Cloning of cDNA for argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA and study of enzyme overproduction in a human cell line

Expression profile and down-regulation of argininosuccinate synthetase in hepatocellular carcinoma in a transgenic mouse model

BACKGROUND

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) participates in urea and nitric oxide production and is a rate-limiting enzyme in arginine biosynthesis. Regulation of ASS expression appears complex and dynamic. In addition to transcriptional regulation, a novel post-transcriptional regulation affecting nuclear precursor RNA stability has been reported. Moreover, many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), have been found not to express ASS mRNA; therefore, they are auxotrophic for arginine. To study when and where ASS is expressed and whether post-transcriptional regulation is undermined in particular temporal and spatial expression and in pathological events such as HCC, we set up a transgenic mouse system with modified BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) carrying the human ASS gene tagged with an EGFP reporter.

RESULTS

We established and characterized the transgenic mouse models based on the use of two BAC-based EGFP reporter cassettes: a transcription reporter and a transcription/post-transcription coupled reporter. Using such a transgenic mouse system, EGFP fluorescence pattern in E14.5 embryo was examined. Profiles of fluorescence and that of Ass RNA in in situ hybridization were found to be in good agreement in general, yet our system has the advantages of sensitivity and direct fluorescence visualization. By comparing expression patterns between mice carrying the transcription reporter and those carrying the transcription/post-transcription couple reporter, a post-transcriptional up-regulation of ASS was found around the ventricular zone/subventricular zone of E14.5 embryonic brain. In the EGFP fluorescence pattern and mRNA level in adult tissues, tissue-specific regulation was found to be mainly controlled at transcriptional initiation. Furthermore, strong EGFP expression was found in brain regions of olfactory bulb, septum, habenular nucleus and choroid plexus of the young transgenic mice. On the other hand, in crossing to hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx)-transgenic mice, the Tg (ASS-EGFP, HBx) double transgenic mice developed HCC in which ASS expression was down-regulated, as in clinical samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The BAC transgenic mouse model described is a valuable tool for studying ASS gene expression. Moreover, this mouse model is a close reproduction of clinical behavior of ASS in HCC and is useful in testing arginine-depleting agents and for studies of the role of ASS in tumorigenesis.

Arginine deprivation and argininosuccinate synthetase expression in the treatment of cancer

Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid in humans, is critical for the growth of human cancers, particularly those marked by de novo chemoresistance and a poor clinical outcome. In addition to protein synthesis, arginine is involved in diverse aspects of tumour metabolism, including the synthesis of nitric oxide, polyamines, nucleotides, proline and glutamate. Tumoural downregulation of the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1), a recognised rate-limiting step in arginine synthesis, results in an intrinsic dependence on extracellular arginine due to an inability to synthesise arginine for growth. This dependence on extracellular arginine is known as arginine auxotrophy. Several tumours are arginine auxotrophic, due to variable loss of ASS1, including hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant melanoma, malignant pleural mesothelioma, prostate and renal cancer. Importantly, targeting extracellular arginine for degradation in the absence of ASS1 triggers apoptosis in arginine auxotrophs. Several phase I/II clinical trials of the arginine-lowering drug, pegylated arginine deiminase, have shown encouraging evidence of clinical benefit and low toxicity in patients with ASS1-negative tumours. In part, ASS1 loss is due to epigenetic silencing of the ASS1 promoter in various human cancer cell lines and tumours, and it is this silencing that confers arginine auxotrophy. In relapsed ovarian cancer, this is associated with platinum refractoriness. In contrast, several platinum sensitive tumours, including primary ovarian, stomach and colorectal cancer, are characterised by ASS1 overexpression, which is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines. This review examines the prospects for novel approaches in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease based on ASS1 pathophysiology and its rate-limiting product, arginine.

Mutations and polymorphisms in the human argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) gene

Citrullinemia type I is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by a deficiency of the urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1). Deficiency of ASS1 shows various clinical manifestations encompassing severely affected patients with fatal neonatal hyperammonemia as well as asymptomatic individuals with only a biochemical phenotype. This is a comprehensive report of all 87 mutations found to date in the ASS1 gene on chromosome 9q34.1. A large proportion of the mutations (n=27) are described here for the first time. Mutations are distributed throughout exons 3 to 15, most of them being identified in exons 5, 12, 13, and 14. The mutation G390R in exon 15 is the single most common mutation in patients with the classical phenotype. Certain mutations clearly link to specific clinical courses but the clinical phenotype cannot be anticipated in all patients. This update presents a survey of the correlation between mutations in the ASS1 gene and the respective clinical courses as described so far. It also sheds light on the geographic incidence of the mutations. Enzymatic studies have been done in bacterial and human cell systems. However, the prognostic value of genetic aberrations with respect to their effect on protein function and clinical manifestation remains uncertain.

Biphasic effect of IL-1β on the activity of argininosuccinate synthetase in Caco-2 cells. Involvement of nitric oxide production

The expression of the argininosuccinate synthetase gene (ASS), the limiting enzyme of arginine synthesis, was previously shown to be rapidly induced by a short-term (4 h) exposure to IL-1beta in Caco-2 cells [Biochimie, 2005, 403-409]. The present report shows that, by contrast, a long-term (24 h) exposure to IL-1beta inhibited the ASS activity despite an increase in both specific mRNA level and protein amount, demonstrating a post-translational effect. Concerning the mechanism involved, we demonstrate that the inhibiting effect is linked to the production of nitric oxide (NO) induced by IL-1beta. Indeed, the inhibiting effect of IL-1beta was totally blocked in the presence of l-NMMA, an inhibitor of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, or by culturing the cells in an arginine-deprived medium. Moreover, a decrease in the ASS activity was induced by culturing the cells in the presence of SNAP, a NO donor. Conversely, blocking the action of NO by antioxidant agents, the stimulatory effect of IL-1beta on ASS activity was restored, as measured at 24 h. Finally, such an inhibiting effect of NO on ASS activity may be related, at least in part, to S-nitrosylation of the protein. The physiological relevance of the antagonistic effects of IL-1beta and NO on ASS is discussed.

