of MMP1 in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, converging upon the bipartite Ets-AP1 element. The DNA-protein interactions and signal cascades mediating FGF induction of the MMP1 promoter are distinct from two other recently described FGF response elements: the MMP1 promoter (-123 to -61) represents a third FGF-activated transcriptional unit.

Stage-specific expression of Dlx-5 during osteoblast differentiation: involvement in regulation of osteocalcin gene expression.

Two homeotic genes, Dlx and Msx, appear to regulate development of mineralized tissues, including bone, cartilage, and tooth. Expression of Msx-1 and Msx-2 has been studied during development of the osteoblast phenotype, but the role of Dlx in this context and in the regulation of bone-expressed genes is unknown. We used targeted differential display to isolate homeotic genes of the Dlx family that are expressed at defined stages of osteoblast differentiation. These studies were carried out with fetal rat calvarial cells that produce bone-like tissue in vitro. We observed a mineralization stage-specific mRNA and cloned the corresponding cDNA, which represents the rat homolog of Dlx-5. Northern blot analysis and competitive RT-PCR demonstrated that Dlx-5 and the bone-specific osteocalcin genes exhibit similar up-regulated expression during the mineralization period of osteoblast differentiation. This expression pattern differs from that of Msx-2, which is found predominantly in proliferating osteoblasts. Several approaches were pursued to determine functional consequences of Dlx-5 expression on osteocalcin transcription. Constitutive expression of Dlx-5 in ROS 17/2.8 cells decreased osteocalcin promoter activity in transient assays, and conditional expression of Dlx-5 in stable cell lines reduced endogenous mRNA levels. Consistent with this finding, antisense inhibition of Dlx-5 increased osteocalcin gene transcription. Osteocalcin promoter deletion analysis and binding of the in vitro translation product of Dlx-5 demonstrated that repressor activity was targeted to a single homeodomain-binding site, located in OC-Box I (-99 to -76). These findings demonstrate that Dlx-5 represses osteocalcin gene transcription. However, the coupling of increased Dlx-5 expression with progression of osteoblast differentiation suggests an important role in promoting expression of the mature bone cell phenotype.

Reciprocal temporospatial patterns of Msx2 and Osteocalcin gene expression during murine odontogenesis.

Msx2 is a homeodomain transcription factor that regulates craniofacial development in vivo and osteocalcin (Osc) promoter activity in vitro. Msx2 is expressed in many craniofacial structures prior to embryonic day (E) E14 but is expressed at later stages in a restricted pattern, primarily in developing teeth and the calvarium. We examine Osc expression by in situ hybridization during murine development, detailing temporospatial relationships with Msx2 expression during preappositional and appositional odontogenesis and calvarial osteogenesis. Osc expression at E14-14.5 is very low, limited to a few perichondrial osteoblasts in the dorsal aspect of developing ribs. At E16.5 and E18.5, Osc expression is much higher, widely expressed in skeletal osteoblasts, including calvarial osteoblasts that do not express Msx2. No Osc is detected in early preappositional teeth that express Msx2. In incisors studied at an early appositional phase, Msx2 is widely expressed in the tooth, primarily in ovoid preodontoblasts and subjacent dental papilla cells. Osc is detected only in a small number of maturing odontoblasts that also express alpha1(I) collagen (Colla1) and that are postproliferative (do not express histone H4). Msx2 expression greatly overlaps both histone H4 and Colla1 expression in ovoid preodontoblasts and dental papilla cells. By the late appositional phases of E18.5 and neonatal teeth, Osc mRNA is highly expressed in mature columnar odontoblasts adjacent to accumulating dentin. In appositional bell-stage molars, reciprocal patterns of Msx2 and Osc are observed in adjacent preodontoblasts and odontoblasts within the same tooth. Osc is expressed in mature columnar odontoblasts, while Msx2 is expressed in adjacent immature ovoid preodontoblasts. In less mature teeth populated only by immature ovoid preodontoblasts, only Msx2 is expressed-no Osc is detected. Thus, Msx2 and Osc are expressed in reciprocal patterns during craniofacial development in vivo, and Msx2 expression in preodontoblasts clearly precedes Osc expression in odontoblasts. In functional studies using MC3T3-E1 calvarial osteoblasts, Msx2 suppresses endogenous Osc, but not osteopontin, mRNA accumulation. In toto, these data suggest that Msr2 suppresses Osc expression in the craniofacial skeleton at stages immediately preceding odontoblast and osteoblast terminal differentiation.

A dominant negative cadherin inhibits osteoblast differentiation.

We have previously indicated that human osteoblasts express a repertoire of cadherins and that perturbation of cadherin-mediated cell-cell interaction reduces bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity. To test whether inhibition of cadherin function interferes with osteoblast function, we expressed a truncated N-cadherin mutant (NCaddeltaC) with dominant negative action in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. In stably transfected clones, calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion was decreased by 50%. Analysis of matrix protein expression during a 4-week culture period revealed that bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, and type I collagen were substantially inhibited with time in culture, whereas osteopontin transiently increased. Basal alkaline phosphatase activity declined in cells expressing NCaddeltaC, relative to control cells, after 3 weeks in culture, and their cell proliferation rate was reduced moderately (17%). Finally, 45Ca uptake, an index of matrix mineralization, was decreased by 35% in NCaddeltaC-expressing cells compared with control cultures after 4 weeks in medium containing ascorbic acid and beta-glycerophosphate. Similarly, BMP-2 stimulation of alkaline phosphatase activity and bone sialoprotein and osteopontin expression also were curtailed in NCaddeltaC cells. Therefore, expression of dominant negative cadherin results in decreased cell-cell adhesion associated with altered bone matrix protein expression and decreased matrix mineralization. Cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion is involved in regulating the function of bone-forming cells.

Identification of a rat osteocalcin promoter 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response region containing two PuGGTCA steroid hormone receptor binding motifs.

In MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblastic cells, the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin increases osteocalcin (OC) mRNA levels. We have analyzed the effects of forskolin and 8-Br cAMP on the transcriptional activity of the rat OC promoter (with luciferase reporter) in MC3T3-E1 cells. Both forskolin and 8-Br cAMP activate the rat OC promoter 2- to 5-fold. By 5' deletion analysis, we have mapped the cAMP response to the region -121 to -92. The 48-base pair rat OC promoter region -121 to -74 (hence denoted ROCRR) can confer cAMP responsiveness to an unresponsive heterologous minimal promoter. Crude nuclear extracts prepared from MC3T3-E1 cells form three complexes with the ROCRR by gel shift analysis. No specific change in nuclear factor binding in response to cellular forskolin treatment could be demonstrated. Intriguingly, two nuclear factor complexes bound to the ROCRR also recognized the thyroid hormone response element palindrome (AGGTCATGACCT) but did not bind the classic cAMP (TGACGTCA) or glucocorticoid (AGAACANNNTGTTCT) response elements. The rat OC promoter possesses two directly repeated PuGGTCA steroid hormone response element hexamer motifs (bottom strand) in the region -114 to -93 within the ROCRR, separated by a 10 nucleotide spacer. Oligos encoding the individual rat OC hexamer sites compete for the ROCRR DNA:protein complexes recognized by the thyroid hormone response element palindrome. Removal of the up-stream hexamer site by 5' deletion (-121 to -100) in the context of the native OC promoter abrogates cAMP responsiveness. Taken together, these data suggest that this novel rat OC cAMP response region assembles a protein:DNA complex containing member(s) of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily. Transcriptional activity, but not DNA binding, is regulated by cAMP.

Expression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor at the repair site of healing canine flexor tendon.

Neovascularization is an important and prominent feature of tendon healing that contributes to wound repair and potentially to adhesion formation. To define the location of cell populations that recruit and organize the angiogenic response during early healing of flexor tendon, we examined the gene expression pattern of the prototypic angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, at and around the tenorrhaphy site in a canine model of flexor tendon repair. In situ hybridization with radiolabeled antisense riboprobes was used to identify tendon cell populations that contribute to the neovascularization process by expressing vascular endothelial growth factor and to relate this cell population to the previously described cell populations that participate in matrix synthesis (express type alpha1(I) collagen) and mitotic renewal (express histone H4). The majority of cells (approximately 67%) within the repair site itself express vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA; however, minimal levels accumulate within cells of the epitenon (approximately 10% of cells; p < 0.0002). By contrast, expression of type alpha1(I) collagen and histone H4 does not differ significantly between the epitenon and the repair site (uniformly approximately 30% of cells). Thus, a gradient of cell populations expressing vascular endothelial growth factor exists in the repairing tendon. These data suggest a potential contribution of cells within the repair site to the organization of angiogenesis during the early postoperative phase of tendon healing.

