Molecular cloning and cell cycle-specific regulation of a functional human thymidine kinase gene

Thymidine kinase 1 through the ages: a comprehensive review

Proliferation markers, such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki-67, and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), have potential as diagnostic tools and as prognostic factors in assessing cancer treatment and disease progression. TK1 is involved in cellular proliferation through the recovery of the nucleotide thymidine in the DNA salvage pathway. TK1 upregulation has been found to be an early event in cancer development. In addition, serum levels of TK1 have been shown to be tied to cancer stage, so that higher levels of TK1 indicate a more serious prognosis. As a result of these findings and others, TK1 is not only a potentially viable biomarker for cancer recurrence, treatment monitoring, and survival, but is potentially more advantageous than current biomarkers. Compared to other proliferation markers, TK1 levels during S phase more accurately determine the rate of DNA synthesis in actively dividing tumors. Several reviews of TK1 elaborate on various assays that have been developed to measure levels in the serum of cancer patients in clinical settings. In this review, we include a brief history of important TK1 discoveries and findings, a comprehensive overview of TK1 regulation at DNA to protein levels, and recent findings that indicate TK1’s potential role in cancer pathogenesis and its growing potential as a tumor biomarker and therapeutic target.

Cell cycle regulation and novel structural features of thymidine kinase, an essential enzyme in Trypanosoma brucei

Thymidine kinase (TK) is a key enzyme in the pyrimidine salvage pathway which catalyzes the transfer of the γ-phosphate of ATP to 2'-deoxythymidine (dThd) forming thymidine monophosphate (dTMP). Unlike other type II TKs, the Trypanosoma brucei enzyme (TbTK) is a tandem protein with two TK homolog domains of which only the C-terminal one is active. In this study, we establish that TbTK is essential for parasite viability and cell cycle progression, independently of extracellular pyrimidine concentrations. We show that expression of TbTK is cell cycle regulated and that depletion of TbTK leads to strongly diminished dTTP pools and DNA damage indicating intracellular dThd to be an essential intermediate metabolite for the synthesis of thymine-derived nucleotides. In addition, we report the X-ray structure of the catalytically active domain of TbTK in complex with dThd and dTMP at resolutions up to 2.2 Å. In spite of the high conservation of the active site residues, the structures reveal a widened active site cavity near the nucleobase moiety compared to the human enzyme. Our findings strongly support TbTK as a crucial enzyme in dTTP homeostasis and identify structural differences within the active site that could be exploited in the process of rational drug design.

Imaging colon cancer response following treatment with AZD1152: a preclinical analysis of [18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose and 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine imaging

PURPOSE

To determine whether treatment response to the Aurora B kinase inhibitor, AZD1152, could be monitored early in the course of therapy by noninvasive [(18)F]-labeled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose, [(18)F]FDG, and/or 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine, [(18)F]FLT, PET imaging.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

AZD1152-treated and control HCT116 and SW620 xenograft-bearing animals were monitored for tumor size and by [(18)F]FDG, and [(18)F]FLT PET imaging. Additional studies assessed the endogenous and exogenous contributions of thymidine synthesis in the two cell lines.

RESULTS

Both xenografts showed a significant volume-reduction to AZD1152. In contrast, [(18)F]FDG uptake did not demonstrate a treatment response. [(18)F]FLT uptake decreased to less than 20% of control values in AZD1152-treated HCT116 xenografts, whereas [(18)F]FLT uptake was near background levels in both treated and untreated SW620 xenografts. The EC(50) for AZD1152-HQPA was approximately 10 nmol/L in both SW620 and HCT116 cells; in contrast, SW620 cells were much more sensitive to methotrexate (MTX) and 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) than HCT116 cells. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated marginally lower expression of thymidine kinase in SW620 compared with HCT116 cells. The aforementioned results suggest that SW620 xenografts have a higher dependency on the de novo pathway of thymidine utilization than HCT116 xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

AZD1152 treatment showed antitumor efficacy in both colon cancer xenografts. Although [(18)F]FDG PET was inadequate in monitoring treatment response, [(18)F]FLT PET was very effective in monitoring response in HCT116 xenografts, but not in SW620 xenografts. These observations suggest that de novo thymidine synthesis could be a limitation and confounding factor for [(18)F]FLT PET imaging and quantification of tumor proliferation, and this may apply to some clinical studies as well.

Molecular imaging metrics to evaluate response to preclinical therapeutic regimens

Molecular imaging comprises a range of techniques, spanning not only several imaging modalities but also many disease states and organ sites. While advances in new technology platforms have enabled a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of malignancy, reliable non-invasive imaging metrics remain an important tool for both diagnostics and patient management. Furthermore, the non- invasive nature of molecular imaging can overcome shortcomings associated with traditional biological approaches and provide valuable information relevant to patient care. Integration of information from multiple imaging techniques has the potential to provide a more comprehensive understanding of specific tumor characteristics, tumor status, and treatment response.

Croix B. Genes that distinguish physiological and pathological angiogenesis

To unravel the normal vasculature transcriptome and determine how it is altered by neighboring malignant cells, we compared gene expression patterns of endothelial cells derived from the blood vessels of eight normal resting tissues, five tumors, and regenerating liver. Organ-specific endothelial genes were readily identified, including 27 from brain. We also identified 25 transcripts overexpressed in tumor versus normal endothelium, including 13 that were not found in the angiogenic endothelium of regenerating liver. Most of the shared angiogenesis genes have expected roles in cell-cycle control, but those specific for tumor endothelium were primarily cell surface molecules of uncertain function. These studies reveal striking differences between physiological and pathological angiogenesis potentially important for the development of tumor-specific, vascular-targeted therapies.

Multi-tracer small animal PET imaging of the tumour response to the novel pan-Erb-B inhibitor CI-1033

PURPOSE

This study was designed as "proof of concept" for a drug development model utilising multi-tracer serial small animal PET imaging to characterise tumour responses to molecularly targeted therapy.

