Estrogen-inducible binding of a nuclear factor to the vitellogenin upstream region

Reactivation of apolipoprotein II gene transcription by cycloheximide reveals two steps in the deactivation of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription

In this report, we describe apolipoprotein II (apoII) gene expression in cell lines derived by stable expression of the chicken estrogen receptor in LMH chicken hepatoma cells. In cell lines expressing high levels of receptor (LMH/2A), apoII gene expression is increased by estrogen 300-fold compared with levels in the receptor-deficient parent LMH line. LMH/2A cells show apoII mRNA induction and turnover kinetics similar to those in chicken liver. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (CHX) or puromycin following estrogen withdrawal superinduces apoII mRNA without affecting apoII mRNA stability. Superinduction is due to an estrogen-independent reactivation of apoII gene transcription. The apoII gene can be reactivated by CHX for up to 24 h following hormone withdrawal, suggesting that the gene is in a repressed yet transcriptionally competent state. These results reveal two distinct events necessary for termination of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription. The first event, removal of hormone, is sufficient to stop transcription when translation is ongoing. The second event is revealed by the CHX-induced superinduction of apoII mRNA following hormone withdrawal. This superinduction suggests that deactivation of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription requires a labile protein. Furthermore, reactivation of apoII gene expression by CHX and estrogen is additive, suggesting that estrogen is unable to overcome repression completely. Thus, a labile protein may act to repress estrogen receptor-mediated transcription of the apoII gene.

Reactivation of apolipoprotein II gene transcription by cycloheximide reveals two steps in the deactivation of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription

In this report, we describe apolipoprotein II (apoII) gene expression in cell lines derived by stable expression of the chicken estrogen receptor in LMH chicken hepatoma cells. In cell lines expressing high levels of receptor (LMH/2A), apoII gene expression is increased by estrogen 300-fold compared with levels in the receptor-deficient parent LMH line. LMH/2A cells show apoII mRNA induction and turnover kinetics similar to those in chicken liver. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (CHX) or puromycin following estrogen withdrawal superinduces apoII mRNA without affecting apoII mRNA stability. Superinduction is due to an estrogen-independent reactivation of apoII gene transcription. The apoII gene can be reactivated by CHX for up to 24 h following hormone withdrawal, suggesting that the gene is in a repressed yet transcriptionally competent state. These results reveal two distinct events necessary for termination of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription. The first event, removal of hormone, is sufficient to stop transcription when translation is ongoing. The second event is revealed by the CHX-induced superinduction of apoII mRNA following hormone withdrawal. This superinduction suggests that deactivation of estrogen receptor-mediated transcription requires a labile protein. Furthermore, reactivation of apoII gene expression by CHX and estrogen is additive, suggesting that estrogen is unable to overcome repression completely. Thus, a labile protein may act to repress estrogen receptor-mediated transcription of the apoII gene.

Oestrogen facilitates the binding of ubiquitous and liver-enriched nuclear proteins to the apoVLDL II promoter in vivo

Using genomic and in vitro DNasel footprinting, we have analyzed protein-DNA interactions within the promoter region of the oestrogen-inducible gene encoding chicken apoVLDL II. The footprints coincide with previously detected guanosine-protein contacts in vivo. All footprints identified are present in the apoVLDL II-expressing liver exclusively and absent in hormone-naive liver, spleen and oviduct. They comprise recognition sites for the oestrogen receptor, the ubiquitous COUP-transcription factor, the liver-enriched C/EBP and/or DBP and the liver-specific LF-A1. In vitro, binding of protein to the oestrogen response element (ERE) is excluded by the prior binding of a protein, possibly C/EBP or DBP, to an adjacent element. The recognition sequence of the COUP-TF is also a target for LF-A1. The results suggests that oestrogen-dependent liver specific activation of the apoVLDL II promoter is established by the binding of the oestrogen receptor to EREs and multiple liver-enriched factors (C/EBP, DBP and LF-A1) to their nearby recognition sequences. Apparently, several DNA binding nuclear proteins cooperate to keep the promoter in a state that is accessible for the RNA polymerase complex.