Synergistic induction of osteocalcin gene expression: identification of a bipartite element conferring fibroblast growth factor 2 and cyclic AMP responsiveness in the rat osteocalcin promoter.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are important regulators of calvarial osteoblast growth and differentiation. We have studied the regulation of the osteoblast-specific gene osteocalcin (OC) by FGF2 in phenotypically immature MC3T3-E1 calvarial osteoblastic cells. FGF2 markedly induces OC mRNA accumulation in MC3T3-E1 cells in the presence of forskolin (FSK). Similarly, OC promoter activity (luciferase reporter) is up-regulated 6-10-fold by FGF2/FSK or by FGF2/8-bromo cyclic AMP. Half-maximal induction of OC promoter activity occurs at 1 nM FGF2. By 5' deletion analysis and dinucleotide point mutations, we map one component of this FGF2/FSK response to a GCAGTCA motif in the region -144 to -138 relative to the OC transcription initiation site. The OC promoter region -154 to -90 confers FGF2/FSK responsiveness on the Rous sarcoma virus minimal promoter. By 3' and internal deletion analyses, the region between -90 to -99 is also found to be necessary for FGF2/FSK synergy (encodes a PuGGTCA motif previously identified as a component of FSK induction). A DNA binding activity that recognizes the region -148 to -125 of the rat OC promoter is induced in crude nuclear extracts from MC3T3-E1 cells treated with FGF2 or FGF2/FSK. This binding activity is sequence-specific and does not recognize the TCAGTCA DNA cognate of AP1. Members of the ATF, Fos, and Jun family are not immunologically detected in this inducible DNA binding activity. However, transient co-expression of ATF3 but not ATF2 selectively attenuates the FGF2 component of induction. Thus, a novel FGF2-regulated DNA-protein interaction in the OC promoter participates in the transcriptional control of OC expression by FGF and cyclic AMP in MC3T3-E1 calvarial osteoblasts.

The RRM domain of MINT, a novel Msx2 binding protein, recognizes and regulates the rat osteocalcin promoter.

Msx2 is a homeodomain transcriptional repressor that exerts tissue-specific actions during craniofacial skeletal and neural development. To identify coregulatory molecules that participate in transcriptional repression by Msx2, we applied a Farwestern expression cloning strategy to identify transcripts encoding proteins that bind Msx2. A lambdagt11 expression library from mouse brain was screened with radiolabeled GST-Msx2 fusion protein encompassing the core suppressor domain of Msx2. A cDNA was isolated that encodes a novel protein fragment that binds radiolabeled Msx2. Homeoprotein binding activity was confirmed by Farwestern analysis of the T7-epitope-tagged recombinant protein fragment, and interactions in vitro require Msx2 residues necessary for transcriptional suppression in vivo. On the basis of biochemical analyses, this novel protein was named MINT, an acronym for Msx2-interacting nuclear target protein. The original clone is part of a 12.6 kb transcript expressed at high levels in testis and at lower levels in calvarial osteoblasts and brain. Multiple clones isolated from a mouse testis library were sequenced to construct a MINT cDNA contig of 11 kb. Starting from an initiator Met in good Kozak context, a large nascent polypeptide of 3576 amino acids is predicted, in contiguous open reading frame with the Msx2 interaction domain residues 2070-2394. Protein sequence analysis reveals that MINT has three N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and four nuclear localization signals. Western blot analysis of fractionated cell extracts reveals that mature approximately 110 kDa (N-terminal) and approximately 250 kDa (C-terminal) MINT protein fragments accumulate in chromatin and nuclear matrix fractions, cosegregating with Msx2 and topoisomerase II. In gel shift assays, the MINT RRM domain selectively binds T- and G-rich DNA sequences; this includes a large G/T-rich inverted repeat element present in the proximal rat osteocalcin (OC) promoter, overlapping three cognates that support OC expression in osteoblasts. MINT and OC mRNAs are reciprocally regulated during differentiation of MC3T3E1 calvarial osteoblasts. Consistent with its proposed role as a nuclear transcriptional factor, transient expression of MINT(1-812) suppresses the FGF/forskolin-activated OC promoter, does not significantly regulate CMV promoter activity, but markedly upregulates the HSV thymidine kinase promoter in MC3T3E1 cells. In toto, these data indicate that the novel nuclear protein MINT binds the homeoprotein Msx2 and coregulates OC during craniofacial development. Msx2 and MINT both target an information-dense, osteoblast-specific regulatory region of the OC proximal promoter, nucleotides -141 to -111. The N-terminal MINT RRM domain represents an authentic dsDNA binding module for this novel vertebrate nuclear matrix protein. Acting as a scaffold protein, MINT potentially exerts both positive and negative regulatory actions by organizing transcriptional complexes in the nuclear matrix.