METHODS

Mice bearing subcutaneous A431 human squamous carcinoma xenografts (n=6-8) were treated with the pan-Erb-B inhibitor CI-1033 or vehicle and imaged serially (days 0, 3 and 6 or 7) with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose, [(18)F]fluoro-L: -thymidine, [(18)F]fluoro-azoazomycinarabinoside or [(18)F]fluoromisonidazole. Separate cohorts (n=3) were treated identically and tumours were assessed ex vivo for markers of glucose metabolism, proliferation and hypoxia.

RESULTS

During the study period, mean uptake of all PET tracers generally increased for control tumours compared to baseline. In contrast, tracer uptake into CI-1033-treated tumours decreased by 20-60% during treatment. Expression of the glucose transporter Glut-1 and cell cycle markers was unchanged or increased in control tumours and generally decreased with CI-1033 treatment, compared to baseline. Thymidine kinase activity was reduced in all tumours compared to baseline at day 3 but was sevenfold higher in control versus CI-1033-treated tumours by day 6 of treatment. Uptake of the hypoxia marker pimonidazole was stable in control tumours but was severely reduced following 7 days of CI-1033 treatment.

CONCLUSION

CI-1033 treatment significantly affects tumour metabolism, proliferation and hypoxia as determined by PET. The PET findings correlated well with ex vivo biomarkers for each of the cellular processes studied. These results confirm the utility of small animal PET for evaluation of the effectiveness of molecularly targeted therapies and simultaneously definition of specific cellular processes involved in the therapeutic response.

Control of dTTP pool size by anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome is essential for the maintenance of genetic stability

Anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-mediated proteolysis is essential for chromosome segregation, mitotic exit, and G1 entry. Here, we show the importance of APC/C in the control of dTTP pool size in mammalian cells. Two enzymes, thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and thymidylate kinase (TMPK), involved in dTTP formation are the targets of the APC/C pathway. We demonstrate that TMPK is recognized and degraded by APC/C-Cdc20/Cdh1-mediated pathways from mitosis to the early G1 phase, whereas TK1 is targeted for degradation by APC/C-Cdh1 after mitotic exit. Overexpression of wild-type TK1 and TMPK induces a four- to fivefold increase in the cellular dTTP pool without promoting spontaneous mutations in the hprt (hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase) gene. In contrast, coexpression of nondegradable TK1 and TMPK expands the dTTP pool size 10-fold accompanied by a drastic dNTP pool imbalance. Most interestingly, disruption of APC/C proteolysis of TK1 and TMPK leads to growth retardation and a striking increase in gene mutation rate. We conclude that down-regulation of dTTP pool size by the APC/C pathway during mitosis and the G1 phase is an essential means to maintain a balanced dNTP pool and to avoid genetic instability.

Deoxynucleoside kinases encoded by the yaaG and yaaF genes of Bacillus subtilis. Substrate specificity and kinetic analysis of deoxyguanosine kinase with UTP as the preferred phosphate donor

The overlapping yaaG and yaaF genes from Bacillus subtilis were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Purification of the gene products showed that yaaG encoded a homodimeric deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) and that yaaF encoded a homodimeric deoxynucleoside kinase capable of phosphorylating both deoxyadenosine and deoxycytidine. The latter was identical to a previously characterized dAdo/dCyd kinase (Møllgaard, H. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 8216-8220). The purified recombinant dGK was highly specific toward 6-oxopurine 2'-deoxyribonucleosides as phosphate acceptors showing only marginal activities with Guo, dAdo, and 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine. UTP was the preferred phosphate donor with a Km value of 6 microm compared with 36 microm for ATP. In addition, the Km for dGuo was 0.6 microm with UTP but 6.5 microm with ATP as phosphate donor. The combination of these two effects makes UTP over 50 times more efficient than ATP. Initial velocity and product inhibition studies indicated that the reaction with dGuo and UTP as substrates followed an Ordered Bi Bi reaction mechanism with UTP as the leading substrate and UDP the last product to leave. dGTP was a potent competitive inhibitor with respect to UTP. Above 30 microm of dGuo, substrate inhibition was observed, but only with UTP as phosphate donor.

Thymidine utilization abnormality in proliferating lymphocytes and hepatocytes of the woodchuck

Effective incorporation of tritiated thymidine ([(3)H]TdR) into proliferating lymphocytes is important because [(3)H]TdR is a standard label to study proliferate T-cell responses. We analyzed the thymidine utilization of woodchuck peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) since the [(3)H]TdR incorporation assay was not applicable to measure proliferative immune responses in the woodchuck, a current major virus/host model for human hepatitis B virus infection. Incorporation of [(3)H]TdR into DNA as well as the activity of the salvage pathway enzyme thymidine kinase (TK) of proliferating woodchuck PBL was low compared to human lymphocytes. Furthermore, [(3)H]TdR incorporation of proliferating woodchuck PBL remained residual regardless of the use of methotrexate, an inhibitor of the competitive deoxythymidine monophosphate de novo synthesis pathway. Using a human probe, specific for the proliferation-associated TK1, we proved the genomic presence and transcription of TK1 sequences in various species. TK1 sequences were detected in the genome of human, mouse, woodchuck, and chicken specimens. In contrast to proliferating human PBL and 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, no TK1 transcript was found in proliferating woodchuck PBL and hepatic cells. Transfection experiments with vectors containing the murine or human TK1 and selection assays demonstrated the ability of woodchuck cells to transcribe TK1 and to express functional TK1 proteins. Our study characterizes the unique failure of sufficient [(3)H]TdR incorporation into proliferating woodchuck cells and demonstrates tritiated adenine and serine as alternative labels to monitor PBL proliferation in the woodchuck.

Human thymidine kinase 2: molecular cloning and characterisation of the enzyme activity with antiviral and cytostatic nucleoside substrates

Based on amino acid sequence information from purified mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2), a cDNA of 1930 bp was cloned, containing an open reading frame encoding 232 amino acid residues starting with the N-terminal sequence determined from the native human protein preparation. Northern blot analysis with the cDNA coding region demonstrated several TK2 mRNAs, with 2 and 4 kb forms present in many tissues. We also characterised N-terminally truncated (starting at position 18) human TK2 with pharmacologically important antiviral and cytostatic nucleoside analogues. Results were highly similar to those with the native TK2 preparation. The anti-leukaemic drug arabinosyl cytosine is phosphorylated. The antitumour drug difluorodeoxycytidine and its metabolite difluorodeoxyuridine are good substrates, with K(m) values of 66 and 29 microM, respectively, and a relative Vmax of 0.6 compared to that of thymidine. Negative cooperativity was found with thymidine and the anti-HIV drug 3'-azidothymidine, but the reaction followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with deoxycytidine, arabinosyl cytosine, and arabinosyl thymine. The results demonstrate a broad substrate specificity and complex kinetics, and suggest a role for TK2 in the activation of chemotherapeutic nucleoside analogues.

