Purification, characterization, cDNA cloning and expression of a novel ketoreductase from Zygosaccharomyces rouxii.

A novel ketoreductase isolated from Zygosaccharomyces rouxii catalyzes the asymmetric reduction of selected ketone substrates of commercial importance. The 37.8-kDa ketoreductase was purified more than 300-fold to > 95% homogeneity from whole cells with a 30% activity yield. The ketoreductase functions as a monomer with an apparent Km for 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl acetone of 2.9 mM and a Km for NADPH of 23.5 microM. The enzyme is able to effectively reduce alpha-ketolactones, alpha-ketolactams, and diketones. Inhibition is observed in the presence of diethyl pyrocarbonate, suggesting that a histidine is crucial for catalysis. The 1.0-kb ketoreductase gene was cloned and sequenced from a Z. rouxii cDNA library using a degenerate primer to the N-terminal sequence of the purified protein. Furthermore, it was expressed in both Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris and shown to be active. Substrate specificity, lack of a catalytic metal, and extent of protein sequence identity to known reductases suggests that the enzyme falls into the carbonyl reductase enzyme class.

Isolation of yeast artificial chromosomes containing the entire transcriptional unit of the human FGF1 gene: a 720-kb contig spanning human chromosome 5q31.3-->q32.

The q31-q33 region of chromosome 5 includes a number of genes encoding growth factors, growth factor receptors, and hormone/neurotransmitter receptors. The human fibroblast growth factor 1 locus (FGF1) resides in this region of chromosome 5, which is frequently lost in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia patients. Other disease loci, including the loci for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and an autosomal dominant deafness, have been mapped on this region, but their genes have not been isolated. It was shown that the critical region lost in two patients with the 5q- syndrome resides between FGF1 and IL12B. We previously reported the construction of a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig spanning 330 kb around the FGF1 gene. Here we report the isolation of additional YAC clones that extend 290 kb from the previous contig. Sequence-tagged sites developed from the outermost YAC ends were utilized in the contig cloning of two P1 clones P1Y2 and P1Y8. Together, these YAC and P1 clones span 720 kb around the FGF1 locus. With the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization, a physical map has been constructed of these P1 and GRL (glucocorticoid receptor locus) probes on metaphase and interphase chromosomes. On the basis of our work and the known orientation of GRL transcription, the determined order of these loci on chromosome 5q31.3-q32 is centromere-P1Y8-3'[FGF1]5'-P1Y2-5'[GRL]3'-telome re. Knowing the transcriptional orientation of the FGF1 gene relative to the centromere will now facilitate the directional cloning of clinically important genes that may reside in this region.

Regulation of a promoter of the fibroblast growth factor 1 gene in prostate and breast cancer cells.

FGF-1 mRNA is expressed in the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 and in the breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-231. Levels of FGF-1 mRNA have been shown to be up-regulated by serum, phorbol esters, and combinations of growth factors. It was shown that the major FGF-1 mRNA species expressed following serum stimulation in MDA-MB-231 cells is FGF-1.C. To better understand the potential role of FGF-1 in human prostate and breast cancer, we began an analysis of the cis- and trans-acting elements of one of its promoters required for the serum, PMA, and androgen regulation in breast and prostate cancer cell lines. We show that FGF-1.C steady-state mRNA levels are increased following serum or PMA stimulation of PC-3 cells. Further, we determine the FGF-1.C transcription start site in PC-3 cells. By sequence analysis, we show that consensus AP1, AP2, and Sp1 sites and ARE- and CRE-near consensus elements are present in the immediate 5' region of the FGF-1.C transcription start site. Gel-shift assays show that oligonucleotides containing FGF-1.C AP1, AP2, or Spl sequences form specific DNA-protein complexes with nuclear extracts from PC-3 cells. To determine if these or other cis-acting sequences are responsible for the serum, androgen, or growth factor regulation of FGF-1 expression, fragments of the FGF-1.C promoter region were cloned upstream of the luciferase reporter gene. We show that FGF-1 synergizes with androgen to enhance FGF-1.C transcription in LNCaP cells. We further show that the DNA fragment containing sequence up to 1614 nucleotides upstream of the FGF-1.C transcription start site is sufficient for stimulating promoter activity following serum treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells. Thus, FGF-1.C promoter contains sequences that are important for androgen or serum stimulation in prostate and breast cancer cells.