Gestational exposure to ethanol suppresses msx2 expression in developing mouse embryos.

Ethanol acts as a teratogen in developing fetuses causing abnormalities of the brain, heart, craniofacial bones, and limb skeletal elements. To assess whether some teratogenic actions of ethanol might occur via dysregulation of msx2 expression, we examined msx2 expression in developing mouse embryos exposed to ethanol on embryonic day (E) 8 of gestation and subjected to whole mount in situ hybridization on E11-11.5 using a riboprobe for mouse msx2. Control mice exhibited expression of msx2 in developing brain, the developing limb buds and apical ectodermal ridge, the lateral and nasal processes, olfactory pit, palatal shelf of the maxilla, the eye, the lens of the eye, otic vesicle, prevertebral bodies (notochord), and endocardial cushion. Embryos exposed to ethanol in utero were significantly smaller than their normal counterparts and did not exhibit expression of msx2 in any structures. Similarly, msx2 expression, as determined by reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot hybridization, was reduced approximately 40-50% in fetal mouse calvarial osteoblastic cells exposed to 1% ethanol for 48 hr while alkaline phosphatase was increased by 2-fold and bone morphogenetic protein showed essentially no change. Transcriptional activity of the msx2 promoter was specifically suppressed by alcohol in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Taken together, these data demonstrate that fetal alcohol exposure decreases msx2 expression, a known regulator of osteoblast and myoblast differentiation, and suggest that one of the "putative" mechanisms for fetal alcohol syndrome is the inhibition of msx2 expression during key developmental periods leading to developmental retardation, altered craniofacial morphogenesis, and cardiac defects.

Specificity of fatty acid acylation of cellular proteins.

Labeling of the BC3H1 muscle cell line with [3H] palmitate and [3H]myristate results in the incorporation of these fatty acids into a broad spectrum of different proteins. The patterns of proteins which are labeled with palmitate and myristate are distinct, indicating a high degree of specificity of fatty acylation with respect to acyl chain length. The protein-linked [3H]palmitate is released by treatment with neutral hydroxylamine or by alkaline methanolysis consistent with a thioester linkage or a very reactive ester linkage. In contrast, only a small fraction of the [3H]myristate which is attached to proteins is released by treatment with hydroxylamine or alkaline methanolysis, suggesting that myristate is linked to proteins primarily through amide bonds. The specificity of fatty acid acylation has also been examined in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and in PC12 cells, a rat pheochromacytoma cell line. In both cells, palmitate is primarily linked to proteins by a hydroxylamine-labile linkage while the major fraction of the myristic acid (60-70%) is linked to protein via amide linkage and the remainder via an ester linkage. Major differences were noted in the rate of fatty acid metabolism in these cells; in particular in 3T3 cells only 33% of the radioactivity incorporated from myristic acid into proteins is in the form of fatty acids. The remainder is presumably the result of conversion of label to amino acids. In BC3H1 cells, palmitate- and myristate-containing proteins also exhibit differences in subcellular localization. [3H]Palmitate-labeled proteins are found almost exclusively in membranes, whereas [3H]myristate-labeled proteins are distributed in both the soluble and membrane fractions. These results demonstrate that fatty acid acylation is a covalent modification common to a wide range of cellular proteins and is not restricted solely to membrane-associated proteins. The major acylated proteins in the various cell lines examined appear to be different, suggesting that the acylated proteins are concerned with specialized cell functions. The linkages through which fatty acids are attached to proteins also appear to be highly specific with respect to the fatty acid chain length.

Reciprocal regulation of osteocalcin transcription by the homeodomain proteins Msx2 and Dlx5.