Four deoxynucleoside kinase activities from Drosophila melanogaster are contained within a single monomeric enzyme, a new multifunctional deoxynucleoside kinase

In mammalian cells, there are three pyrimidine nucleoside salvage enzymes with the capacity to phosphorylate all four deoxynucleosides, the two thymidine kinase isoenzymes, TK1 and TK2, and the deoxycytidine kinase, dCK. TK1 is cell cycle-regulated; TK2 is expressed constitutively and can phosphorylate deoxycytidine to the same extent as thymidine. dCK phosphorylates deoxycytidine, deoxyadenosine, and deoxyguanosine, but not thymidine. In addition, the three kinases can phosphorylate a number of medically important analogs. In cultured Drosophila melanogaster embryonic cells, only one pyrimidine deoxynucleoside kinase was present. This kinase was purified and showed a broad substrate specificity, since it was able to phosphorylate all four deoxynucleosides with high efficiency, as compared with the kinases in mammalian cells. Additionally, a number of nucleoside analogs such as arabinofuranosyl pyrimidines, deoxyuridine, and 5'-fluorodeoxyuridine, were phosphorylated. There was negligible 3'-azidothymidine and no dTMP phosphorylation. The enzyme was active as a monomer of about 30 kDa. We suggest the name D. melanogaster deoxynucleoside kinase for this multifunctional kinase. The substrate specificity, size, and other characteristics show that this enzyme is more related to human TK2 than to the other mammalian deoxyribonucleoside kinases, but is unique with respect to the capacity to phosphorylate all four deoxynucleosides.

Post-transcriptional repression of thymidine kinase expression during cell cycle and growth stimulation

In vertebrates, endogenous thymidine kinase (TK) gene expression is strictly growth-dependent. Here we report that in continuously cycling Ltk-mouse fibroblasts, stably transfected with a vector expressing human TK cDNA from a constitutive promoter, enzyme activity rises 8-fold at the G1/S phase transition and declines again in G2. The mechanism did not involve changes in protein stability. When hTK was put under the control of a hormone-inducible promoter, production of high mRNA levels following addition of dexamethasone did not result in any enzyme activity in resting NIH-3T3tk- cells. After growth stimulation with serum, TK activity rose together with the onset of DNA synthesis only in the simultaneous presence of the hormone.

Cell cycle dependent gene expression in quiescent stimulated and asynchronously cycling arterial smooth muscle cells in culture

The expression of a set of cell cycle dependent (CCD) genes (c-fos, c-myc, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), and thymidine kinase (TK)) was comparatively studied in cultured arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) during exit from quiescence and exponential proliferation. These genes, which were not expressed in quiescent SMC, were chronologically induced after serum stimulation. c-fos mRNA were rapidly and transiently expressed very early in the G1 phase; c-myc and ODC peaked a few hours after serum stimulation and then remained at an intermediary level throughout the first cell cycle; TK mRNA and activity then appeared at the G1/S boundary and peak in G2/M phases. Except for c-fos, the other genes were also expressed in asynchronously cycling SMC (ACSMC); their expression was studied in elutriated subpopulations representative of cell cycle progression. c-fos mRNA were undetectable in any sorted subpopulations, even in the pure early G1 population. Despite a slight increase as the cell cycle advanced, c-myc and ODC genes were expressed throughout the ACSMC cell cycle. A faint TK activity was found in G1 subpopulations and increased in populations enriched in other phases; in contrast, TK mRNA remained highly expressed in all elutriated subpopulations. This study demonstrates significant modulations in CCD gene expression between quiescent stimulated and asynchronously cycling SMC in culture. This suggests that the events occurring during the emergence of SMC from quiescence are probably different from those in the G1 phase of ACSMC.

Cell cycle regulation of thymidine kinase: residues near the carboxyl terminus are essential for the specific degradation of the enzyme at mitosis

The level of human thymidine kinase (TK) polypeptide is subject to cell cycle regulation. The enzyme is barely detectable in G1 phase but increases 10- to 20-fold by M phase. The low level of human TK in G1 phase is due primarily to the specific degradation of the protein during cell division. Substitution of heterologous promoters, removal of the introns, and deletion of all of the 3' untranslated region from the human TK gene do not affect cell cycle regulation of the enzyme. However, deletion of the carboxyl-terminal 40 amino acids or fusion of beta-galactosidase to the carboxyl terminus of human TK completely abolishes cell cycle regulation and stabilizes the protein throughout the cell cycle. These alterations do not significantly alter the specific enzymatic activity of TK. Changing the carboxyl terminus or deletion of the last 10 amino acids does not alter cell cycle regulation. These data demonstrate that residues near the carboxyl terminus of TK are essential for the cell cycle phase-specific degradation of the enzyme.

Cell cycle regulation of thymidine kinase: residues near the carboxyl terminus are essential for the specific degradation of the enzyme at mitosis

The level of human thymidine kinase (TK) polypeptide is subject to cell cycle regulation. The enzyme is barely detectable in G1 phase but increases 10- to 20-fold by M phase. The low level of human TK in G1 phase is due primarily to the specific degradation of the protein during cell division. Substitution of heterologous promoters, removal of the introns, and deletion of all of the 3' untranslated region from the human TK gene do not affect cell cycle regulation of the enzyme. However, deletion of the carboxyl-terminal 40 amino acids or fusion of beta-galactosidase to the carboxyl terminus of human TK completely abolishes cell cycle regulation and stabilizes the protein throughout the cell cycle. These alterations do not significantly alter the specific enzymatic activity of TK. Changing the carboxyl terminus or deletion of the last 10 amino acids does not alter cell cycle regulation. These data demonstrate that residues near the carboxyl terminus of TK are essential for the cell cycle phase-specific degradation of the enzyme.

