Identification of novel polymorphisms within the promoter region of the human beta2 adrenergic receptor gene

By screening the 1470 bp 5' to the start codon of the human beta2 adrenergic receptor gene, we have identified a total of eight polymorphisms (-20 T-->C, -47 T-->C, -367 T-->C, -468 C-->G, -654 G-->A, -1023 G-->A, -1343 A-->G and -1429 T-->A c.f. beta2 adrenergic receptor start codon). Transient transfection of 5' flanking deletion luciferase reporter constructs demonstrated the majority of activity of the human beta2 adrenergic gene 5' flanking region to be present within a 549 bp fragment immediately upstream from the start codon. Because of linkage disequilibrium, some combinations of polymorphisms were particularly frequent. We transiently transfected COS-7 cells with luciferase constructs under the control of the 549 bp of 5' flanking DNA containing the two most frequent extended haplotypes in this region. Luciferase activity was significantly reduced in cells transfected with the 'mutant' construct (-20C, -47C, -367C, -468G) c.f. the 'wild-type' construct (-20T, -47T, -367T, -468C). These data suggest that polymorphisms have the potential to alter human beta2 adrenergic receptor gene expression.     

基于双荧光素酶报告基因系统的人源SREBP1基因启动子的活性研究

目的 构建固醇调节元件结合蛋白 1（SREBP1）启动子双荧光素酶报告基因表达载体,为研究针对 SREBP1靶点的天然活性抑制剂筛选奠定基础。方法 利用生物信息学软件,对SREBP1基因5′端上游5 000 bp序 列进行启动子预测与分析。应用 Gibson Assembly 方法构建启动子双荧光素酶载体,并将构建成功的 pGL3- SREBP1-pro重组质粒和内参质粒pRL-SV40共转染肝癌HepG2细胞并给予天然抑制剂大黄素,检测SREBP1转录活 性的抑制效果。结果 SREBP1基因5′端上游2 000 bp区域内有启动子特征序列,存在转录因子结合位点;重组质粒 经酶切及测序鉴定证实为阳性克隆,瞬时转染肝癌HepG2细胞后经双荧光素酶报告基因系统检测,所克隆的片段序 列具有启动子活性,该活性可被大黄素所抑制。结论 成功构建了pGL3-SREBP1-pro双荧光素酶报告基因表达载 体,并证实其活性,可为进一步用于针对SREBP1靶点的天然活性抑制剂筛选奠定     

A novel polymorphism in the promoter region of human UGT1A9 gene (UGT1A9*22) and its effects on the transcriptional activity

The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, UGT1A9, catalyses glucuronidations of various endobiotics and xenobiotics. In the present study, all exons, exon-intron junctions, and the 5'-flanking region (-273 bp) of the UGT1A9 gene in a Japanese subject were sequenced. One base insertion of thymidine in a promoter region of the UGT1A9 gene resulting in A(T)10AT was identified compared to the reference sequence of AF297093 (A(T)9AT). The allele was termed UGT1A9*22. A polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism method was developed to genotype the allele. The allele frequencies of the mutation in 87 Japanese, 50 Caucasian and 50 African-American subjects were 60%, 39% and 44%, respectively. The significance of the polymorphism was investigated by the construction of luciferase reporter plasmids containing 170 bp of the 5'-flanking region of the gene transfected into human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The luciferase activity of the promoter construct containing the A(T)10AT sequence was 2.6-fold higher than that of the construct containing the A(T)9AT sequence. In conclusion, the mutant allele with one base insertion in the promoter region of the UGT1A9 gene would alter the level of enzyme expression and the metabolism of those drugs that are substrates of UGT1A9.     

ORMDL3基因第一内含子中新启动子区的鉴定

目的构建表达血清类黏蛋白1样蛋白3(ORMDL3)基因第一内含子中新启动子区的质粒,并研究其功能特征。方法以人基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增ORMDL3基因第一内含子内新转录起始位点上下游776bp启动子区片段,酶切并连接此片段至pGL3-basic载体,构建含有ORMDL3基因第一内含子中新启动子区的基因重组体,并转染人胚肾293细胞。荧光素酶检测报告基因启动子的活性,计算相对活性单位。生物信息学方法分析转录因子结合位点。结果成功构建含有新启动子的重组质粒。与pGL3-basic空载体相比,新启动子活性明显增强,并定位于转录起始位点-363bp至-63bp之间,且该区域存在Sp1、GATA-1等转录因子的结合位点。结论 ORMDL3基因第一内含子中新转录起始位点上游具有启动子活性,在-363bp至-63bp区域存在转录调控元件,且Sp1、GATA-1等转录因子可能参与其转录调控。     

Induction of rat organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 by pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile is via interaction with pregnane X receptor

The rat organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (oatp2; Slc21a5) is a liver transporter that mediates the uptake of a variety of structurally diverse compounds, and has a high affinity for cardiac glycosides. Treatment of rats with pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), a ligand for the rodent pregnane X receptor (PXR), significantly enhances the rat oatp2 gene expression. To understand the molecular mechanism of oatp2 induction by PCN, rat oatp2 gene was cloned. The rat oatp2 gene consists of 16 exons; alternative splicing of the second noncoding exon gives rise to the two published rat oatp2 cDNAs. Approximately 8700 base pairs (bp) of the 5'-flanking region of the rat oatp2 gene were linked to the luciferase reporter gene and used in transient transfection assays in H4IIE cells. Treatment of PCN induced the expression of the reporter gene in a dose-dependent manner. Four potential PXR response elements (PXREs) were identified in the 5'-flanking region of the rat oatp2 gene. One element (DR3-1) is located approximately -5000 bp with three more (DR3-2, DR3-3, and DR3-4) clustered at about -8000 bp. Results from electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that the PXR-retinoid X receptor alpha heterodimer binds to the DR3-2 with the highest affinity, to the DR3-4 and DR3-1 with a lower affinity, and weakly or not at all to the DR3-3. Furthermore, a series of partial deletions of the 5'-flanking region illustrated that both the proximal and distal clusters of PXREs are required for maximal induction of rat oatp2 by PCN. In conclusion, these data elucidate the molecular mechanism by which PCN treatment induces rat oatp2 gene expression. In addition, this study identifies rat oatp2 as a direct PXR-targeted gene and further supports the hypothesis that activation of PXR affects a network of genes that is involved in either metabolism or transport of drugs, steroids, and bile acids.     

人多巴胺D2受体基因内含子区51103T/C多态性对基因转录活性的影响

目的探讨人多巴胺D2受体（DRD2）基因第3内含子区51103 bp位点单核苷酸多态性（rs2075652）对DRD2基因转录活性的影响,进一步揭示DRD2基因第3内含子区的单核苷酸多态性影响创伤后应激障碍发病风险的分子机制。方法以人全血基因组DNA为模板,扩增DRD2基因第3内含子区序列（399 bp）,51103 bp处分别为T或C,与报告基因载体pmir Glo相连接,构建重组荧光素酶表达载体,经限制性内切酶酶切及测序得以鉴定,然后分别与pRL-CMV共转染人胚肾癌细胞株HEK293,检测细胞中荧光素酶的相对表达量。结果双酶切及测序结果证实成功构建重组质粒pmir Glo-T/pmir Glo-C,荧光素酶检测结果显示,当第3内含子区51103 bp位点为C时荧光素酶活性显著高于为T时（P〈0.01）。结论成功构建了pmir Glo-T/pmir Glo-C报告基因重组质粒,DRD2基因第3内含子区rs2075652位点由T突变为C后,可能增强基因转录活性,该结果为进一步研究DRD2基因内含子区的功能奠定了基础。