IL-1beta stimulates argininosuccinate synthetase gene expression through NF-kappaB in Caco-2 cells

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) is limiting the arginine synthesis and can be stimulated by immunostimulants. We previously identified a putative NF-kappaB element in the human ASS gene promoter but its functionality was unknown (Husson et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 270 (2003) 1887). In the present study, using Caco-2 cells, a human enterocyte line, we demonstrate that IL-1beta rapidly induces the expression of the ASS gene at a transcriptional level through NF-kappaB activation. Using gel shift assay and double-strand oligonucleotide sequence of the identified putative NF-kappaB binding site of the ASS promoter, we provide evidence that NF-kappaB may functionally interact with this element.

Glutamine Stimulates Argininosuccinate Synthetase Gene Expression through Cytosolic O-Glycosylation of Sp1 in Caco-2 Cells

Glutamine stimulates the expression of the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) gene at both the level of enzyme activity and mRNA in Caco-2 cells. Searching to identify the pathway involved, we observed that (i) the stimulating effect of glutamine was totally mimicked by glucosamine addition, and (ii) its effect but not that of glucosamine was totally blocked by 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), an inhibitor of amidotransferases, suggesting that the metabolism of glutamine to glucosamine 6-phosphate was required. Moreover, run-on assays revealed that glucosamine was acting at a transcriptional level. Because three functional GC boxes were identified on the ASS gene promoter (Anderson, G. M., and Freytag, S. O. (1991) Mol. Cell Biol. 11, 1935-1943), the potential involvement of Sp1 family members was studied. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using either the Sp1 consensus sequence or an appropriate fragment of the ASS promoter sequence as a probe demonstrated that both glutamine and glucosamine increased Sp1 DNA binding. Immunoprecipitation-Western blot experiments demonstrated that both compounds increased O-glycosylation of Sp1 leading to its translocation into nucleus. Again, the effect of glutamine on Sp1 was inhibited by the addition of DON but not of glucosamine. Taken together, the results clearly demonstrate that the metabolism of glutamine through the hexosamine pathway leads to the cytosolic O-glycosylation of Sp1, which, in turn, translocates into nucleus and stimulates the ASS gene transcription. Collectively, the results constitute the first demonstration of a functional relationship between a regulating signal (glutamine), a transcription factor (Sp1), and the transcription of the ASS gene.

Argininosuccinate synthetase from the urea cycle to the citrulline-NO cycle

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS, EC 6.3.4.5) catalyses the condensation of citrulline and aspartate to form argininosuccinate, the immediate precursor of arginine. First identified in the liver as the limiting enzyme of the urea cycle, ASS is now recognized as a ubiquitous enzyme in mammalian tissues. Indeed, discovery of the citrulline-NO cycle has increased interest in this enzyme that was found to represent a potential limiting step in NO synthesis. Depending on arginine utilization, location and regulation of ASS are quite different. In the liver, where arginine is hydrolyzed to form urea and ornithine, the ASS gene is highly expressed, and hormones and nutrients constitute the major regulating factors: (a) glucocorticoids, glucagon and insulin, particularly, control the expression of this gene both during development and adult life; (b) dietary protein intake stimulates ASS gene expression, with a particular efficiency of specific amino acids like glutamine. In contrast, in NO-producing cells, where arginine is the direct substrate in the NO synthesis, ASS gene is expressed at a low level and in this way, proinflammatory signals constitute the main factors of regulation of the gene expression. In most cases, regulation of ASS gene expression is exerted at a transcriptional level, but molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Usage of cryptic splice sites in citrullinemia fibroblasts suggests role of polyadenylation in splice-site selection during terminal exon definition

Citrullinemia is a human genetic disease caused by a deficient argininosuccinate synthetase. In fibroblasts established from a citrullinemia patient with a mutation at the 3' splice site of the terminal intron of the gene, three cryptic 3' splice sites; i.e., SA1275, SA1636, and SA1663, residing on the terminal exon were activated. The usage of the cryptic sites showed a gradient, with the most downstream site having the highest usage; i.e., SA1663 > SA1636 > SA1275. However, when these cryptic sites were relocated to the internal exon, SA1636 was used the most. The splice-site strength of SA1636 was at least 10-fold higher than that of SA1663 in this situation. The results suggest that the preferential usage of SA1663 residing on the terminal exon may depend on its proximity to the poly(A) signal rather than on the strength of the splice site. Furthermore, when the strength of the downstream-most splice site increased, almost all the RNAs spliced to this site. However, in the presence of the wild-type splice site, all the RNAs were processed to the authentic site. Apparently, the selection of splice site can be revealed only when the sites being selected do not differ too much in their strength. By using a naturally occurring human mutant gene as a model, this study reveals that polyadenylation may play an important role in the selection of splice site during terminal exon definition.

In vitro cell models to study nasal mucosal permeability and metabolism

Whereas in vivo studies represent the most crucial test for any nasal drug application or formulation, mechanistic aspects of nasal absorption may be more clearly approached by well defined and controlled in vitro studies. In this review the progress of nasal in vitro models to investigate drug permeation and metabolism in the epithelium is summarized and their potential and limitations are discussed. The following subjects will be covered: (i) primary cell cultures of human nasal epithelium, including sampling techniques and culture conditions, (ii) human nasal cell lines (in particular the human nasal cell line RPMI 2650), and (iii) excised nasal epithelium (rabbit, bovine, ovine, canine, human), also summarizing suitable preparation techniques and tissue characterization, test media, tissue equilibration, viability testing, and integrity tests. Furthermore, an overview on the various experimental set-ups suitable for in vitro transport studies (permeation rates; identification of permeation pathways; mechanisms and toxicity of absorption enhancers) and for metabolism studies (rates, saturation and pathways of enzymatic cleavage) is presented. Some attention is given to identify potential endocytotic uptake mechanisms. To date, the permeation and metabolic barrier function of excised nasal tissue derived from various animals has shown to mimic the in vivo situation 'ex vivo' at the highest degree possible. Supply of human tissue will continue to be short. Therefore, further studies are necessary to evaluate and improve culture conditions, handling, performance and physiologic relevance of primary human cell and cell line cultures.