Transfection of mouse cells with thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus

A mouse cell line (LP1-1) was established from the murine L cells deficient in thymidine kinase (L-M(TK-] by prolonged selective culture on the hypoxanthine-aminopterine-thymidine (HAT) medium following transfection with the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus type-I (HSVTK). Southern blot analysis has shown that the viral TK gene was integrated into one of the chromosomal loci by a single copy. From this established cell line, the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) resistant revertant was brought out at a frequency of 1 x 10(-6) and from these BrdU resistant revertants (LP1BU), one out of 1 x 10(5) cells could return to the HAT-resistant phenotype. The established LP1-1 cell line showed a typical biphasic nature of DNA synthesis as determined by the 3H-thymidine incorporation test. The activity of thymidine kinase was shown to be equivalent to that of the DNA polymerase-alpha when the whole nuclear fraction or the nuclear matrix were used for examination. These results indicate that the transfected viral TK gene can be expressed under the normal cell-cycle regulation and its gene product can act as a component of the multienzyme complex which is responsible for DNA replication.

Gene transfer of truncated NGF receptor clones leads to cell surface expression in mouse fibroblasts

Transfection of recombinant bacteriophage clones encoding human NGF receptor sequences resulted in cell surface expression in mouse fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, receptors were expressed even after transfection with phage clones which lack 5' gene sequences. Stable transformants were purified and analyzed in detail. S1 nuclease protection and primer extension analysis revealed that an initiation site lies within an intron sequence in the middle of the receptor gene. A truncated mRNA transcript was detected that allowed for the expression of NGF receptors capable of binding to NGF. Since the original phage clones lacked the first two exons, these results suggest that the normal N-terminal sequences may not be necessary for cell surface expression and binding to NGF.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms regulate murine thymidine kinase gene expression in serum-stimulated cells

We previously isolated and characterized the structure of murine thymidine kinase (tk) genomic and cDNA sequences to begin a study designed to identify regions of the tk gene important for regulated expression during the transition of cells from G0 to a proliferating state. In this report, we describe the stable transfection of the cloned gene into L-M(TK-) cells and show that both thymidine kinase (TK) enzyme activity and DNA synthesis increase in parallel when transfectants in G0 arrest are stimulated by serum. To define promoter and regulatory regions more precisely, we have constructed a series of tk minigenes and have examined their expression in stable transfectants after serum stimulation. We have identified a 291-base-pair DNA fragment at the 5' end of the tk gene that has promoter function, and we have determined its sequence. In addition, we have found that DNA sequences which mediate serum-induced expression of TK are transcribed, since expression of the murine tk cDNA, fused to a promoter from either the murine tk gene, the simian virus 40 early region, or the herpes simplex virus tk gene, is stimulated by serum. Our constructs also reveal that the murine tk polyadenylation signal is not required for regulation, nor is most of the 3' untranslated region. RNA dot blot analysis indicates that murine cytoplasmic tk mRNA levels always parallel TK enzyme activity. Nuclear runon transcription assays show less than a 2-fold increase in transcription from the cloned tk gene in serum-stimulated transfectants, but an 11-fold increase in mouse L929 cells, which are inherently TK+. These results taken together suggest that the murine tk gene is controlled in serum-stimulated cells by a transcriptional mechanism influenced by DNA sequences that flank tk and also by a posttranscriptional system linked to gene sequences that are transcribed.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms regulate murine thymidine kinase gene expression in serum-stimulated cells

We previously isolated and characterized the structure of murine thymidine kinase (tk) genomic and cDNA sequences to begin a study designed to identify regions of the tk gene important for regulated expression during the transition of cells from G0 to a proliferating state. In this report, we describe the stable transfection of the cloned gene into L-M(TK-) cells and show that both thymidine kinase (TK) enzyme activity and DNA synthesis increase in parallel when transfectants in G0 arrest are stimulated by serum. To define promoter and regulatory regions more precisely, we have constructed a series of tk minigenes and have examined their expression in stable transfectants after serum stimulation. We have identified a 291-base-pair DNA fragment at the 5' end of the tk gene that has promoter function, and we have determined its sequence. In addition, we have found that DNA sequences which mediate serum-induced expression of TK are transcribed, since expression of the murine tk cDNA, fused to a promoter from either the murine tk gene, the simian virus 40 early region, or the herpes simplex virus tk gene, is stimulated by serum. Our constructs also reveal that the murine tk polyadenylation signal is not required for regulation, nor is most of the 3' untranslated region. RNA dot blot analysis indicates that murine cytoplasmic tk mRNA levels always parallel TK enzyme activity. Nuclear runon transcription assays show less than a 2-fold increase in transcription from the cloned tk gene in serum-stimulated transfectants, but an 11-fold increase in mouse L929 cells, which are inherently TK+. These results taken together suggest that the murine tk gene is controlled in serum-stimulated cells by a transcriptional mechanism influenced by DNA sequences that flank tk and also by a posttranscriptional system linked to gene sequences that are transcribed.

Sequences contained within the promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene can direct cell-cycle regulation of heterologous fusion genes

Recent evidence on the transcriptional regulation of the human thymidine kinase (TK) gene raises the possibility that cell-cycle regulatory sequences may be localized within its promoter. A hybrid gene that combines the TK 5' flanking sequence and the coding region of the bacterial neomycin-resistance gene (neo) has been constructed. Upon transfection into a hamster fibroblast cell line K12, the hybrid gene exhibits cell-cycle-dependent expression. Deletion analysis reveals that the region important for cell-cycle regulation is within -441 to -63 nucleotides from the transcriptional initiation site. This region (-441 to -63) also confers cell-cycle regulation to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) promoter, which is not expressed in a cell-cycle manner. We conclude that the -441 to -63 sequence within the human TK promoter is important for cell-cycle-dependent expression.

Role of the promoter in the regulation of the thymidine kinase gene

To identify the regulatory elements of the human thymidine kinase (TK) gene, we have established stable cell lines carrying different chimeric constructs of the TK gene. Our results can be summarized as follows. (i) When the TK coding sequence is under the control of the calcyclin promoter (a promoter that is activated when G0 cells are stimulated by growth factors), TK mRNA levels are higher in G1-arrested cells than in proliferating cells; (ii) when the TK coding sequence is under the control of the promoter of heat shock protein HSP70, steady-state levels of TK mRNA are highest after heat shock, regardless of the position of the cells in the cell cycle; (iii) the bacterial CAT gene under the control of the human TK promoter is maximally expressed in the S phase; (iv) the TK cDNA driven by the simian virus 40 promoter is also maximally expressed in the S phase; and (v) TK enzyme activity is always at a maximum in the S phase, even when the levels of TK mRNA are highest in nonproliferating cells. We conclude that although the TK coding sequence may also play some role, the TK promoter has an important role in the cell cycle regulation of TK mRNA levels.

Nuclear posttranscriptional processing of thymidine kinase mRNA at the onset of DNA synthesis

The posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism(s) underlying thymidine kinase (TK) mRNA accumulation was investigated in BALB/c 3T3 cells during their progression from G0 into S phase of the cell cycle. Very little TK mRNA could be detected in either the nuclear or the cytoplasmic compartment from cells harvested in G0 or G1. At the onset of S phase, however, the level of nuclear TK mRNA precursors and mature TK mRNAs increased dramatically. The high molecular weight TK heterogeneous nuclear RNA species detected in the nuclei of S-phase cells were polyadenylylated and hybridized to intron sequences derived from the TK gene. A series of high molecular weight precursors could be chased to lower molecular weight species in the presence of actinomycin D, suggesting an ordered removal of intron sequences with the kinetics of a precursor-product relationship. These results demonstrate a striking change in the nuclear posttranscriptional processing of TK heterogeneous nuclear RNA at the G1-S boundary and, furthermore, define a model system for the examination of RNA-processing events in vivo.

Role of the promoter in the regulation of the thymidine kinase gene

To identify the regulatory elements of the human thymidine kinase (TK) gene, we have established stable cell lines carrying different chimeric constructs of the TK gene. Our results can be summarized as follows. (i) When the TK coding sequence is under the control of the calcyclin promoter (a promoter that is activated when G0 cells are stimulated by growth factors), TK mRNA levels are higher in G1-arrested cells than in proliferating cells; (ii) when the TK coding sequence is under the control of the promoter of heat shock protein HSP70, steady-state levels of TK mRNA are highest after heat shock, regardless of the position of the cells in the cell cycle; (iii) the bacterial CAT gene under the control of the human TK promoter is maximally expressed in the S phase; (iv) the TK cDNA driven by the simian virus 40 promoter is also maximally expressed in the S phase; and (v) TK enzyme activity is always at a maximum in the S phase, even when the levels of TK mRNA are highest in nonproliferating cells. We conclude that although the TK coding sequence may also play some role, the TK promoter has an important role in the cell cycle regulation of TK mRNA levels.

Control of thymidine kinase mRNA during the cell cycle

To investigate the mechanism which controls the onset of DNA synthesis, we examined the regulation of thymidine kinase (TK) and its mRNA in the cell cycle. TK activity provides a useful marker for the onset of the S phase in mammalian cells. The present analysis of regulation of TK mRNA in BALB/c 3T3 cells showed that (i) the increase in TK activity depended on the availability of TK mRNA, (ii) the level of TK mRNA between G0 and S increased more than 20-fold, (iii) the rate of run-on TK transcription increased at most 2- to 4-fold between the G0 and S phases, (iv) the half-life of TK mRNA was greater than 8 to 12 h in the S and M phases and decreased as cells entered quiescence, (v) the TK mRNA increase was fully blocked by inhibition of protein synthesis by only 60%, (vi) this inhibition was completely effective for up to about 10 h following serum addition and progressively much less effective when the drugs were added later. These results suggest that the appearance of TK mRNA at the beginning of the S phase in serum-stimulated 3T3 cells is controlled not only by the rate of gene transcription but importantly also by the decreased rate of mRNA degradation. Similar mechanisms may be involved in regulation of the onset of DNA synthesis and the increase in TK mRNA since both are controlled in a manner consistent with a requirement for a labile protein.

Cell-cycle-specific interaction of nuclear DNA-binding proteins with a CCAAT sequence from the human thymidine kinase gene

Induction of thymidine kinase parallels the onset of DNA synthesis. To investigate the transcriptional regulation of the thymidine kinase gene, we have examined whether specific nuclear factors interact in a cell-cycle-dependent manner with sequences upstream of this gene. Two inverted CCAAT boxes near the transcriptional initiation sites were observed to form complexes with nuclear DNA-binding proteins. The nature of the complexes changes dramatically as the cells approach DNA synthesis and correlates well with the previously reported transcriptional increase of the thymidine kinase gene.

Proto-oncogene expression in proliferating and differentiating cardiac and skeletal muscle

We have examined the expression of 13 proto-oncogenes in proliferating and terminally differentiated cardiac and skeletal muscle. Total RNA was prepared from intact ventricular cardiac-muscle tissue and from purified ventricular cardiac-muscle cells of neonatal and adult rats and from cultured proliferating and terminally differentiated L6A1 rat skeletal-muscle cells. cDNA probes for histone H4, thymidine kinase, myosin heavy chain and M-creatine kinase were used to assess cellular proliferation and differentiation. Oncogenes c-myc, c-raf, c-erb-A, c-ras-H, c-ski, and c-sis were expressed in both proliferating and differentiated cardiac muscle tissue and cells, whereas c-myb expression was not observed in either. c-src was expressed only in neonatal cardiac muscle tissue and cells. c-fms, c-abl, and c-ras-K were expressed in tissue from both neonatal and adult animals but only in purified cells from neonatal animals. c-fes/fps was expressed only in neonatal cardiac muscles cells. c-fos expression was not observed in cardiac-muscle tissue from either neonatal or adult rats, but surprisingly was abundantly expressed in freshly isolated cardiac-muscle cells from animals of both ages. These results emphasize that biochemical analysis using intact cardiac-muscle tissue may not necessarily reflect muscle-specific cell processes. They also show that the expression of c-fos can be activated by the cell isolation procedure. c-myc, c-ski, c-ras-H, c-ras-K, c-abl, c-raf and c-erb-A were expressed in both proliferating and terminally differentiated skeletal-muscle cells, whereas c-myb, c-fos, c-src and c-fms transcripts were observed only in proliferating cells. c-fes/fps and c-sis were not expressed in dividing or fused skeletal-muscle cells. These results demonstrate unique tissue and cell-specific patterns of proto-oncogene expression and suggest that these genes may be involved with the regulation of cellular proliferation and terminal differentiation in striated muscle.

