Regulatory domains within the P0 promoter of human c-myc.

Expression of P0 RNA in some Burkitt lymphoma cell lines varies independently of levels of RNA derived from P1 and P2. These data suggest the possibility that expression of P0 RNA may be capable of independent regulation. In order to investigate this possibility we have isolated putative regulatory domains flanking P0 RNA starts within the human c-myc gene and analysed both their ability to direct expression of control reporter genes and their ability to interact with specific transcription factors. Regulatory regions necessary for expression of P0 RNA have been located within 131 bp 5' of the first major P0 RNA start. DNAase 1 footprint analysis and gel retardation assays demonstrate binding of transcription factors Sp1, NF1 and CBP to this region. NF1 binds specifically to two consensus sequences. The more distal site overlaps with the binding site for CBP, and it is likely that concomitant binding of NF1 and CBP within the distal region of the P0 promoter is not possible. Previous work from our laboratory has described a negative regulatory domain within the 5' flanking region of c-myc. The P0 promoter resides within this domain and therefore may contain a negative regulator of c-myc gene expression.

Regulation of AP-1/DNA complex formation in vitro.

The level of AP-1 DNA-binding activity exhibited in vitro by unfractionated extracts of Hela nuclei can be stimulated by a low molecular weight fraction from rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Stimulation also requires a heat labile component of the nuclear extract, probably a protein. Stimulated and unstimulated extracts with high and low AP-1 DNA-binding activities contain the same levels of proteins reactive with antisera against Jun and Fos, proteins which are shown to be involved in the AP-1/DNA complexes detected in vitro. The low molecular weight fraction from reticulocyte lysate can be substituted by the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) in the stimulation reaction and conversely oxidised glutathione greatly reduces formation of AP-1/DNA complexes. The binding activities of transcription factors SP-1, NF-1 and CBP are unaffected by DTT or oxidised glutathione. These observations, taken together, suggest that the efficiency with which pre-existing Fos and Jun proteins can bind an AP-1 target sequence in vitro can be controlled by a nuclear activity which is sensitive to oxidation/reduction and that this control mechanism is specific for AP-1.

Regulation of p190 Rho-GAP by v-Src is linked to cytoskeletal disruption during transformation.

The v-Src oncoprotein perturbs the dynamic regulation of the cellular cytoskeletal and adhesion network by a mechanism that is poorly understood. Here, we have examined in detail the effects of a temperature-dependent v-Src protein on the regulation of p190 RhoGAP, a GTPase activating protein (GAP) that has been implicated in disruption of the organised actin cytoskeleton, and addressed the dependence of v-Src-induced stress fibre loss on inhibition of Rho activity. We found that activation of v-Src induced association of tyrosine phosphorylated p190 with p120(RasGAP) and stimulation of p120(RasGAP)-associated RhoGAP activity, although p120(RasGAP) itself was not a target for phosphorylation by v-Src in chicken embryo cells. These events required the catalytic activity of v-Src and were linked to loss of actin stress fibres during morphological transformation and not mitogenic signalling. Furthermore, these effects were rapidly reversible since switching off v-Src led to dissociation of the p190/p120(RasGAP) complex, inactivation of p120(RasGAP)-associated RhoGAP activity and re-induction of actin stress fibres. In addition, transient transfection of Val14-RhoA, a constitutively active Rho protein that is insensitive to RhoGAPs, suppressed v-Src-induced stress fibre loss and cell transformation. Thus, we show here for the first time that an activated Src kinase requires the inactivation of Rho-mediated actin stress fibre assembly to induce its effects on actin disorganisation. Moreover, our work supports p190 as a strong candidate effector of v-Src-induced cytoskeletal disruption, most likely mediated by antagonism of the cellular function of Rho.

Human papillomavirus in paired normal and abnormal cervical biopsies--implications for treatment.

A total of 143 consecutive patients with abnormal cervical cytology was examined at a large colposcopy clinic in Glasgow. Each patient had paired biopsies from normal and abnormal cervical epithelium examined both histologically and by immunoperoxidase staining for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. More than 71% of the abnormal biopsies and 39% of the normal paired biopsies had histological evidence of HPV infection. Cytological evidence of HPV infection was seen in 38.5% of cervical smears. Immunocytochemistry revealed HPV antigen in 22% of the abnormal biopsies and in 4.2% of the 'normal' biopsies. The presence of HPV infection in colposcopically normal cervical tissue both inside and outside the transformation zone may help to explain why current methods for treatment of cervical HPV infection are often unsuccessful.

Mitogenesis by v-Src: fluctuations throughout G1 of classical immediate early AP-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase responses that parallel the need for the oncoprotein.

Activation of the tyrosine kinase of a temperature-sensitive mutant v-Src oncoprotein in quiescent Rat-1 cells leads to passage through the cell cycle. Temperature shift experiments show that v-Src is needed to leave G0, to pass a relatively stable G1 "pause" point, and to pass a later G1 point committing cells to S phase. Classic immediate early responses that activate both AP-1 DNA binding and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase are induced at G0 exit, but unexpectedly they rise again in mid-G1 and before the onset of S phase, fluctuations that parallel the need for v-Src. An estrogen-inducible mutant c-Raf-1 renders these cells susceptible to mitogenic stimulation by beta-estradiol, without v-Src activity, but greatly inhibits the ability of v-Src to induce DNA synthesis and MAP kinase, probably because v-Src physically associates with inactive c-Raf-1 at permissive but not restrictive temperature. This implicates c-Raf-1 association with enzymically active v-Src and consequent activation of the MAP kinase pathway in v-Src mitogenesis. Furthermore, temperature shift experiments indicate that the mid-G1 peak of MAP kinase activity is associated with cells reaching the G1 pause point, while the pre-S phase peak is needed for DNA synthesis. In contrast, cell transformation by v-Src does not require enhanced MAP kinase activity at any stage of the cell cycle.