title: Synergistic induction of neurotensin gene transcription in PC12 cells parallels changes in AP-1 activity.
abstract: A consensus AP-1 site in the promoter of the rat neurotensin/neuromedin N (NT/N) gene is a critical regulatory element required for synergistic regulation by combinations of nerve growth factor (NGF), lithium, glucocorticoids, and adenylate cyclase activators. A rapid RNase protection assay was developed to examine the kinetics of NT/N gene activation and to determine whether activation requires newly synthesized proteins. Either NGF or lithium in combination with dexamethasone and forskolin transiently activated NT/N gene expression, but with distinct kinetics. Protein synthesis was not required for activation when NGF was used as the permissive inducer, but was required for the rapid down-regulation of the response. In contrast, lithium responses were attenuated in the absence of protein synthesis, consistent with a requirement for newly synthesized AP-1 complexes in activation. In all cases, increases in NT/N gene expression closely paralleled increases in AP-1 binding activity. Lithium in combination with other inducers caused delayed increases in both AP-1 binding activity and c-jun, c-fos and fra-1 gene expression. These results indicate that NGF and lithium exert their effects on NT/N gene expression through distinct pathways. The lithium pathway is active in neuronally-differentiated PC12 cells and could potentially be involved in the regulation of NT/N gene expression in the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dobner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000235:genetics*; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D005576:Colforsin; D009496:Neurotensin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D008094:Lithium; D000242:Cyclic AMP