The long-term objective of this project is to understand at a biochemical level how transcription of the c-fos proto-oncogene is induced by extracellular signals. Transcription of the c-fos gene is rapidly induced in cells exposed to mitogenic and differentation-promoting factors. These factors generally act by binding to specific, high-affinity cell surface receptors. How this interaction transduces a signal into the cell and how this signal eventually travels to the nucleus are poorly understood. Induction of c-fos transcription is a primary response to such signals, requiring no new protein synthesis. Moreover, it is the earliest known nuclear response. Therefore, a biochemical analysis of the mechanism of induction of c-fos by extracellular signals may elucidate the general mechanisms through which cell growth is regulated by these signals and how these signalling mechanisms are perturbed in cancer cells. Previous work has identified a number of potential intracellular intermediates in the signaling pathways through which c-fos transcription is induced. The first specific aim of this project is to purify and characterize one such intermediate, the protein that binds to the short DNA sequence required for induction of c-fos transcription by serum growth factors. Antibodies will be raised to the purified protein and used to study its response in vivo to extracellular signals. The second specific aim is to develop an in vitro assay for the proposed transcriptional stimulatory activity of this protein. The strategy is to prepare transcription templates carrying polymerized protein binding sites substituted for the identified upstream elements in the c-fos promoter, with the goal of observing in vitro transcription dependent on these sequences and on exogenously added protein. The third specific aim is to use gene transfer experiments to identify additional cis-acting regulatory sequences in the c-fos gene required for response to experimentally distinct intracellular signalling pathways. If such sequences are identified, the proteins that bind to these sites will also be purified and used to develop in vitro transcription assays.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA045642-01
Application #
3188797
Study Section
Molecular Biology Study Section (MBY)
Project Start
1987-09-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1987-09-01
Budget End
1988-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Department
Type
DUNS #
065968786
City
Cold Spring Harbor
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11724
Vignais, M L; Gilman, M (1999) Distinct mechanisms of activation of Stat1 and Stat3 by platelet-derived growth factor receptor in a cell-free system. Mol Cell Biol 19:3727-35
Harrison, D A; McCoon, P E; Binari, R et al. (1998) Drosophila unpaired encodes a secreted protein that activates the JAK signaling pathway. Genes Dev 12:3252-63
Grueneberg, D A; Henry, R W; Brauer, A et al. (1997) A multifunctional DNA-binding protein that promotes the formation of serum response factor/homeodomain complexes: identity to TFII-I. Genes Dev 11:2482-93
Simon, K J; Grueneberg, D A; Gilman, M (1997) Protein and DNA contact surfaces that mediate the selective action of the Phox1 homeodomain at the c-fos serum response element. Mol Cell Biol 17:6653-62
Vignais, M L; Sadowski, H B; Watling, D et al. (1996) Platelet-derived growth factor induces phosphorylation of multiple JAK family kinases and STAT proteins. Mol Cell Biol 16:1759-69
Grueneberg, D A; Simon, K J; Brennan, K et al. (1995) Sequence-specific targeting of nuclear signal transduction pathways by homeodomain proteins. Mol Cell Biol 15:3318-26
Harrison, D A; Binari, R; Nahreini, T S et al. (1995) Activation of a Drosophila Janus kinase (JAK) causes hematopoietic neoplasia and developmental defects. EMBO J 14:2857-65
Natesan, S; Gilman, M (1995) YY1 facilitates the association of serum response factor with the c-fos serum response element. Mol Cell Biol 15:5975-82
Lee, G; Gilman, M (1994) Dual modes of control of c-fos mRNA induction by intracellular calcium in T cells. Mol Cell Biol 14:4579-87
Sadowski, H B; Shuai, K; Darnell Jr, J E et al. (1993) A common nuclear signal transduction pathway activated by growth factor and cytokine receptors. Science 261:1739-44

Showing the most recent 10 out of 21 publications