The RNA polymerase I transcription factor, upstream binding factor, interacts directly with the TATA box-binding protein

The accurate transcription of human rRNA genes by RNA polymerase I requires two transcription factors, upstream binding factor (UBF) and promoter selectivity factor (SL1). Human SL1 (hSL1) is a multisubunit complex, one of whose components is TATA box-binding protein (TBP). hSL1 binds to the core region of the rRNA promoter, but does so inefficiently in the absence of human UBF (hUBF). hUBF interacts with the upstream control element of the rRNA promoter and facilitates binding of hSL1. The molecular basis by which hUBF increases binding of hSL1 remains to be elucidated. In this report, we use an immobilized protein binding assay to identify and purify a 95-kDa TBP-binding polypeptide. Microsequence analysis reveals that the 95-kDa TBP-binding protein is hUBF. We show that hUBF is stably associated with TBP and is present in large TBP-containing complexes. Our results indicate that the cooperative binding of hUBF and hSL1 on the rRNA promoter is mediated by direct interaction between hUBF and TBP. We also provide evidence that hUBF associates with TFIID, a TBP-containing RNA polymerase II transcription factor

Tunable Heptamethine–Azo Dye Conjugate as an NIR Fluorescent Probe for the Selective Detection of Mitochondrial Glutathione over Cysteine and Homocysteine

Although a lot of mitochondria-targeting biothiol probes have been developed and applied to cellular imaging through thiol-induced disulfide cleavage or Michael addition reactions, relatively few probes assess mitochondrial GSH with high selectivity over Cys and Hcy and with NIR fluorescence capable of noninvasive imaging in biological samples. In order to monitor mitochondrial GSH with low background autofluorescence, we designed a heptamethine–azo conjugate as an NIR fluorescent probe by introducing a tunable lipophilic cation unit as the biomarker for mitochondria and a nitroazo group as the GSH-selective reaction site as well as the fluorescence quencher. The probe exhibited a dramatic off–on NIR fluorescence response toward GSH with high selectivity over other amino acids including Cys and Hcy. Further application to cellular imaging indicated that the probe was highly responsive to the changes of mitochondrial GSH in cells

Expansion of Chromosome Territories with Chromatin Decompaction in BAF53-depleted Interphase Cells

Chromosomes are compartmentalized into discrete chromosome territories during interphase in mammalian cells. A chromosome territory is generated by the tendency of chromatin to occupy the smallest shell volume, which is determined by the polymeric properties and interactions of the internal meshwork of the chromatin fiber. Here, we show that BAF53 knockdown by small interfering RNA interference led to the expansion of chromosome territories. This was accompanied by a reduction in chromatin compaction, an increase in the micrococcal nuclease sensitivity of the chromatin, and an alteration in H3-K9 and H3-K79 dimethylation. Interestingly, the BAF53 knockdown cells suffer a cell cycle defect. Despite the significant irregularity and decompaction of the polynucleosomes isolated from the BAF53 knockdown cells, the chromatin loading of H1 and core histones remained unaltered, as did the nucleosome spacing. The histone hyperacetylation and down-regulation of BRG-1, mBrm, and Tip49, the catalytic components of the SWI/SNF complex and the TIP60 complex, respectively, did not expand chromosome territories. These results indicate that BAF53 contributes to the polymeric properties and/or the internal meshwork interactions of the chromatin fiber probably via a novel mechanism

The viral oncogene human papillomavirus E7 deregulates transcriptional silencing by Brm-related gene 1 via molecular interactions

BRG-1, a component of the human SWI/SNF complex, either activates or represses cellular promoters by modulating chromatin structure via the formation of a multiple polypeptide complex. Human papillomavirus E7 binds and destabilizes pRb, resulting in the blockage of G(1) arrest in the cell cycle. We show here that the high-risk human papillomavirus E7 protein group binds BRG-1 and modulates repression of the c-fos promoter mediated by this protein. In addition, both wild-type and Rb binding-defective E7 proteins abolish flat cell formation by BRG-1 in SW13 cells, whereas E7 COOH-terminal mutants do not affect this process. BRG-1-triggered repression of the c-fos promoter is sensitive to trichostatin A. We further establish that BRG-1 contains an activation domain and a trichostatin A-sensitive repression domain. These results collectively suggest that the viral oncogene E7 targets both pRb and BRG-1 via protein-protein interactions, resulting in the deregulation of host cell cycle control.open142