Cycloheximide inhibits S-14 gene transcription and abolishes DNase I hypersensitive S-14 sites in the livers of euthyroid but not hypothyroid rats.
Earlier studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that cycloheximide administration to hypothyroid rats inhibited the induction of the hepatic mRNA-S14 by T3. These results suggested a role of short-lived proteins in the hormonal regulation of this gene. To define the possible mechanism of the cycloheximide effect, we examined the influence of cycloheximide on the in vitro transcription rate of the gene and its chromatin structure. Forty-five minutes after injection of cycloheximide to euthyroid rats, the in vitro transcriptional rate fell by 60% and this effect persisted for 4 h. In the same euthyroid rats, cycloheximide caused the disappearance of all four DNase I-hypersensitive sites situated in the 5'-flanking region of the gene. However, cycloheximide given to hypothyroid rats affected neither the basal transcription rate nor the chromatin structure. When cycloheximide was administered 30 min after an acute injection of T3 (200 micrograms/100 g BW) to hypothyroid animals, it completely blocked the hormone induction of the transcriptional rate. These results suggest that one or more labile proteins are required for maintenance of S14 chromatin structure in a configuration which permits hormonal regulation of gene expression. The ability of cycloheximide to block mRNA-S14 induction by T3 appears to be mediated at least in part by an inhibition of T3-stimulated transcription.
Wong
N C
NC
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Schwartz
H L
HL
Santos
A
A
Oppenheimer
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015253:Deoxyribonucleases, Type I Site-Specific / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000235:genetics*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
D002843:Chromatin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D015253:Deoxyribonucleases, Type I Site-Specific