Evaluation of gene therapy for citrullinaemia using murine and bovine models

Citrullinaemia is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of argininosuccinate synthase. The deficiency of this enzyme results in an interruption in the urea cycle and the inability to dispose of excess ammonia derived from the metabolism of protein. The only treatment for this disorder has been dietary restriction of protein and supplementation with medications allowing for alternative excretion of excess nitrogen. Gene therapy offers the possibility of a long-term cure for disorders like citrullinaemia by expressing the deficient gene in the target organ. We have explored the use of adenoviral vectors as a treatment modality for citrullinaemia in two animal models, a naturally occurring bovine model and a murine model created by molecular mutagenesis. Mice treated with adenoviral vectors expressing argininosuccinate synthase lived significantly longer than untreated animals (11 days vs 1 day; however, the animals did not exhibit normal weight gain during the experiment, indicating that the therapeutic effectiveness of the transducing virus was suboptimal. It is speculated that part of the failure to observe better clinical outcome might be due to the deficiency of arginine. In the bovine model, the use of adenoviral vectors did not result in any change in the clinical condition of the animals or in the level of plasma ammonia. However, the use of 15N isotopic ammonia allowed us to assess the flux of nitrogen through the urea cycle during the experiment. These studies revealed a significant increase in the flux through the urea cycle following administration of adenoviral vectors expressing argininosuccinate synthase. We conclude that the use of adenoviral vectors in the treatment of citrullinaemia is a viable approach to therapy but that it will be necessary to increase the level of transduction and to increase the level of enzyme produced from the recombinant viral vector. Future experiments will be designed to address these issues.

Regulation of argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA level in rat foetal hepatocytes

Expression of the hepatic gene for argininosuccinate synthase (ASS), one of the key enzymes of the urea cycle, was analysed during the perinatal period in the rat. To this end, the amount of specific mRNA was measured in the liver at various stages of development and in cultured foetal hepatocytes maintained in different hormonal conditions. The ASS mRNA was first detected in 15.5-day foetuses and its level increased concomitantly with a rise in the enzyme activity, suggesting that the appearance of the ASS activity reflects the turning on of specific gene transcription. This was demonstrated by run-on assay which showed an enhanced rate of transcription of the ASS gene during the perinatal period. When foetal hepatocytes were cultured with dexamethasone, a dose-dependent increase in ASS mRNA was measured, which was completely abolished by actinomycin D addition. The transcription rate of the gene was increased about twofold in the presence of the steroid, as measured by nuclear run-on assay. This transcriptional action could additionally require a protein factor since it could be inhibited by the simultaneous addition of puromycin. Insulin or glucagon respectively repressed or enhanced the dexamethasone-induced accumulation of ASS mRNA when added simultaneously with the steroid for 24 h. This developmental regulation of the ASS mRNA by glucocorticoids, insulin and glucagon could account for the modulation of the enzyme activity previously observed in vivo and in vitro in the foetal liver.

Argininosuccinate synthetase overexpression in vascular smooth muscle cells potentiates immunostimulant-induced NO production

Immunostimulants trigger vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to express both the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) and argininosuccinate synthetase (AS). With constitutively expressed argininosuccinate lyase (AL), AS confers cells with an Arg/Cit cycle that can sustain NO production via continuous regeneration of the NOS substrate, L-arginine (Arg), from the NOS coproduct, L-citrulline (Cit). To assess whether NO synthesis can be rate-limited by Arg recycling, we tested whether AS-overexpressing cells have an enhanced capacity for immununostimulant-induced NO synthesis. Rat VSMC were stably transfected with human AS cDNA in a eukaryotic cell expression vector, driven by a strong viral promoter. AS activity in transfected VSMC exceeded that induced in untransfected cells treated for 24 h with a combination of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN). AS activity was predominantly associated with membranes but was also found in cytosol. Recombinant AS was purified from cytosol and possessed a specific activity exceeding that reported for native AS. Western blotting verified the basal expression of AS antigen in membranes from untreated AS-transfected VSMC and from untransfected VSMC after 24 h exposure to LPS/IFN. Epifluorescence histochemistry revealed a punctate distribution of AS antigen in transfected cells, consistent with a predominant membrane localization. Remarkably, on a per cell basis, LPS/IFN-induced NO production was 3-4-fold greater in AS-transfected cells than untransfected VSMC. In untransfected VSMC, maximal NO production during 48 h required millimolar Arg; notably, Cit was needed at approximately 3-fold higher concentrations than Arg for a comparable NO synthesis rate. In contrast, AS-transfected VSMC utilized Arg and Cit equi-effectively and at much lower concentrations; 100 microM of either precursor supported a maximal rate of NO synthesis for 48 h. The enhanced ability of AS-transfected cells to produce NO, compared with untransfected cells, could not be ascribed to differences in iNOS protein content or LPS/IFN potency for immunoactivation. We conclude that transfection with AS provides a continuous flux of Arg which drives NO synthesis in immunoactivated VSMC. Arg regeneration by AS is rate-limiting to NO synthesis and apparently provides iNOS with a preferred cellular source of Arg. In accord with the reported "channeling" of substrates by urea cycle enzymes, we hypothesize that the Arg/Cit cycle sequesters a discrete pool of recyclable substrate that sustains high-output NO synthesis.

