The glucuronidase gene complex (Gus) has been extensively studied previously. In addition to the structural gene, it contains regulatory loci determining the systemic rate of enzyme synthesis (Gus-u), the tissue specific developmental profile of enzyme synthesis (Gus-t), and the inducibility of glucuronidase in response to androgens (Gus-r). Mutants in these loci are maintained in congenic lines with a standard genetic background and will be used in conjunction with recently obtained cDNA clones. They will be compared to determine the DNA sequence organization of different (Gus) haplotypes, look for changes in chromatin structure that accompany regulation, and determine the levels of regulation by mRNA and transcription rate assays. Additional experiments will look for the gene product of the trans-acting (Gus-t) locus, continue work on the peptide structure of glucuronidase, and characterize new mutants that will aid in analysing this system as a general model of mammalian gene regulation. The significance of these experiments lies partly in the effort to understand the basic mechanisms of gene regulation in mammals and hence, by extension, in man and partly in the specific information we expect to develop that will be applicable to understanding lysosomal enzymes as a class. We know very little about mammalian regulatory genes beyond the fact that they some how control mRNA levels. We are ignorant of their detailed organization, structure and mechanisms of action; and we hope to provide relevant information on these questions. Lysosomal enzymes as a class are very important physiologically and have become paradigms of human genetic defects. None has been sequenced yet and, with the very recent exception of glucuronidase, none has been cloned. The studies of glucuronidase are likely to facilitate research on this group of proteins as a class.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM031656-07
Application #
3279831
Study Section
Mammalian Genetics Study Section (MGN)
Project Start
1982-05-01
Project End
1989-06-30
Budget Start
1988-05-01
Budget End
1989-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Type
DUNS #
094878337
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
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Jaussi, R; Watson, G; Paigen, K (1992) Modulation of androgen-responsive gene expression by estrogen. Mol Cell Endocrinol 86:187-92
Voliva, C F; Paigen, K (1991) Isolation of the mouse cytochrome P450J (CYP2E1) cDNA and its reciprocal testosterone regulation in kidney and liver. J Mol Endocrinol 7:155-66
Watson, G; Paigen, K (1990) Progressive induction of mRNA synthesis for androgen-responsive genes in mouse kidney. Mol Cell Endocrinol 68:67-74
Bracey, L T; Paigen, K (1989) The N haplotype of the murine beta-glucuronidase gene is altered in both its systemic regulation and its response to androgen induction. Biochem Genet 27:1-15
Berger, F G; Watson, G (1989) Androgen-regulated gene expression. Annu Rev Physiol 51:51-65
Paigen, K (1989) Mammalian beta-glucuronidase: genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol 37:155-205
Elliger, S S; Watson, G (1989) Method for the determination of the specific activities of UTP and CTP in mouse kidney by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 495:249-55

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