Activation of fibroblast growth factor 8 gene expression in human embryonal carcinoma cells.

To study the role of fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF-8) in human development and malignancies, we have isolated and characterized its gene. The gene spans 6.0 kbp and is comprised of five exons. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we were able to show that FGF-8 is expressed in two of the seven human mammary carcinoma cell lines tested and in only one of nine breast tumors. In contrast, both of the two normal breast tissues tested express FGF-8. FGF-8 was previously shown to be present in adult testis and ovary. Surprisingly, only one of the seven testis carcinomas and one of 12 ovary carcinomas express FGF-8, whereas all three kidney carcinomas tested express FGF-8. We further showed that fetal brain and lung express FGF-8, whereas fetal intestine and liver do not. Finally, we showed that a teratocarcinoma cell line, Tera-2, can be induced to express FGF-8 mRNA by fetal bovine serum.

The human FGF-8 gene localizes on chromosome 10q24 and is subjected to induction by androgen in breast cancer cells.

Androgen-induced growth factor (AIGF or FGF-8) was originally isolated from the conditioned medium of an androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma, SC-3, cell line. It shares structural similarity with other members of the FGF family. The temporal and spatial expression patterns of the FGF-8 gene suggest its involvement in gastrulation, regionalization of the brain, and organogenesis of the limb and face as an embryonic epithelial factor. In the adult, expression of FGF-8 is restricted to gonads including testes and ovaries. Since FGF-8 is identified as a corroborating gene in MMTV-induced mammary tumors in Wnt-1 transgenic mice and because FGF-8 manifested its autocrine mitogenic activity in SC-3 cells, it is possible that aberrant expression of FGF-8 may be present in human cancers which are hormone dependent. However, very little is known about human FGF-8. To determine whether FGF-8 plays a role in human breast cancer, we have isolated the full-length cDNA from SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells. We have also isolated the corresponding genomic DNA in a P1 cloning vector. The FGF-8 gene has been mapped to chromosome 1Oq24 using both somatic cell hybrid genetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Finally, we show that FGF-8 gene expression in a human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, is inducible by androgen. The findings presented here will facilitate our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying hormone-responsive breast and prostate cancers.

Human fibroblast growth factor 1 gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells is modulated via an alternate promoter in response to serum and phorbol ester.

We have previously isolated the human FGF-1 gene in order to elucidate the molecular basis of its gene expression. The gene spans over 100 kbp and encodes multiple transcripts expressed in a tissue- and cell-specific manner. Two variants of FGF-1 mRNA (designated FGF-1.A and 1.B), which differ in their 5' untranslated region, were identified in our laboratory. Recently, two novel variants of FGF-1 mRNA (designated FGF-1.C and 1.D) have been isolated. In this study we used RNase protection assays to demonstrate expression of FGF-1.D mRNA in human fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells and to show that promoter 1D has multiple transcription start sites. A single-strand nuclease-sensitive region has also been identified in the promoter 1D region that may have implications in chromatin conformation and transcriptional regulation of this promoter. Using Northern blot hybridization analyses, a previous study demonstrated a significant increase of FGF-1 mRNA levels in cultured saphenous vein smooth muscle cells in response to serum and phorbol ester. Here we confirm these results by RNase protection analysis and show that FGF-1.C mRNA is significantly increased in response to these stimuli. RNase protection assays indicate that promoter 1C has one major start site. The phorbol ester effect suggests that a protein kinase C-dependent signalling pathway may be involved in this phenomenon. Our results point to a dual promoter usage of the FGF-1 gene in vascular smooth muscle cells. Thus, normal growing cells primarily utilize promoter 1D. In contrast, quiescent cells, when exposed to serum or phorbol ester, utilize a different FGF-1 promoter, namely promoter 1C. Overall, these phenomena suggest mechanisms for increased production of FGF-1 that may play a role in inflammatory settings, wound healing, tissue repair, and neovascularization events and processes via autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. Our findings suggest that different FGF-1 promoters may respond to different physiological conditions and stimuli, in reference to the cell type or tissue milieu, resulting in ultimate production of the FGF-1 protein.

Construction of a yeast artificial chromosome contig encompassing the human acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF1) gene: toward the cloning of the ANLL/MDS tumor-suppressor gene.