Induction of astrocyte argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dexamethasone

Arginine is an intermediate in the elimination of excess nitrogen and is the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis. Arginine synthesis has been reported in brain tissue. We have studied the activity of the arginine biosynthetic enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase in dexamethasone and/or dibutyryl cyclic AMP treated rat astrocyte cultures. Argininosuccinate lyase activity was stimulated by treatment with either effector and an additive effect was obtained when both agents were added simultaneously. Argininosuccinate synthetase was also increased in dexamethasone treated astrocytes. The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on argininosuccinate synthetase was variable, suggesting a role for additional factors in its regulation as compared to argininosuccinate lyase. Regulation of arginine synthesis in astrocytes may be important to insure that arginine is not limiting for nitric oxide synthesis in neural tissue.

Glutamine increases argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA levels in rat hepatocytes. The involvement of cell swelling

Glutamine, one of the most efficient substrates in the urea cycle, was found to induce the accumulation of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) mRNA in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The inducing action of glutamine was obtained at various stages of development and a half-maximal effect was observed at about 3 mM glutamine. This effect was apparent from 6 h and persisted for at least 48 h. NH4Cl addition up to 5 mM did not significantly change the ASS mRNA level. Like glutamine, hypoosmotic medium and aminoisobutyric acid (conditions known to increase cell volume) also increased the ASS mRNA level, which was, in contrast, decreased by hyperosmotic medium. These results demonstrate that the glutamine-induced swelling may participate in the observed increase of the ASS mRNA level. This increase in the ASS mRNA level was associated with an increase in ASS activity.

Plasmid amplification-promoting sequences from the origin region of Chinese hamster dihydrofolate reductase gene do not promote position-independent chromosomal gene amplification

Initiation of DNA synthesis occurs with high frequency at oribeta, a region of DNA from the amplified dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) domain of Chinese hamster CHOC 400 cells that contains an origin of bidirectional DNA replication (OBR). Recently, sequences from DHFR oribeta/OBR were shown to stimulate amplification of cis-linked plasmid DNA when transfected into murine cells. To test the role of oribeta/OBR in chromosomal gene amplification, linearized plasmids containing these sequences linked to a DHFR expression cassette were introduced into DHFR- CHO DUKX cells. After selection for expression of DHFR, cell lines that contain a single integrated, unrearranged copy of the linearized expression plasmid were identified and exposed to low levels of the folate analog, methotrexate (MTX). Of seven clonal cell lines containing the vector control, three gained resistance to MTX by 5 to 15-fold amplification of the integrated marker gene. Of 16 clonal cell lines that contained oribeta/OBR linked to a DHFR mini-gene, only 6 gained resistance to MTX by gene amplification. Hence, sequences from the DHFR origin region that stimulate plasmid DNA amplification do not promote amplification of an integrated marker gene in all chromosomal contexts. In addition to showing that chromosomal position has a strong influence on the frequency of gene amplification, these studies suggest that the mechanism that mediates the experiment of episomal plasmid DNA does not contribute to the early steps of chromosomal gene amplification.

A nuclear post-transcriptional event responsible for overproduction of argininosuccinate synthetase in a canavanine-resistant variant of a human epithelial cell line

The Canr1 cell line, a canavanine-resistant variant of the cultured human epithelial cell line, RPMI 2650, overproduces argininosuccinate synthetase more than 200-fold. Run-on transcription assays showed no significant difference in transcription initiation of the argininosuccinate synthetase gene between Canr1 and RPMI 2650 cells. Furthermore, no difference in the relative transcription rate was seen along this 63-kb gene, suggesting that neither transcription initiation nor elongation is responsible for differential expression of argininosuccinate synthetase in these two cell lines. However, when isolated nuclei were labeled for a longer period of time in the transcription assay, precursor RNA of argininosuccinate synthetase in RPMI 2650 cells was found to be very labile. Apparently, a nuclear event affecting precursor RNA stability is responsible for the dramatic difference in argininosuccinate synthetase levels in these two cell lines. Using a microsatellite polymorphic marker, it was demonstrated that argininosuccinate synthetase from both alleles of the gene in Canr1 cells was overexpressed. This suggests that a trans-acting mechanism may be responsible for regulation of overproduction in this cell line. Furthermore, when protein synthesis was blocked by cycloheximide, less precursor RNA was observed in Canr1 cells. These data suggest that a labile protein factor(s) participates in the regulation.

Abnormal expression of urea cycle enzyme genes in juvenile visceral steatosis (jvs) mice

Juvenile visceral steatosis (jvs) mice from the C3H-H-2 degrees strain have markedly low levels of all the hepatic urea cycle enzymes (Imamura et al. (1990) FEBS Lett. 260, 119-121). The steady state levels of messenger RNA for the four urea cycle enzymes examined and also for albumin and serine dehydratase were severely reduced in the liver. The levels of mRNA for other liver-specific enzymes including aldolase B and phospho enol pyruvate carboxykinase did not vary significantly from normal littermates. As for extrahepatic expression of the urea cycle enzymes, only argininosuccinate synthetase in the kidney was decreased. Nuclear run-on experiments showed reduced transcription of the corresponding genes, which mostly accounts for the low mRNA levels. Furthermore, the time-course of mRNA accumulation from 5 days of age showed that the developmental induction of hepatic carbamyl phosphate synthetase and argininosuccinate synthetase mRNAs was strongly suppressed. These results suggest that jvs affects not only the regulation of the tissue-specific expression of the urea cycle enzymes but also the regulation of their developmental induction.

Syntenic conservation between humans and cattle. I. Human chromosome 9

Bovine X hamster hybrid somatic cells have been used to investigate the syntenic relationship of nine loci in the bovine that have homologous loci on human chromosome 9. Six loci, ALDH1, ALDOB, C5, GGTB2, GSN, and ITIL, were assigned to the previously identified bovine syntenic group U18 represented by ACO1, whereas the other three loci, ABL, ASS, and GRP78, mapped to a new, previously unidentified autosomal syntenic group. Additionally, a secondary locus, ABLL, which cross-hybridized with the ABL probe, was mapped to bovine syntenic group U1 with the HSA 1 loci PGD and ENO1. The results predict that ACO1 will map proximal to ALDH1; GRP78 distal to ITIL and C5; GSN proximal to AK1, ABL, and ASS on HSA 9; GRP78 to MMU 2; and ITIL and GSN to MMU 4.

