title: Localization and functional analysis of DNase-I-hypersensitive sites in the human c-sis/PDGF-B gene transcription unit and its flanking regions.
abstract: We studied the regulation of the expression of the human c-sis/PDGF-B gene in the following panel of cell lines: K562 cells, in which expression is inducible by phorbol esters; cytotrophoblast-derived cell lines JEG-3 and JAR; carcinoma-derived cell lines PC3, T24 and HeLa, which show extensive differences in c-sis mRNA content; dermal fibroblasts, which do not express the gene. We demonstrate that the wide variety of levels of c-sis mRNA in these cells is mainly determined at the transcription level. Extensive gene rearrangements or amplifications, or significant differences in the stability of the c-sis transcript could not be found. In fibroblasts and placenta cell lines, inaccessibility of the c-sis promoter, rather than the absence of transcription factors that activate it, inhibits expression of the endogenous gene. Examination of the chromatin structure of the transcription unit and immediate flanking regions revealed several cell-type-specific DNase-I-hypersensitivity (DH) sites. Functional analysis of genomic fragments harbouring one or more DH sites showed the presence of negative regulatory elements within intron 1, and of an activating element downstream of the gene. A DH site, located immediately downstream of the promoter in dermal fibroblasts, may regulate accessibility of the promoter by means of specific nucleosome phasing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dirks
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerritsma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Onnekink
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Bloemers
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015246:Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism*; D005091:Exons; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003609:Dactinomycin; D015246:Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I