Chicken vigilin gene: A distinctive pattern of hypersensitive sites is characteristic for its transcriptional activity

Arnold Grünweller*, Werner G. Purschke, Sebastian Kügler, Charli Kruse, Peter K. Müller

*Corresponding author for this work
6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vigilin, a multidomain hn-ribonucleo-K-homologous protein, is part of a ribonucleoprotein complex with cognate tRNA and is found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In an approach to identify genomic regions involved in regulation of the chicken vigilin gene, we carried out transfection studies with a reporter gene in suitable chicken cells. After including a distantly positioned 5'-sequence in the construct, we observed a 10.5-fold increase in luciferase (EC 1.13.12.7) expression compared with basal promoter activity. Accordingly, chromatin analysis of freshly isolated embryonic tendon fibroblasts with high levels of vigilin mRNA expression shows a DNase-I-hypersensitive site (DHS1) localized 2.2 kb upstream of the transcriptional start site. Similarly, phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes with a 4-fold elevated expression of vigilin mRNA compared with resting lymphocytes also exhibited this unique DHS, having switched from that found at 3.3 kb (DHS2) in resting lymphocytes. Furthermore, using gel-retardation experiments with DNA representing either DHS1 or DHS2, a specific interaction with chicken nuclear extracts was seen.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiochemical Journal
Volume326
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)601-607
Number of pages7
ISSN0264-6021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.09.1997

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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