Assignment of the structural gene for argininosuccinate synthetase to proximal mouse chromosome 2

In order to develop linkage markers for the murine argininosuccinate synthetase locus (Ass-1), we have searched for restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the mouse genome using cloned sequences from the mouse arginosuccinate synthetase structural gene. Five restriction fragment length polymorphisms were found among the recombinant inbred progenitor strains AKR/J, BALB/cByJ, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, C57L/J, DBA/2J, and SWR/J. Of these, four polymorphisms were found to distinguish the SWR/J strain from the other six strains, which all had the same fragment. The fifth polymorphism revealed differences among the progenitor strains for recombinant inbred strain sets AKXL, BXD, and SWXL. The strain distribution pattern for this polymorphism indicated close linkage of Ass-1 to Hc (the fifth component of complement) on proximal mouse chromosome 2 with a recombination fraction of 0.016 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.003 to 0.054. These data place Ass-1 in a syntenic group with the genes Hc, Abl, Fpgs, and Ak-1 whose linkage has been conserved between human chromosome 9q and mouse chromosome 2.

Nutritional and hormonal regulation of mRNA abundance for arginine biosynthetic enzymes in kidney

Argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase catalyze the synthesis of arginine from citrulline in kidney and also serve as components of the urea cycle in liver of ureotelic animals. Dietary and hormonal regulation of mRNAs encoding these enzymes have been well studied in liver but not in kidney. Messenger RNAs for these enzymes are localized within the renal cortex. Starvation and extreme variations in dietary protein content (0% vs 60% casein) produced 2.6- to 3.5-fold increases in mRNA abundance for these two enzymes in rat kidney. Argininosuccinate lyase mRNA was not induced by dibutyryl cAMP, dexamethasone, or a combination of the two agents. In contrast, argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA was induced 2-fold by dibutyryl cAMP but was unresponsive to dexamethasone. Thus, diet and hormones regulate levels of these mRNAs in rat kidney, but the responses are both qualitatively and quantitatively distinct from the responses previously reported for rat liver.

Regulation of human argininosuccinate synthetase gene: induction by positive-acting nuclear mechanism in canavanine-resistant cell variants

Nonhepatic human cell variants resistant to the arginine analog, canavanine, express argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) mRNA at levels 200-fold higher than parental cells without amplification of AS gene sequences. In this report we show that this regulation occurs in the nucleus prior to polyadenylation of AS precursor RNA and occurs through a positive-acting mechanism operating in canavanine-resistant cells. The half-life of cytoplasmic AS mRNA was estimated by blocking cellular transcription with actinomycin D. In both parental and canavanine-resistant variants of RPMI 2650 cells, the AS mRNA decayed with a half-life of 12-24 h, showing that cytoplasmic mRNA stabilization was not involved in this regulation. Quantification of AS RNA following cell fractionation showed that AS precursor RNA was present at greatly elevated amounts in the nuclei of canavanine-resistant cells. Similar results were obtained when nonpolyadenylated RNA was examined. Thus, the mechanism underlying high expression of AS mRNA in canavanine-resistant cells is an early nuclear event, and the processes of polyadenylation and transport of RNA to the cytoplasm are not involved. Intraspecific somatic cell hybrids were constructed to test whether the induction of AS mRNA was due to a gain of a function in canavanine-resistant cells or to a loss of a function in parental cells. Quantification of AS mRNA in hybrid cell lines showed that such cells contained high levels similar to those found in the canavanine-resistant parent. These findings show that the induction of AS mRNA is due to a positive-acting mechanism operating in the nucleus of canavanine-resistant cells.

Paradoxical regulation of human argininosuccinate synthetase cDNA minigene in opposition to endogenous gene: evidence for intragenic control sequences

Human somatic cell variants resistant to the arginine analog, canavanine, express 200-fold increased levels of argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) mRNA as compared to parental cells. In this study we examined whether AS cDNA sequences contain cis-acting regulatory elements that are involved in the induction of AS mRNA in canavanine-resistant cells. Minigene constructs containing AS cDNA sequences under the transcriptional control of a viral promoter were stably transfected into the human squamous cell carcinoma line, RPMI 2650. Upon conversion of cells to canavanine-resistance, expression of the endogenous AS gene increased by two orders of magnitude as expected. Surprisingly, however, expression of AS cDNA minigenes decreased 10- to 15-fold in canavanine-resistant cell variants. The observed down-modulation of AS cDNA minigene expression was dependent upon a concomitant induction of the endogenous AS gene and not simply expression of the canavanine-resistant phenotype. This paradoxical regulation was specific for AS gene sequences since a minigene containing the neomycin-resistance gene in place of AS cDNA sequences failed to regulate. Furthermore, minigenes lacking a substantial portion of the AS cDNA also failed to exhibit the down-modulation. These findings suggest that expression of the human AS gene is regulated by a specific and limiting, positively-acting, trans-acting mechanism in canavanine-resistant cells and that exogenous AS cDNA (mRNA) sequences can compete for this mechanism.

Molecular and cellular characterization of drug resistant hamster cell lines with alterations in ribonucleotide reductase

Ribonucleotide reductase consists of 2 protein components frequently called M1 and M2. Hydroxyurea specifically inhibits DNA synthesis by interacting with the M2 protein and destroying a unique tyrosyl-free radical. We have carried out a molecular and cellular characterization of 2 Chinese hamster ovary cell lines exhibiting either low (HN(R)-AT) or relatively high (H(R)-R2T) resistance to the cytotoxic effects of hydroxyurea. Both drug-resistant lines have an increased level of ribonucleotide reductase activity. EPR measurements for tyrosyl-free radical content and studies with M1-specific antibodies indicated that the elevation in enzyme activity was entirely due to an increase in the M2 component. Studies with M1 cDNA showed that both drug-resistant cell lines contained a wild-type level of M1 mRNA and a wild-type M1 gene copy number. Studies with M2 cDNA indicated that the 2 drug-resistant lines possessed elevated levels of M2 message that could explain the observed increase in M2 component. The elevation of M2 mRNA in the most resistant line, H(R)-R2T, was due to an increase in M2 gene copy number. The low resistant cell line, HN(R)-AT, exhibited a wild-type M2 gene copy number, indicating that the increase in M2 gene message occurred through a process other than gene amplification. Enzyme kinetic studies with partially purified preparations from both drug resistant lines showed reduced sensitivity to hydroxyurea and to the negative allosteric effector, dATP. In addition to hydroxyurea, H(R)-R2T cells were also resistant to several other drugs whose site of action is the M2 component. Furthermore, H(R)-R2T cells were not cross-resistant to colchicine or puromycin, suggesting that hydroxyurea-resistant cells do not share the multi-drug resistance phenotype, which is frequently associated with cross-resistance to these drugs.

The human as an experimental system in molecular genetics

There are compelling reasons for choosing to develop the human as the highest-order experimental system in genetics: an obvious social context that stirs interest, wide medical observation of the population that permits identification of an abundance of genetic defects, and our ability to perceive in the human subtle or complex variations that may not be observable in other species. Various lines of genetic inquiry that are based on research in other systems--cytogenetic analysis, biochemical studies, mapping of defective loci by linkage analysis in affected families, and in vitro techniques such as the creation of transgenic organisms--complement and enrich each other. New phenomena that would not have been predicted from investigations in other organisms have been found in humans, such as the discovery of the "giant" Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene and the identification of recessive cancer genes. Genetic research is yielding insights into human biology that are raising new possibilities for therapy and prevention of disease, as well as challenges to society in the form of ethical decisions about the appropriate application of genetic information.

Molecular basis for the overproduction of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase in a glyphosate-tolerant cell suspension culture of Corydalis sempervirens

Cell cultures of Corydalis sempervirens adapted to growth in the presence of 5 mM glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] display a 30- to 40-fold increase in the cellular content of 5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase, the target enzyme of the herbicide. Translatable mRNA activity as well as transcript levels for EPSP synthase were increased 8-to 12-fold in the adapted (glyphosate-tolerant) as compared to the non-adapted (glyphosate-sensitive) cultures. Northern blot analysis revealed a single 1.8 kb transcript after hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe deduced from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme. No significant differences in the relative abundance of EPSP synthase-specific DNA sequences could be detected, however, in Southern and dot blot analyses of restricted DNA isolated from the two cultures. We conclude that the overproduction of EPSP synthase in glyphosate-tolerant C. sempervirens cells is not based on the amplification of the corresponding gene.

Thyroxine elicits divergent changes in mRNA levels for two urea cycle enzymes and one gluconeogenic enzyme in tadpole liver

Thyroxine-induced metamorphosis of the tadpole to the frog (Rana catesbeiana) is marked by increased activities of the urea cycle enzymes in liver. Cloned cDNAs for two mammalian urea cycle enzymes--carbamyl-phosphate synthetase I and argininosuccinate synthetase--were shown to cross-hybridize with the corresponding mRNAs in tadpole liver. Thyroxine treatment produced nearly 10-fold, coordinate increases in hybridizable mRNA levels for these two enzymes in tadpole liver. This increase is sufficient to account for reported increases in enzyme levels and synthesis rates, demonstrating that thyroxine largely regulates concentrations of these enzymes at a pretranslational step(s). In contrast, levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in tadpole liver decreased by more than 90% following thyroxine treatment. This differs from the thyroxine-induced increases in synthesis rates of enzyme and mRNA reported for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in rat liver. However, the decreased levels of this mRNA in tadpole liver may represent a secondary response due to thyroxine-stimulated release of insulin.

Evolution of nuclear gene families in primates. Copy-number variation in the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) pseudogene family and the anonymous DNA sequence, D1S1

Changes in the copy number of nuclear genes provide the raw material for the creation of new gene functions. To better understand the mechanisms for such events, and their physiologic and evolutionary consequences, it is valuable to study a well characterized and closely related group of species such as primates. Fortuitously, most of the powerful molecular techniques and DNA probes developed for research in humans are equally applicable to non-human primates. We review what is known of copy number variation in primates and describe two informative DNA probes: pAS-1, a cDNA probe to the human urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), and an anonymous DNA probe, D1S1. In addition to the ASS structural locus on human chromosome 9, pAS-1 detects at least 14 dispersed, processed pseudogenes in humans. The number of pseudogene copies appears to be approximately the same in humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and baboons; less in marmosets; and least in some rodents. Chimpanzees and gorillas appear to have all of the human pseudogenes though an Xp copy may be missing from gorillas. The Y pseudogene is apparently absent from orangutans and baboons, and, finally, a comparison of humans and chimpanzees revealed that the number of nucleotide substitutions in the Y chromosome pseudogenes is approximately 1 per 100. D1S1 maps to human chromosome 3 but also detects a high homology copy on chromosome 1. Chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans all appear to have only the chromosome 3 homolog suggesting that this is the ancestral sequence and that the duplication occurred after separation of humans and the great apes. Both the ASS pseudogene family and the D1S1 system provide valuable information on the evolution of nuclear gene families in primates.

