| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥1,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000)
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| Research Abstract |
1. I-dentification of the nuclear DNA-binding proteins involving the specific expression of alpha human folate receptor (hFR) gene : we have identified two promoters which are independently active in a tissue-specific manner in regulation of the alpha hFR gene expression. To further characterize the regulation of these promoters, the transcriptional elements involved in the promoter located upstream of exon 1 were investigated in the transport-defective methotrexate-resistant KB cells (02) by sequence analysis of the promoter, gel shift assays, nuclear run-on assays, and RNase protection assays. Compared to wtKB cells grown in physiologic concentrations of folate, we demonstrate that (1) the 02 cells expressed 2% of a hFR protein and its mRNA ; (2) the transcription rate of a hFR gene was reduced 7 fold in the 02 cells relative to wtKB cells ; (3) the nuclear protein(s) that forms a complex with a -352/-461 (109 bp) DNA fragment located approximately 400 bp upstream of the transcription start site was demonstrated in wtKB cells and was significantly reduced in the C2 cells ; (4) based on competitive gel shift assays using several synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding - 426/-461 DNA sequences, a -4391-452 DNA fragment contained the specific binding sites of this nuclear protein(s). This sequence contains potential binding sites of CCAAT-enhancer binding protein beta, GATA-2, and Ets-1. The supershift assays using antibodies against these proteins will be performed to characterize the factor(s) to this region.
2. Tissue specific expression of the nuclear factor(s) : the binding of nuclear protein(s) to this DNAfragment was also decreased in MCF-7, MDCK, ACHN, SN12C, and TK- 10 celllines in which expression of the alpha hFR is not detectable. These results suggest that this factor may be involved in the tissue-specific expression of alpha hFR gene and in the modulation of receptor expression in antifolate resistant KB cells.
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