The focus of this project is the characterization of a new transcription factor, PU.l which is expressed in macrophages and B cells. The DNA binding site for PU.l is a purine rich sequence, 5' -GAGGAA-3' (PU box). PU.l is a transcriptional activator that may be an important regulator of gene expression in macrophages and B cells. The carboxy terminal amino acid sequence of PU.1 has significant identity (41 percent) with a region of amino acid sequence in the ets oncogene family. This region of identity contains the DNA binding domain of PU.l and is probably the DNA binding domain of ets proteins. The first specific aim is to characterize the DNA binding domain and putative activation domain of PU.l. By deletion analysis and in vitro mutagenesis. These regions will be defined in detail. The information from this study is hoped to provide a better understanding of how the PU.l protein interacts with DNA and is able to activate transcription. The second specific aim is to study the function of PU.l. Experiments have been designed to isolate genes that may be regulated by PU.l. A number of gene promoters which contain PU.l binding sites will be evaluated and a determination will be made as to whether PU.l binding site is necessary for transcription. Other approaches to identify the function of PU.l include the over-expression of sense and antisense constructions of PU.l. The modulation of PU.l may have dramatic effects on cell growth or activation. The level of PU.l protein will be examined in macrophages and B cells treated with cytokines or other activating agents. These results may link PU.l with specific functions of macrophages and B cells. The long-term objectives of this project are to gain a better understanding of transcriptional regulation in the immune system. The cell type specific transcription factor PU.l may provide an opportunity to achieve this objective.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI030656-02
Application #
3145737
Study Section
Experimental Immunology Study Section (EI)
Project Start
1990-12-01
Project End
1993-11-30
Budget Start
1991-12-01
Budget End
1992-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
009214214
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Martin, Paul; D'Souza, Deana; Martin, Julie et al. (2003) Wound healing in the PU.1 null mouse--tissue repair is not dependent on inflammatory cells. Curr Biol 13:1122-8
Henkel, Gregory W; McKercher, Scott R; Maki, Richard A (2002) Identification of three genes up-regulated in PU.1 rescued monocytic precursor cells. Int Immunol 14:723-32
Li, Y; Okuno, Y; Zhang, P et al. (2001) Regulation of the PU.1 gene by distal elements. Blood 98:2958-65
Mezey, E; Chandross, K J; Harta, G et al. (2000) Turning blood into brain: cells bearing neuronal antigens generated in vivo from bone marrow. Science 290:1779-82
Pio, F; Assa-Munt, N; Yguerabide, J et al. (1999) Mutants of ETS domain PU.1 and GGAA/T recognition: free energies and kinetics. Protein Sci 8:2098-109
Henkel, G W; McKercher, S R; Leenen, P J et al. (1999) Commitment to the monocytic lineage occurs in the absence of the transcription factor PU.1. Blood 93:2849-58
Anderson, K L; Smith, K A; Conners, K et al. (1998) Myeloid development is selectively disrupted in PU.1 null mice. Blood 91:3702-10
Anderson, K L; Smith, K A; Pio, F et al. (1998) Neutrophils deficient in PU.1 do not terminally differentiate or become functionally competent. Blood 92:1576-85
Iwama, A; Zhang, P; Darlington, G J et al. (1998) Use of RDA analysis of knockout mice to identify myeloid genes regulated in vivo by PU.1 and C/EBPalpha. Nucleic Acids Res 26:3034-43
McKercher, S R; Torbett, B E; Anderson, K L et al. (1996) Targeted disruption of the PU.1 gene results in multiple hematopoietic abnormalities. EMBO J 15:5647-58

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