Regulation of mRNA levels for five urea cycle enzymes in rat liver by diet, cyclic AMP, and glucocorticoids

Adaptive changes in levels of urea cycle enzymes are largely coordinate in both direction and magnitude. In order to determine the extent to which these adaptive responses reflect coordinate regulatory events at the pretranslational level, measurements of hybridizable mRNA levels for all five urea cycle enzymes were carried out for rats subjected to various dietary regimens and hormone treatments. Changes in relative abundance of the mRNAs in rats with varying dietary protein intakes are comparable to reported changes in enzyme activities, indicating that the major response to diet occurs at the pretranslational level for all five enzymes and that this response is largely coordinate. In contrast to the dietary changes, variable responses of mRNA levels were observed following intraperitoneal injections of dibutyryl cAMP and dexamethasone. mRNAs for only three urea cycle enzymes increased in response to dexamethasone. Levels of all five mRNAs increased severalfold in response to dibutyryl cAMP at both 1 and 5 h after injection, except for ornithine transcarbamylase mRNA which showed a response at 1 h but no response at 5 h. Combined effects of dexamethasone and dibutyryl cAMP were additive for only two urea cycle enzyme mRNAs, suggesting independent regulatory pathways for these two hormones. Transcription run-on assays revealed that transcription of at least two of the urea cycle enzyme genes--carbamylphosphate synthetase I and argininosuccinate synthetase--is stimulated approximately four- to fivefold by dibutyryl cAMP within 30 min. The varied hormonal responses indicate that regulatory mechanisms for modulating enzyme concentration are not identical for each of the enzymes in the pathway.

Altered expression of ribonucleotide reductase and role of M2 gene amplification in hydroxyurea-resistant hamster, mouse, rat, and human cell lines

Five hamster, mouse, and rat cell lines resistant to the cytotoxic effects of hydroxyurea have been characterized. All cell lines contained increased ribonucleotide reductase activity, elevated levels of the M2 component of ribonucleotide reductase as judged by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and increased copies of M2 mRNA as determined by Northern blot analysis. Two species of M2 mRNA were detected in rodent cell lines, a high-molecular-weight species of approximately 3.4 kb in hamster and rat cells and about 2.1 kb in mouse cells. The low molecular-weight M2 mRNA was about 1.6 kb in all rodent lines. Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNA for the other component of ribonucleotide reductase, M1, was not markedly elevated in the drug-resistant cells and existed as a single 3.1-kb species. Four of the five resistant lines contained an M2 gene amplification as determined by Southern blot analysis, providing direct evidence to support earlier suggestions that hydroxyurea resistance is often accompanied by amplification of a ribonucleotide reductase gene. An increase in gene dosage was detected even in cells exhibiting only modest drug-resistance properties. No evidence for amplification of the M1 gene of ribonucleotide reductase was found. In keeping with these observations with drug-resistant rodent lines, a human (HeLa) cell line resistant to hydroxyurea was also found to contain increased levels of two M2 mRNA species (about 3.4 and 1.6 kb) and exhibited M2 gene amplification. One hamster cell line resembled the other resistant rodent lines in cellular characteristics but did not show amplification of either the M1 or M2 gene, providing an example of a drug-resistant mechanism in which an elevation of M2 mRNA has occurred without a concomitant increase in M2 gene copy number.

Amplification of human argininosuccinate synthetase pseudogenes

The human genome contains multiple pseudogenes for an argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) gene. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of generation and dispersion, complete nucleotide sequences of four different AS pseudogenes, psi AS-Y, psi AS-A1, psi AS-A2 and psi AS-A3, have been determined. A comparison of these sequences with those of three reported AS pseudogenes, psi AS-1, psi AS-3 and psi AS-7 revealed that two pairs, psi AS-Y/psi AS-7 and psi AS-A3/psi AS-1, are highly homologous but not identical, thereby suggesting that one of the pairs is generated by a duplication of the other member of the pairs. The psi AS-Y, which is probably located on chromosome Y, and the partially sequenced psi AS-7 are both interrupted by an Alu element at exactly the same site in their 3'-end regions. These two Alu elements are located in an opposite orientation relative to the direction of transcription of the pseudogene, and their possible role on pseudogene dispersion was examined. The psi AS-A1 is also accompanied by an Alu element at its 3' end. In this case, the orientation of the Alu element is the same as that of the pseudogene. The psi AS-A1 and the Alu element are flanked with direct repeats, as if they had been inserted into a chromosomal site, as a single unit.

Expression of human argininosuccinate synthetase after retroviral-mediated gene transfer

The cDNA sequence for human argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) was introduced into plasmid expression vectors with an SV40 promoter or Rous sarcoma virus promoter to construct pSV2-AS and pRSV-AS, respectively, and human enzyme was synthesized after gene transfer into Chinese hamster cells. The functional cDNA was inserted into the retroviral vectors pZIP-NeoSV(X) and pZIP-NeoSV(B). Ecotropic AS retrovirus was produced after calcium-phosphate-mediated gene transfer of these constructions into the packaging cell line psi-2, and viral titers up to 10(5) CFU/ml were obtained. Recombinant AS retrovirus was evaluated by detecting G-418-resistant colonies after infection of the rodent cells, XC, NRK, and 3T3. Colonies were also obtained when infected XC cells were selected in citrulline medium for expression of AS activity. Southern blot analysis of infected cells demonstrated that the recombinant retroviral genome was not altered grossly after infecting some rodent cells, while other cells showed evidence of rearrangement. A rapid assay for detecting AS retrovirus was developed based on the incorporation of [14C]citrulline into protein by intact 3T3 cells or XC cells.

A study of restriction fragment length polymorphisms at the human alpha-1-antitrypsin locus

A cloned cDNA for alpha-1-antitrypsin (alpha-1-AT) was selected from a human liver cDNA library. The identity of the clone was established by hybrid-selected translation and partial DNA sequencing. The cDNA was used as a probe to search for restriction site polymorphisms (RSPs) near the alpha-1-AT gene. Only two RSPs were found using 29 different restriction enzymes. Each of these polymorphisms resulted from the loss of a restriction site, one for EcoRI and the other for Taq I. The frequency of polymorphic restriction was calculated to be 1.1% to 2.6% of all sites tested, a figure lower than the 9.3% value observed for 12 RSPs in the human beta-globin gene cluster. Since the corresponding figure for detectable polymorphisms at the alpha-1-AT locus at the protein level is 12%, restriction enzymes are comparatively inefficient in detecting genetic variability. The basis of this inefficiency was studied by computing the nucleotide diversity from the RSP data. On the average, one in 500 to 1000 bases is polymorphic around the alpha-1-At locus. This value is comparable to that which we have calculated for the human beta-globin gene cluster and the human growth hormone gene cluster (both one in 500). These data demonstrate the limited usefulness of linked RSPs for genetic linkage studies at the alpha-1-AT locus.

Unusual abundance of vertebrate 3-phosphate dehydrogenase pseudogenes

Only one gene coding for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH, EC 1.2.1.12), a key enzyme in the control of glycolysis, is known to be functional in man, mouse, rat and chicken. The gene has been localized to chromosome 12 in human and chromosome 6 in mouse. Only a single mRNA species has been found in chicken and rat. However, analysis of genomic DNA blots of various species with a cloned GAPDH cDNA probe has revealed large differences in the level of reiteration, ranging from one to over 200 copies. On this basis, we have grouped these organisms into three classes according to the number of GAPDH-related sequences they contain; one class with a unique representation (chicken), another class of relatively low reiteration (10-30 copies in man, hare, guinea-pig and hamster) and a third class of high reiteration (greater than 200 copies in mouse and rat). The third class represents the first reported occurrence of such an extreme number of pseudogenes related to an enzyme-coding gene and suggests that a dramatic amplification event took place between 15 and 25 million years ago.

Genomic DNA-mediated gene transfer for argininosuccinate synthetase

Canavanine-resistant (Canr) human cells overproduce argininosuccinate synthetase without the occurrence of gene amplification. Using calcium phosphate precipitation, genomic DNA from Canr human cells was used to carry out gene transfer into Chinese hamster cells, which do not express argininosuccinate synthetase activity. Growth in tissue culture medium with citrulline substituted for arginine was adequate to select enzyme-positive colonies. Six independent isolates were selected for detailed analysis by enzyme assay, Southern blotting, Northern blotting, and S1 nuclease analysis, the last of which distinguishes human and hamster mRNA. Five isolates were transferrants containing the human structural gene and synthesizing human enzyme. One isolate represented a cell line synthesizing Chinese hamster enzyme. The data document gene transfer of DNA fragments at least 80 kb in length, the low level of spontaneous activation of the argininosuccinate synthetase locus in Chinese hamster cells, the feasibility of this expression and selection system for DNA-mediated gene transfer, and a method for distinguishing the human and hamster gene products at an RNA level.

Relative argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA levels and gene copy number in canavanine-resistant lymphoblasts

Mutants resistant to the arginine analogue, canavanine, have been isolated from two normal lymphoblast lines, MGL8B2 and MGL33. These mutants constitutively express up to 200-fold higher amounts of structurally normal argininosuccinate synthetase, the urea cycle enzyme that converts citrulline to argininosuccinate. Relative levels of argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA were compared among normal and canavanine-resistant lines using in vitro translation of poly(adenylic acid) RNA and blot hybridization of total cytoplasmic RNA to an argininosuccinate synthetase cDNA. Both of these approaches indicated that the canavanine-resistant lines contain increased steady-state levels of synthetase-specific mRNA relative to their sensitive parents and that these were roughly correlated with levels of enzyme activity. Blot hybridization of EcoRI-digested genomic DNA preparations revealed no detectable differences in argininosuccinate synthetase structural gene copy number between normal and canavanine-resistant lymphoblasts, demonstrating that the canavanine-resistant phenotype is not caused by gene amplification.

Gene amplification as a mechanism of reversion at the HPRT locus in V79 Chinese hamster cells

Spontaneous phenotypic revertants of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase (HPRT) temperature-sensitive V79 Chinese hamster cells were selected by plating a temperature-sensitive mutant in HAT medium at 39 degrees C. The incidence of such revertants was approximately 2 X 10(-4) per cell. The majority of the revertants examined had increases of between three- and tenfold in their specific activity of the enzyme, and they were able to grow continuously in the presence of HAT medium at 39 degrees C. When the revertants were cultivated in the absence of HAT, they recovered their HAT-sensitive phenotype and their lowered level of HPRT. Three of the revertants were examined for their temperature inactivation profiles, and all were found to have profiles identical to the ts parent, and quite different from the V79 wild type. The kinetic properties of the cell lines were studied: the Km for both PRPP and hypoxanthine was significantly different in the temperature-sensitive cells but was not significantly altered in the revertants with respect to the ts mutants. A specific antibody to Chinese hamster brain HPRT was employed in immunoprecipitation experiments. By measuring the point at which the immunoprecipitation of the antibody to HPRT was overcome by increasing concentrations of cell supernatant, it was possible to estimate the relative amount of enzyme molecules in the cell lines. From these data, it could be concluded that the revertants overproduced an enzyme with the same immunological properties as the ts line. Southern blots of the Hind III restricted DNA from the ts mutant and two revertant cell lines were examined with an HPRT cDNA probe. This established that the HPRT gene was amplified twofold in one of the revertants, and threefold in the other. However, if the revertants were reintroduced into nonselective medium, the gene copy number declined to one. Finally, northern blots of RNA extracted from the various cell lines demonstrated that the HPRT mRNA was augmented 1.5-fold in one revertant and 1.4-fold in the other. Reintroduction into non-selective medium resulted in a decline in mRNA level for the second mutant, whereas the first mutant appeared to be stabilized. We conclude that gene amplification and concomitant amplification of messenger RNA and enzyme levels are mechanisms of phenotypic reversion at the HPRT locus in Chinese hamster cells.