Control of thymidine kinase mRNA during the cell cycle

To investigate the mechanism which controls the onset of DNA synthesis, we examined the regulation of thymidine kinase (TK) and its mRNA in the cell cycle. TK activity provides a useful marker for the onset of the S phase in mammalian cells. The present analysis of regulation of TK mRNA in BALB/c 3T3 cells showed that (i) the increase in TK activity depended on the availability of TK mRNA, (ii) the level of TK mRNA between G0 and S increased more than 20-fold, (iii) the rate of run-on TK transcription increased at most 2- to 4-fold between the G0 and S phases, (iv) the half-life of TK mRNA was greater than 8 to 12 h in the S and M phases and decreased as cells entered quiescence, (v) the TK mRNA increase was fully blocked by inhibition of protein synthesis by only 60%, (vi) this inhibition was completely effective for up to about 10 h following serum addition and progressively much less effective when the drugs were added later. These results suggest that the appearance of TK mRNA at the beginning of the S phase in serum-stimulated 3T3 cells is controlled not only by the rate of gene transcription but importantly also by the decreased rate of mRNA degradation. Similar mechanisms may be involved in regulation of the onset of DNA synthesis and the increase in TK mRNA since both are controlled in a manner consistent with a requirement for a labile protein.

Role in translation of a triple tandemly repeated sequence in the 5'-untranslated region of human thymidylate synthase mRNA

A triple tandem repeat (TTR) consisting of 90 nucleotides exists immediately upstream of the ATG initiator codon in human thymidylate synthase (TS) cDNA (pcHTS-1). To investigate the role of the TTR in the expression of the TS cDNA, we used pcHTS-1 to construct mutant cDNA clones in which part of the TTR was deleted or an additional element was inserted. The mutant cDNA plasmid was introduced into murine TS-negative mutant cells and the relative translation efficiencies of the mutant cDNAs were determined by measuring the transient expression of TS activity and the amount of TS mRNA transcribed. The translation efficiency in transient expression of the mutants was increased by deletions covering all the first two repeated elements, and the part of the third closest to the ATG initiator codon, but was not affected by deletions of only parts of the first two repeated elements at the 5' end. The translation efficiency was also not affected by insertion of an additional repeated element into the TTR. These results suggest that the first two repeated elements at the 5' end both have inhibitory effects on translation of the TS mRNA, probably due to the unique structural feature of this element.

Cell cycle regulated synthesis of stable mouse thymidine kinase mRNA is mediated by a sequence within the cDNA

The cDNA for mouse thymidine kinase (TK) was isolated from a cDNA library in lambda-gt11 and sequenced. It was used as a probe to follow the time course of TK mRNA expression in growth stimulated mouse fibroblasts. Linked to the HSV-TK promoter the cDNA was able to transform LTK-cells to the TK+ phenotype. The transformed cells expressed the TK mRNA and enzyme activity in a growth dependent fashion suggesting that the regulatory element is localized on the cDNA.

Genetic analysis of the human thymidine kinase gene promoter

The promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene was defined by DNA sequence and genetic analyses. Mutant plasmids with deletions extending into the promoter region from both the 5' and 3' directions were constructed. The mutants were tested in a gene transfer system for the ability to transform TK- cells to the TK+ phenotype. This analysis delimited the functional promoter to within an 83-base-pair region upstream of the mRNA cap site. This region contains sequences common to other eucaryotic promoters including G X C-rich hexanucleotides, a CAAT box, and an A X T-rich region. The CAAT box is in an inverted orientation and is part of a 9-base-pair sequence repeated twice in the promoter region. Comparison of the genomic sequence with the cDNA sequence defined the first exon of the thymidine kinase gene.

Structure and expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene

My colleagues and I have cloned a nearly full-length Chinese hamster thymidine kinase (TK) cDNA in a lambda gt10 vector and characterized this cDNA by nucleotide sequencing. The hamster TK protein is encoded in this cDNA by a 702-base-pair open reading frame which specifies a 25,625-dalton protein closely homologous to the previously described human and chicken TK proteins. Using cDNA nucleotide sequence data in conjunction with sequence data derived from selected subclones of the hamster TK gene recombinant phage lambda HaTK.5, we have resolved the structure of the TK gene, finding the 1,219 base pairs of the cDNA sequence to be distributed through 11.2 kilobases of genomic DNA in at least seven exon segments. In addition, we have constructed a variety of Chinese hamster TK minigenes and exonuclease III-S1 derivatives of these genes which have permitted us to define the limits of the Chinese hamster TK gene promoter and demonstrate that efficient TK transformation of Ltk- cells by TK minigenes depends on the presence of both TK intervening sequences and sequences 3' to the site of mRNA polyadenylation.

Genetic determinants of growth phase-dependent and adenovirus 5-responsive expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene are contained within thymidine kinase mRNA sequences

We have constructed a chimeric thymidine kinase (TK) minigene, pHe delta 6Ha, which combines the complete coding and 3' noncoding regions of a Chinese hamster TK cDNA with the promoter region and 5' untranslated region of the TK gene of herpes simplex virus type 1. We have transformed rat 4 cells to Tk+ with this gene and analyzed the pattern of TK gene expression in these transformants under various conditions of in vitro cell culture. We find that TK gene expression in these Tk+ transformants is growth phase dependent, responsive to adenovirus 5 infection, and indistinguishable in character under a variety of cell culture conditions from the pattern of TK gene expression in rat 4 cells transformed to Tk+ with the genomic Chinese hamster TK gene clone lambda HaTK.5. We are led to the conclusion that the genetic elements which mediate growth phase-dependent TK gene expression are contained entirely within the sequences of the mature cytoplasmic hamster TK mRNA.