The region surrounding the human acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF1) locus on chromosome 5q31 is of particular interest since it represents a critical region consistently lost in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients who have a demonstrable deletion of the distal portion of the long arm of chromosome 5. It is proposed that an ANLL/MDS leukemia suppressor gene resides on 5q31. We have previously shown that the gene is most likely localized between FGF1 and PDGFRB/CSF1R loci. The region has also been linked to at least four other genetic diseases, Treacher Collins syndrome, diastrophic dysplasia, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and an autosomal dominant deafness, by linkage analysis. Here, we describe yeast artificial chromosomes (YAC) spanning 450 kb around the FGF1 gene. Six YAC clones were isolated from a human YAC library and their restriction enzyme maps were determined. The overlap of the clones with each other and with FGF1 cosmid and phage clones was characterized. Three of the YAC clones were found to contain the entire FGF1 gene, which spans more than 100 kb. Proximal and distal ends of several of these YAC clones were isolated for further overlap cloning. The proximal ends of both Y2 and Y4 were localized to previously isolated FGF1 DNA by sequence analysis. The distal ends of these two clones also hybridized to a human-hamster hybrid containing chromosome 5 as the only human genetic material. These results suggest that these YAC clones represent colinear DNA around the FGF1 locus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cloning of two novel forms of human acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) mRNA.

We have previously isolated two different aFGF cDNA clones from kidney and brain. The two corresponding mRNA, designated aFGF 1.A and 1.B, are the predominant species in kidney and brain, respectively. During the characterization of aFGF mRNA in glioblastoma cells, we demonstrated that aFGF mRNA in U1242MG and D65MG glioblastoma cells contain 5'-untranslated sequences different from those of 1.A and 1.B. Through a strategy combining chromosome walking, identification and sequencing of evolutionarily conserved DNA regions, and a reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based assay for RNA expression, we have isolated two novel aFGF cDNA clones. The cDNA clone representing aFGF mRNA 1.C was isolated from U1242MG cells; another aFGF cDNA, designated 1.D, was isolated from D65MG cells. Promoter 1C has extensive sequence homology to the hamster aFGF gene promoter that was shown to respond to testosterone stimulation by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene assays. Using RT-PCR, we showed that normal, benign and cancerous prostate tissues do not express aFGF 1.C mRNA. In contrast, a prostate carcinoma cell line (PC-3) expresses 1.C mRNA. RT-PCR using 1.D-specific primers showed that kidney, brain and prostate do not express 1.D mRNA even though kidney and brain are the most abundant source for aFGF protein. RNase protection analysis further showed that 1.D mRNA is the predominant aFGF transcript in D65MG glioblastoma cells and in NFF-6 neonatal foreskin fibroblast cells. The genomic DNA corresponding to these two cDNA clones and the 5'-flanking regions were also isolated and their sequences determined. These DNA clones will provide important reagents for studying the regulatory elements of aFGF gene expression.

Gene structure and differential expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor mRNA: identification and distribution of four different transcripts.

We have isolated four cDNA clones coding for human acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) containing alternative 5' untranslated exons. Using RNAase protection analyses, we demonstrated the presence of at least four upstream, untranslated exons that are alternatively spliced to the first protein-coding exon. We designate these four untranslated exons, -1A, -1B, -1C and -1D. Splicing of these exons to the first coding exon will generate mRNA 1.A, 1.B, 1.C and 1.D respectively. Expression of these transcripts is regulated in a tissue-specific manner, as the major aFGF transcript in human brain frontal cortex differs from that in kidney. Furthermore, the pattern of aFGF transcripts in several glioblastoma cell lines tested is different from that in normal brain tissue. We isolated nine overlapping genomic clones containing these four upstream, untranslated exons. These four exons were localized on these clones by Southern hybridization and nucleotide sequence analysis. The overlapping clones are shown to be contiguous with our previously isolated genomic clones that contain the three aFGF-coding exons. The sizes of the four introns are 82.9, 71.1, 29.3 and 6.9 kbp. The transcriptional start sites of the two most upstream exons (-1A and -1B) have been mapped using RNAase protection and primer extension analyses. The sequences upstream of the start sites for aFGF 1.B mRNA do not contain a consensus TATA box. In contrast, the canonical CCAAT and TATA sequences are located at the proper distances from the transcription start site of aFGF 1.A mRNA.