Osteocalcin (OC) is a small calcium binding protein expressed in bones and teeth undergoing mineralization. OC expression in calvarial osteoblasts and odontoblasts is regulated in part via protein-protein interactions between the homeodomain repressor, Msx2, and components of the cell type-specific basal OC promoter. Recent work suggests that homeodomain proteins form heterodimers that confer transcriptional regulation. Since the homeodomain proteins Dlx5 and Msx2 are both expressed by primary rat calvarial osteoblasts, we examined whether Msx2 and Dlx5 functionally interact to regulate the OC promoter. In both primary rat calvarial and MC3T3E1 mouse calvarial osteoblasts, transient expression of Dlx5 only mildly augments basal OC promoter (luciferase reporter) activity, while Msx2 suppresses transcriptional activity by ca. 80%. However, Dlx5 completely reverses Msx2 repression of the OC promoter. Structure-function analyses using far-Western blot and transient cotransfection assays reveal that (i) Msx2 and Dlx5 can form dimers, (ii) Dlx5 residues 127-143 are necessary for dimerization and to reverse Msx2-dependent OC repression, and (iii) intrinsic DNA binding activity of Dlx5 is not required for OC regulation. Msx2 inhibits the DNA binding activity of a third complex, the OC fibroblast growth factor response element binding protein (OCFREB), that supports activity of the basal OC promoter. Dlx5 completely abrogates Msx2 suppression of OCFREB DNA binding activity, and residues required for Dlx5 transcriptional de-repression in vivo are also required for reversing inhibition of OCFREB binding in vitro. Finally, Dlx5 reverses Msx2 inhibition of OC promoter activation by FGF2/forskolin. Thus, Dlx5 regulates the expression of the OC promoter in calvarial osteoblasts in part by de-repression, antagonizing Msx2 repression of transcription factors that support basal OC promoter activity.

Lipoproteins of Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Haemophilus influenzae type b Minn A produced 12 lipoproteins with apparent molecular weights of between 14,000 and 67,000. The lipoproteins were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography of delipidated extracts of cells grown in [3H]palmitate. When the delipidated cell extracts were subjected to acid methanolysis, tritium was quantitatively recovered as palmitate and methyl palmitate, indicating that the [3H]palmitate had not been degraded and reincorporated into nonlipid material during cell growth. One of the lipoproteins comigrated with outer membrane protein (OMP) P6. OMP P6 was purified from [3H]palmitate-labeled cells. The purified protein preparation contained both amide- and ester-linked fatty acids. We conclude that (i) H. influenzae type b produces several lipoproteins, and (ii) one of these lipoproteins is OMP P6, a protein under consideration as a vaccine component.

Stimulus-selective inhibition of rat osteocalcin promoter induction and protein-DNA interactions by the homeodomain repressor Msx2.

Osteocalcin (OC) is a matrix calcium-binding protein expressed in osteoblasts and odontoblasts undergoing mineralization. OC expression is up-regulated in part by signals initiated by basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), cyclic AMP or forskolin (FSK), and calcitriol via defined elements and DNA-protein interactions in the OC promoter. We identified the OC gene as a target for transcriptional suppression by Msx2, a homeodomain transcription factor that controls ossification in the developing skull. In this study, we examine the effects of Msx2 expression on OC promoter activation (luciferase reporter) by FGF2/FSK and calcitriol in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Expression of Msx2 decreases basal activity of the 1-kilobase (-1050 to +32) rat OC promoter by 80%; however, the promoter is still inducible 3-fold by calcitriol. By contrast, OC promoter induction by FGF2/FSK is completely abrogated by Msx2. Because intrinsic Msx2 DNA binding activity is not required for the Msx2 suppressor function, we assessed whether Msx2 represses OC activation by regulating DNA-protein interactions at the FGF2 response element (OCFRE) and compared these interactions with those occurring at the calcitriol response element (VDRE). Treatment of MC3T3-E1 cells with FGF2/FSK or calcitriol up-regulates specific DNA-protein interactions at the OCFRE or VDRE, respectively, as detected by gel shift assay. Preincubation of crude nuclear extracts with recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Msx2 dose-dependently inhibits OCFRE DNA binding activity, whereas GST has no effect. Msx2 itself does not bind the OCFRE. Residues 132-148 required for Msx2 core suppressor function in transfection assays are also required to inhibit OCFRE DNA binding activity. By contrast, GST-Msx2 has no effect on calcitriol-regulated DNA-protein interactions at the VDRE. Using gel shift as an assay, the OCFRE DNA-binding protein OCFREB was purified to about 50% homogeneity from MG63 osteosarcoma cells. Recombinant Msx2 inhibits purified OCFREB DNA binding activity, whereas the Msx2 variant lacking residues 132-148 is inactive. Thus, Msx2 abrogates up-regulation of the OC promoter by FGF2/FSK in part by inhibiting OCFREB binding to the OCFRE.