[Hepatitis B virus X protein upregulates the transcription activity of zinc finger transcription factor SNAI1].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) regulates the transcription activity of zinc finger transcription factor SNAI1, and to define the main regulation domain.


METHODS
A series of 5' truncated promoters of SNAI1 were amplified and subcloned into the pGL3-Basic vector to construct promoter luciferase report plasmids. The promoter luciferase report plasmids were cotransfected with HBx recombinant adenovirus and pRL-TK plasmid into human hepatocellular cancer cells of the line SMMC7721. Luciferase activity was measured, and relative luciferase activity was calculated.


RESULTS
Luciferase reporter plasmids containing 5' flanking deletion of SNAI1 promoter were successfully constructed. HBx obviously upregulated the activity of the SNAI1 promoter (-869 - +59), other than the SNAI1 promoter (-514 - +59) and SNAI1 promoter (-194 - +59).


CONCLUSIONS
HBx can stimulate the transcription of SNAI1, and the transcription regulation domain is located in the segment from -869 - -514 of the SNAI1 promoter.
Lu
Qian
Q
Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Yan
Jun
J
Xiong
Yan
Y
Cai
Lei
L
Li
Xiao-wu
XW
Dong
Jia-hong
JH
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D016335:Zinc Fingers
C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein