The possible functions of duplicated ets (GGAA) motifs located near transcription start sites of various human genes

Transcription is one of the most fundamental nuclear functions and is an enzyme complex-mediated reaction that converts DNA sequences into mRNA. Analyzing DNA sequences of 5′-flanking regions of several human genes that respond to 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in HL-60 cells, we have identified that the ets (GGAA) motifs are duplicated, overlapped, or clustered within a 500-bp distance from the most 5′-upstream region of the cDNA. Multiple protein factors including Ets family proteins are known to recognize and bind to the GGAA containing sequences. In addition, it has been reported that the ets motifs play important roles in regulation of various promoters. Here, we propose a molecular mechanism, defined by the presence of duplication and multiplication of the GGAA motifs, that is responsible for the initiation of transcription of several genes and for the recruitment of binding proteins to the transcription start site (TSS) of TATA-less promoters

Structure of PTB Bound to RNA: Specific Binding and Implications for Splicing Regulation

The polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) is a 58-kilodalton RNA binding protein involved in multiple aspects of messenger RNA metabolism, including the repression of alternative exons. We have determined the solution structures of the four RNA binding domains (RBDs) of PTB, each bound to a CUCUCU oligonucleotide. Each RBD binds RNA with a different binding specificity. RBD3 and RBD4 interact, resulting in an antiparallel orientation of their bound RNAs. Thus, PTB will induce RNA looping when bound to two separated pyrimidine tracts within the same RNA. This leads to structural models for how PTB functions as an alternative-splicing repressor

PSD-95 is post-transcriptionally repressed during early neural development by PTBP1 and PTBP2

Postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) is essential for synaptic maturation and plasticity. Although its synaptic regulation is widely studied, the control of PSD-95 cellular expression is not understood. We find that Psd-95 is controlled post-transcriptionally during neural development. Psd-95 is transcribed early in mouse embryonic brain, but most of its product transcripts are degraded. The polypyrimidine tract binding proteins, PTBP1 and PTBP2, repress Psd-95 exon 18 splicing, leading to premature translation termination and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). The loss first of PTBP1 and then of PTBP2 during embryonic development allows splicing of Exon 18 and expression of PSD-95 late in neuronal maturation. Re-expression of PTBP1 or PTBP2 in differentiated neurons inhibits PSD-95 expression and impairs development of glutamatergic synapses. Thus, expression of PSD-95 during early neural development is controlled at the RNA level by two PTB proteins whose sequential down-regulation is necessary for synapse maturation

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K Represses the Production of Pro-apoptotic Bcl-xS Splice Isoform

The Bcl-x pre-mRNA is alternatively spliced to produce the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL and the pro-apoptotic Bcl-xS isoforms. By performing deletion mutagenesis on a human Bcl-x minigene, we have identified a novel exonic element that controls the use of the 5′ splice site of Bcl-xS. The proximal portion of this element acts as a repressor and is located downstream of an enhancer. Further mutational analysis provided a detailed topological map of the regulatory activities revealing a sharp transition between enhancer and repressor sequences. Portions of the enhancer can function when transplanted in another alternative splicing unit. Chromatography and immunoprecipitation assays indicate that the silencer element interacts with heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particle (hnRNP) K, consistent with the presence of putative high affinity sites for this protein. Finally, down-regulation of hnRNP K by RNA interference enhanced splicing to Bcl-xS, an effect seen only when the sequences bound by hnRNP K are present. Our results therefore document a clear role for hnRNP K in preventing the production of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-xS splice isoform

VEGF-A splicing: the key to anti-angiogenic therapeutics?

The physiology of microvessels limits the growth and development of tumours. Tumours gain nutrients and excrete waste through growth-associated microvessels. New anticancer therapies target this microvasculature by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) splice isoforms that promote microvessel growth. However, certain VEGF-A splice isoforms in normal tissues inhibit growth of microvessels. Thus, it is the VEGF-A isoform balance, which is controlled by mRNA splicing, that orchestrates angiogenesis. Here, we highlight the functional differences between the pro-angiogenic and the anti-angiogenic VEGF-A isoform families and the potential to harness the synthetic capacity of cancer cells to produce factors that inhibit, rather than aid, cancer growth