title: Activation of multiple transcription factors and fos and jun gene family expression in cells exposed to a single electric pulse.
abstract: We report that exposure of cells to a single electric pulse (250-1250 V/cm) results in the rapid and persistent activation of the DNA binding activities of a number of transcription factors, including AP-1, SP1, AP-2, and NF-kappa B, and the transient expression of select members of the fos and jun gene families. Induction of gene expression occurs primarily at the level of transcription, although c-jun expression also appears to be regulated posttranscriptionally. Interestingly, maximal induction of gene expression is detected at electrical field strengths that do not result in pore formation in the plasma membrane and that do not significantly affect cell viability. Exposure of cells to electric pulses does not result in the activation of HSF1 DNA binding activity, or the induction of hsp70 or p53 protein synthesis, indicating that the induction of fos and jun gene expression is not coincident with protein or DNA damage. The results of these studies suggest that electrical pulses may represent a novel mechanism for inducing the activities of multiple transcription factors and the expression of select members of the fos and jun gene families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pazmany
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Gollnick
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Tomasi
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D018274:Electroporation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000502:physiology*; D016758:Genes, jun / Q000502:physiology*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D003513:Cycloheximide