Molecular cloning and structural analysis of murine thymidine kinase genomic and cDNA sequences

Two functional cytosolic thymidine kinase (tk) cDNA clones were isolated from a mouse L-cell library. An RNA blot analysis indicated that one of these clones contains a nearly full-length tk sequence and that LTK- cells contain little or no TK message. The nucleotide sequences of both clones were determined, and the functional mouse tk cDNA contains 1,156 base pairs. An analysis of the sequence implied that there is an untranslated 32-nucleotide region at the 5' end of the mRNA, followed by an open reading frame of 699 nucleotides. The 3' untranslated region is 422 nucleotides long. Thus, the gene codes for a protein containing 233 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 25,873. A comparison of the coding sequences of the mouse tk cDNA with the human and chicken tk genes revealed about 86 and 70% homology, respectively. We also isolated the tk gene from a mouse C57BL/10J cosmid library. The structural organization was determined by restriction mapping, Southern blotting, and heteroduplex analysis of the cloned sequences, in combination with a mouse tk cDNA. The tk gene spans approximately 11 kilobases and contains at least five introns. Southern blot analysis revealed that this gene is deleted in mouse LTK- cells, consistent with the inability of these cells to synthesize TK message. This analysis also showed that tk-related sequences are present in the genomes of several mouse strains, as well as in LTK- cells. These segments may represent pseudogenes.

Transcription of genes encoding enzymes involved in DNA synthesis during the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have examined the pattern of transcription exhibited by four genes in the dTTP biosynthetic pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Consistent with the results reported previously by Storms et al. (1984), the TMP1 (or CDC21) gene encoding thymidylate synthase was found to be transcribed in a periodic manner during the cell cycle with maximal mRNA levels occurring just prior to the onset of DNA replication. Three other genes in this pathway DCD1, DUT1 and DFR1 encoding dCMP deaminase, dUTP pyrophosphatase and dihydrofolate reductase, respectively, exhibited relatively constant levels of transcription throughout the cell cycle. These results, particularly for DFR1, are in marked contrast with those obtained in other eukaryotic systems which have suggested that, in general, genes encoding enzymes involved in DNA precursor synthesis are subject to cell cycle regulation. Thus, periodic transcription is not a property common to all genes involved in DNA replication in this eukaryote.

Genetic analysis of the human thymidine kinase gene promoter

The promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene was defined by DNA sequence and genetic analyses. Mutant plasmids with deletions extending into the promoter region from both the 5' and 3' directions were constructed. The mutants were tested in a gene transfer system for the ability to transform TK- cells to the TK+ phenotype. This analysis delimited the functional promoter to within an 83-base-pair region upstream of the mRNA cap site. This region contains sequences common to other eucaryotic promoters including G X C-rich hexanucleotides, a CAAT box, and an A X T-rich region. The CAAT box is in an inverted orientation and is part of a 9-base-pair sequence repeated twice in the promoter region. Comparison of the genomic sequence with the cDNA sequence defined the first exon of the thymidine kinase gene.

Genetic determinants of growth phase-dependent and adenovirus 5-responsive expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene are contained within thymidine kinase mRNA sequences

We have constructed a chimeric thymidine kinase (TK) minigene, pHe delta 6Ha, which combines the complete coding and 3' noncoding regions of a Chinese hamster TK cDNA with the promoter region and 5' untranslated region of the TK gene of herpes simplex virus type 1. We have transformed rat 4 cells to Tk+ with this gene and analyzed the pattern of TK gene expression in these transformants under various conditions of in vitro cell culture. We find that TK gene expression in these Tk+ transformants is growth phase dependent, responsive to adenovirus 5 infection, and indistinguishable in character under a variety of cell culture conditions from the pattern of TK gene expression in rat 4 cells transformed to Tk+ with the genomic Chinese hamster TK gene clone lambda HaTK.5. We are led to the conclusion that the genetic elements which mediate growth phase-dependent TK gene expression are contained entirely within the sequences of the mature cytoplasmic hamster TK mRNA.

Cell cycle dependent genes inducible by different mitogens in cells from different species

A number of genes and cDNA sequences (including at least four oncogenes) are known to be expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner, i.e. the levels of specific mRNAs vary with the phases of the cell cycle. In order to explore the significance of some of these sequences in the mitogenic response, we have investigated the expression of 8 cell cycle-dependent sequences (plus two control sequences, not expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner) under a variety of conditions. These conditions included cells of different types, from different species, stimulated to proliferate by different mitogens. The genes (or sequences) studied included five cDNA clones whose sequences are preferentially expressed in early G1, i.e. two cDNA clones inducible by platelet-derived growth factor (JE-3 and KC-1), and three cDNA clones inducible by serum (2A9, 2F1, 4F1); and three oncogenes (c-myc, c-rasHa and p53) whose expression is known to be cycle-dependent. All of the tested genes, except 2A9, c-rasHa and the control genes, are expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by phytohemagglutinin and in serum-stimulated mouse and Syrian hamster fibroblasts. The inducibility of these genes by different mitogens in cells of different types and from different species strongly suggests that these genes play a role in cell cycle progression. This conclusion is further supported by the known structural and functional similarities between cell-cycle dependent genes, oncogenes and genes coding for cell-cycle related molecules.

Structure and expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene

My colleagues and I have cloned a nearly full-length Chinese hamster thymidine kinase (TK) cDNA in a lambda gt10 vector and characterized this cDNA by nucleotide sequencing. The hamster TK protein is encoded in this cDNA by a 702-base-pair open reading frame which specifies a 25,625-dalton protein closely homologous to the previously described human and chicken TK proteins. Using cDNA nucleotide sequence data in conjunction with sequence data derived from selected subclones of the hamster TK gene recombinant phage lambda HaTK.5, we have resolved the structure of the TK gene, finding the 1,219 base pairs of the cDNA sequence to be distributed through 11.2 kilobases of genomic DNA in at least seven exon segments. In addition, we have constructed a variety of Chinese hamster TK minigenes and exonuclease III-S1 derivatives of these genes which have permitted us to define the limits of the Chinese hamster TK gene promoter and demonstrate that efficient TK transformation of Ltk- cells by TK minigenes depends on the presence of both TK intervening sequences and sequences 3' to the site of mRNA polyadenylation.

Molecular cloning and structural analysis of murine thymidine kinase genomic and cDNA sequences

Two functional cytosolic thymidine kinase (tk) cDNA clones were isolated from a mouse L-cell library. An RNA blot analysis indicated that one of these clones contains a nearly full-length tk sequence and that LTK- cells contain little or no TK message. The nucleotide sequences of both clones were determined, and the functional mouse tk cDNA contains 1,156 base pairs. An analysis of the sequence implied that there is an untranslated 32-nucleotide region at the 5' end of the mRNA, followed by an open reading frame of 699 nucleotides. The 3' untranslated region is 422 nucleotides long. Thus, the gene codes for a protein containing 233 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 25,873. A comparison of the coding sequences of the mouse tk cDNA with the human and chicken tk genes revealed about 86 and 70% homology, respectively. We also isolated the tk gene from a mouse C57BL/10J cosmid library. The structural organization was determined by restriction mapping, Southern blotting, and heteroduplex analysis of the cloned sequences, in combination with a mouse tk cDNA. The tk gene spans approximately 11 kilobases and contains at least five introns. Southern blot analysis revealed that this gene is deleted in mouse LTK- cells, consistent with the inability of these cells to synthesize TK message. This analysis also showed that tk-related sequences are present in the genomes of several mouse strains, as well as in LTK- cells. These segments may represent pseudogenes.

Induction of cellular thymidine kinase occurs at the mRNA level

The thymidine kinase (TK) gene has been isolated from human genomic DNA. The gene was passaged twice by transfection of LTK- cells with human chromosomal DNA, and genomic libraries were made in lambda Charon 30 from a second-round TK+ transformant. When the library was screened with a human Alu probe, seven overlapping lambda clones from the human TK locus were obtained. None of the seven contained a functional TK gene as judged by transfection analysis, but several combinations of clones gave rise to TK+ colonies when cotransfected into TK- cells. A functional cDNA clone encoding the human TK gene has also been isolated. Using this cDNA clone as a probe in restriction enzyme/blot hybridization analyses, we have mapped the coding sequences and direction of transcription of the gene. We have also used a single-copy subclone from within the coding region to monitor steady-state levels of TK mRNA in serum-stimulated and simian virus 40-infected simian CV1 tissue culture cells. Our results indicate that the previously reported increase in TK enzyme levels seen after either treatment is paralleled by an equivalent increase in the steady-state levels of TK mRNA. In the case of simian virus 40-infected cells, the induction was delayed by 8 to 12 h, which is the length of time after infection required for early viral protein synthesis. In both cases, induction of TK mRNA coincides with the onset of DNA synthesis, but virally infected cells ultimately accumulate more TK mRNA than do serum-stimulated cells.

Selection of highly transfectable variant from mouse mastocytoma P815

A tk- cell line derived from mouse mastocytoma P815 was transfected with a plasmid carrying a thymidine kinase gene. The tk+ cells were obtained at a frequency of 10(-6). From some of these tk+ transfectants it was possible to select tk- cells with BrdU so that these cells could be submitted again to transfection with the thymidine kinase gene. By repeating cycles of transfection and tk+ selection followed by reverse selection with BrdU, it was possible to obtain a stable variant having a 100-fold increase in transfection efficiency. This HTR (high transfection) variant shows a high efficiency of transfection (10(-4)) for the neomycin-resistance gene as well as for the thymidine kinase gene.

Regulation of thymidine kinase activity in the cell cycle by a labile protein

Previous studies have shown that the onset of DNA synthesis in Balb/c 3T3 cells appears to be regulated by a labile protein. We have found that induction of thymidine kinase (TK) activity, after quiescent cells are stimulated by the addition of serum, is similarly regulated by a labile protein. Eight hours after serum stimulation, a 6-h pulse of cycloheximide (CHM) caused an excess delay of 2 h in TK induction. A similar delay also was found in the induction of thymidylate synthase (TS). In contrast, the benzo(a)pyrene transformed 3T3 cell line, BP-A31, which had previously been shown to have no excess delay for the onset of DNA synthesis also had no excess delay for the induction of TK activity after a pulse of CHM. The induction of TK was inhibited by actinomycin D and dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidizole (DRB) suggesting a requirement for new RNA synthesis. It did not appear to depend on DNA synthesis as it was not blocked by aphidicolin. In conclusion, the induction of TK activity appears to be regulated by the same labile cellular signal as the onset of DNA synthesis, and to depend on an increase in the level of TK mRNA in late G1 or early S phase.

DNA-mediated transfer of complex I genes into three different respiration-deficient Chinese hamster mutant cell lines with defects in complex I of electron transport chain

We have used genomic DNA from human or mouse cells as a calcium phosphate precipitate to transfect three different respiration-deficient Chinese hamster mutant cell lines with defects in complex I of the electron transport chain. Transformants were selected in DMEM containing galactose, a medium in which respiration-deficient cells do not grow. Evidence for the DNA-mediated transformation of these respiration-deficient cells with a putative complex I gene includes: the clones are respiration-positive and respire at rates comparable to those of wild-type human, hamster, or mouse cells; the clones have rotenone-sensitive NADH oxidase activities, indicating a functional complex I of the electron transport chain; and the clones appear to be true transformants, as demonstrated by hybridization and Southern blot analyses. These experiments provide the basis for the isolation and subsequent characterization of several of the genes involved with complex I of the mammalian electron transport chain.

DNA-mediated transfer of a human DNA repair gene that controls sister chromatid exchange

The Chinese hamster cell line mutant EM9, which has a reduced ability to repair DNA strand breaks, is noted for its highly elevated frequency of sister chromatid exchange, a property shared with cells from individuals with Bloom's syndrome. The defect in EM9 cells was corrected by fusion hybridization with normal human fibroblasts and by transfection with DNA from hybrid cells. The transformants showed normalization of sister chromatid exchange frequency but incomplete correction of the repair defect in terms of chromosomal aberrations produced by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine.