H4 Gene Transcription Research Articles

HAT1 Coordinates Histone Production and Acetylation via H4 Promoter Binding.

The energetic costs of duplicating chromatin are large and therefore likely depend on nutrient sensing checkpoints and metabolic inputs. By studying chromatin modifiers regulated by epithelial growth factor, we identified histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1) as an induced gene that enhances proliferation through coordinating histone production, acetylation, and glucose metabolism. In addition to its canonical role as a cytoplasmic histone H4 acetyltransferase, we isolated a HAT1-containing complex bound specifically at promoters of H4 genes. HAT1-dependent transcription of H4 genes required an acetate-sensitive promoter element. HAT1 expression was critical for S-phase progression and maintenance of H3 lysine 9 acetylation at proliferation-associated genes, including histone genes. Therefore, these data describe a feedforward circuit whereby HAT1 captures acetyl groups on nascent histones and drives H4 production by chromatin binding to support chromatin replication and acetylation. These findings have important implications for human disease, since high HAT1 levels associate with poor outcomes across multiple cancer types.

The Histone Gene Cell Cycle Regulator HiNF-P Is a Unique Zinc Finger Transcription Factor with a Novel Conserved Auxiliary DNA-Binding Motif

Accumulation of histone proteins is necessary for packaging of replicated DNA during the S phase of the cell cycle. Different mechanisms operate to regulate histone protein levels, and induction of human histone gene expression at the G1-S phase transition plays a critical role. The zinc finger HiNF-P and coactivator p220 (NPAT) proteins are key regulators of histone gene expression. Here, we describe a novel HiNF-P-specific conserved region (PSCR) located within the C-terminus that is present in HiNF-P homologues of all metazoan species that have been examined. The PSCR motif is required for activation of histone H4 gene transcription and contributes to DNA binding of HiNF-P. Thus, the PSCR module represents an auxiliary DNA-binding determinant that plays a critical role in mediating histone gene expression during the cell cycle and defines HiNF-P as a unique cell cycle regulatory member of the zinc finger transcription factor family.

Transcriptional activation of the histone nuclear factor P (HiNF-P) gene by HiNF-P and its cyclin E/CDK2 responsive co-factor p220 NPAT defines a novel autoregulatory loop at the G1/S phase transition

Histone nuclear factor P (HiNF-P) activates histone H4 gene transcription at the G1/S phase transition upon association with its cyclin E/CDK2 responsive co-factor p220 NPAT. Here we characterize the gene regulatory pathways that control the proliferation-related expression of HiNF-P. The HiNF-P locus contains a single TATA-less 0.6 kbp promoter with multiple phylogenetically conserved transcription factor recognition motifs. Transient reporter gene assays with HiNF-P promoter deletions show that there are at least three distinct activating regions (− 387/− 201, − 201/− 100 and − 100/− 1) that support maximal transcription. HiNF-P gene transcription is activated by SP1 through the − 100/− 1 domain and repressed by E2F1 through the − 201/− 100 domain. The multifunctional co-regulators CBP and p300 also stimulate HiNF-P gene transcription through the − 201/− 1 core promoter. Importantly, the HiNF-P promoter is activated by both HiNF-P and p220 NPAT. This autoregulatory activation is further enhanced by cyclin E and CDK2, while blocked by CDK inhibition (i.e., p57 KIP2 p27 KIP1, p21 CIP). Thus, the HiNF-P gene is a key non-histone target of p220 NPAT and HiNF-P. The dependence of HiNF-P gene transcription on cyclin E/CDK2/p220 NPAT signaling defines a novel feed-forward loop that may sustain HiNF-P expression in proliferating cells to support the cell cycle regulated synthesis of histone H4 proteins.

The interactome of the histone gene regulatory factor HiNF‐P suggests novel cell cycle related roles in transcriptional control and RNA processing

HiNF-P is a recently identified histone H4 subtype specific transcriptional regulator that associates with the conserved cell cycle control element in the proximal promoter regions of histone H4 genes. HiNF-P interacts with the global histone gene regulator and direct cyclin E/CDK2 substrate p220(NPAT) to potently upregulate histone H4 gene transcription at the G1/S phase transition in response to cyclin E/CDK2 signaling. To gain insight into the function of HiNF-P in a broader cellular context, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify its novel interacting proteins. In this study, we detected 67 candidate HiNF-P interacting proteins of varying cellular functions. We have identified multiple RNA associated proteins, including the splicing co-factor SRm300. HiNF-P and SRm300 interact in yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation, and co-immunofluorescence assays. Our screen also identified several gene regulators that associate with HiNF-P including THAP7. HiNF-P and THAP7 interact in mammalian cells and THAP7 abrogates HiNF-P/p220 mediated activation of histone H4 gene transcription, consistent with its known role as a transcriptional repressor. Finally, we identified several proliferation related proteins including Ki-67 and X transactivated protein 2 (XTP2) which may be functioning with HiNF-P in cell cycle regulation. The HiNF-P interactome indicates that HiNF-P is a multifunctional gene regulator with a large functional network and roles beyond cell cycle-dependent histone gene regulation.

HiNF‐P is a bifunctional regulator of cell cycle controlled histone H4 gene transcription

Cell cycle progression beyond the G1/S phase transition requires the activation of a transcription complex containing histone nuclear factor P (HiNF-P) and nuclear protein mapped to ataxia telangiectasia (p220(NPAT)) in response to cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/cyclin E signaling. We show here that the potent co-activating properties of HiNF-P/p220(NPAT) on the histone H4 gene promoter, which are evident in the majority of human cell types, are sporadically neutralized in distinct somatic cell lines. In cells where HiNF-P and p220(NPAT) do not activate the H4 gene promoter, HiNF-P instead represses transcription. Our data suggest that the cell type specific expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory (CKI) protein p57(KIP2) inhibits the HiNF-P dependent activation of the histone H4 promoter. We propose that, analogous to E2F proteins and other cell cycle regulatory proteins, HiNF-P is a bifunctional transcriptional regulator that can activate or repress cell cycle controlled genes depending on the cellular context.

Identification of HiNF-P, a key activator of cell cycle-controlled histone H4 genes at the onset of S phase.

At the G(1)/S phase cell cycle transition, multiple histone genes are expressed to ensure that newly synthesized DNA is immediately packaged as chromatin. Here we have purified and functionally characterized the critical transcription factor HiNF-P, which is required for E2F-independent activation of the histone H4 multigene family. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and ligation-mediated PCR-assisted genomic sequencing, we show that HiNF-P interacts with conserved H4 cell cycle regulatory sequences in vivo. Antisense inhibition of HiNF-P reduces endogenous histone H4 gene expression. Furthermore, we find that HiNF-P utilizes NPAT/p220, a substrate of the cyclin E/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) kinase complex, as a key coactivator to enhance histone H4 gene transcription. The biological role of HiNF-P is reflected by impeded cell cycle progression into S phase upon antisense-mediated reduction of HiNF-P levels. Our results establish that HiNF-P is the ultimate link in a linear signaling pathway that is initiated with the growth factor-dependent induction of cyclin E/CDK2 kinase activity at the restriction point and culminates in the activation of histone H4 genes through HiNF-P at the G(1)/S phase transition.

Maintenance of open chromatin and selective genomic occupancy at the cell cycle-regulated histone H4 promoter during differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells.

During the shutdown of proliferation and onset of differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, expression of the cell cycle-dependent histone genes is downregulated at the level of transcription. To address the mechanism by which this regulation occurs, we examined the chromatin structure of the histone H4/n (FO108, H4FN) gene locus. Micrococcal nuclease, DNase I, and restriction enzymes show similar cleavage sites and levels of sensitivity at the H4/n locus in both proliferating and differentiated HL-60 cells. In contrast, differentiation-related activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(cip1/WAF1) gene is accompanied by increased nuclease hypersensitivity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays of the H4/n gene reveal that acetylated histones H3 and H4 are maintained at the same levels in proliferating and postproliferative cells. Thus, the chromatin of the H4/n locus remains in an open state even after transcription ceases. Using ligation-mediated PCR to visualize genomic DNase I footprints at single-nucleotide resolution, we find that protein occupancy at the site II cell cycle element is selectively diminished in differentiated cells while the site I element remains occupied. Decreased occupancy of site II is reflected by loss of the site II binding protein HiNF-P. We conclude that H4 gene transcription during differentiation is downregulated by modulating protein interaction at the site II cell cycle element and that retention of an open chromatin conformation may be associated with site I occupancy.

Purification and functional analysis of a novel leucine-zipper/nucleotide-fold protein, BZAP45, stimulating cell cycle regulated histone H4 gene transcription.

Regulation of histone gene transcription at the G1/S phase transition via the Site II cell cycle control element is distinct from E2F-dependent mechanisms operative at the growth factor-related restriction point. E2F-independent activation of histone H4 gene expression combines contributions of several promoter factors, including HiNF-M/IRF2 and the HiNF-D/CDP-cut complex which contains pRB, CDK1, and cyclin A as non-DNA binding subunits. Mutational analyses suggest additional rate-limiting factors for Site II function. Using sequence-specific Site II DNA affinity chromatography, we identified a 45 kDa protein (KIAA0005 or BZAP45) that is embryonically expressed and phylogenetically conserved. Based on amino acid sequence analysis, BZAP45 contains a unique decapeptide that is part of a putative leucine-zipper protein with a nucleotide (ATP or GTP) binding fold. Bacterial expression of a full-length cDNA produces a 45 kDa protein. Binding studies reveal that highly purified BZAP45 does not interact with Site II, suggesting that BZAP45 function may require partner proteins. Forced expression of BZAP45 strongly stimulates H4 promoter (nt -215 to -1)/CAT reporter gene activity. Deletion analyses and point mutations indicate that BZAP45 enhances H4 gene transcription through Site II. Thus, BZAP45 is a novel regulatory factor that contributes to transcriptional control at the G1/S phase transition.

The Cell Cycle Control Element of Histone H4 Gene Transcription Is Maximally Responsive to Interferon Regulatory Factor Pairs IRF-1/IRF-3 and IRF-1/IRF-7

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are transcriptional mediators of interferon-responsive signaling pathways that are involved in antiviral defense, immune response, and cell growth regulation. To investigate the role of IRF proteins in the regulation of histone H4 gene transcription, we compared the transcriptional contributions of IRF-1, IRF-2, IRF-3, and IRF-7 using transient transfection assays with H4 promoter/luciferase (Luc) reporter genes. These IRF proteins up-regulate reporter gene expression but IRF-1, IRF-3, and IRF-7 are more potent activators of the H4 promoter than IRF-2. Forced expression of different IRF combinations reveals that IRF-2 reduces IRF-1 or IRF-3 dependent activation, but does not affect IRF-7 function. Thus, IRF-2 may have a dual function in histone H4 gene transcription by acting as a weak activator at low dosage and a competitive inhibitor of other strongly activating IRFs at high levels. IRF-1/IRF-3 and IRF-1/IRF-7 pairs each mediate the highest levels of site II-dependent promoter activity and can up-regulate transcription by 120-150-fold. We also find that interferon gamma up-regulates IRF-1 and site II-dependent promoter activity. This up-regulation is not observed when the IRF site is mutated or if cells are preloaded with IRF-1. Our results indicate that IRF-1, IRF-2, IRF-3, and IRF-7 can all regulate histone H4 gene expression. The pairwise utilization of distinct IRF factors provides a flexible transcriptional mechanism for integration of diverse growth-related signaling pathways.

Involvement of histone H4 gene transcription factor 1 in downregulation of vimentin gene expression during skeletal muscle differentiation

Upon in vitro myogenesis, the intermediate filament protein vimentin is replaced by desmin, the switch in gene expression occurring essentially at the transcriptional level. Trying to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of this genetic control, we show here that the vimentin promoter is specifically recognized and activated by a protein most probably identical to H4TF-1, and that this factor is present in proliferating myoblasts but disappears upon fusion of these cells into multinucleated myotubes. Our results suggest that H4TF-1 is a differentiation stage-specific factor involved in the downregulation of vimentin gene expression during myogenesis.

Use of a promoterless Renilla luciferase vector as an internal control plasmid for transient co-transfection assays of Ras-mediated transcription activation.

Use of a promoterless Renilla luciferase vector as an internal control plasmid for transient co-transfection assays of Ras-mediated transcription activation.

The homeodomain transcription factor CDP/cut interacts with the cell cycle regulatory element of histone H4 genes packaged into nucleosomes.

The homeodomain transcription factor CDP/cut contains four separate DNA binding domains and interacts with large segments of DNA. Thus, CDP/cut has the potential to function as an architectural protein and perhaps to support modifications in chromatin structure and nucleosomal organization. To begin to examine the ability of CDP/cut to interact with chromatin, we analyzed binding of CDP/cut to the histone H4 gene promoter (-90 to +75) reconstituted into nucleosome cores. The -90 to +75 region encompasses the cell cycle regulatory element (Site II) that controls histone H4 gene transcription, a CDP/cut binding site and a nuclease hypersensitive region. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting experiments, we show that CDP/cut specifically interacts with its recognition motif in a nucleosomal context without displacing the nucleosome core. The competency of CDP/cut to interact with nucleosomes suggests that this transcription factor may facilitate chromatin remodeling in response to cell cycle regulatory and/or developmental cues.

HiNF-D (CDP-cut/CDC2/cyclin A/pRB-complex) influences the timing of IRF-2-dependent cell cycle activation of human histone H4 gene transcription at the G1/S phase transition.

Cell cycle control of histone H4 gene transcription is mediated by the multipartite promoter domain H4-Site II, which supports transcriptional activation at the G1/S phase transition and modulates basal H4 gene transcription. Proliferation-specific transcription is determined by the integrated activities of three distinct promoter factors interacting with H4-Site II: the interferon regulatory factor IRF-2 (synonymous with HiNF-M), HiNF-D (a complex between the homeodomain protein CDP-cut and the cell cycle mediators CDC2, cyclin A and pRB), as well as HiNF-P/H4TF-2. However, the contribution of HiNF-D to the enhancement and/or suppression of H4 gene transcription at specific cell cycle stages remains to be established. We used a panel of synchronized HeLa S3 cell lines containing stably integrated H4 promoter/CAT reporter gene constructs with mutations in H4-Site II. The temporal regulation of CAT mRNA accumulation under the control of the H4 promoter was analyzed by RNase protection analysis. Our main finding is that mutation of the HiNF-D/CDP-cut binding site alters the timing of histone gene activation during the cell cycle. Furthermore, our data indicate that HiNF-P/H4TF-2 may functionally compensate for HiNF-M/IRF-2 at Site II to regulate histone H4 gene transcription in HeLa S3 cervical carcinoma cells during early S phase. We postulate that HiNF-D (CDP-cut/cyclin A/CDC2/pRB containing complex) promotes HiNF-M/IRF-2 (and/or HiNF-P/H4TF-2) dependent histone H4 gene activation at the G1/S phase transition and attenuates H4 gene transcription at later cell cycle stages. The mechanistic division in the gene regulatory functions of the three H4-Site II binding proteins may ensure that histone H4 gene expression is stringently coupled with the onset of S phase in response to growth factor/cytokine-induced cell cycle progression.

HiNF‐D (CDP‐cut/CDC2/cyclin A/pRB‐complex) influences the timing of IRF‐2‐dependent cell cycle activation of human histone H4 gene transcription at the G1/S phase transition

Cell cycle control of histone H4 gene transcription is mediated by the multipartite promoter domain H4-Site II, which supports transcriptional activation at the G1/S phase transition and modulates basal H4 gene transcription. Proliferation-specific transcription is determined by the integrated activities of three distinct promoter factors interacting with H4-Site II: the interferon regulatory factor IRF-2 (synonymous with HiNF-M), HiNF-D (a complex between the homeodomain protein CDP-cut and the cell cycle mediators CDC2, cyclin A and pRB), as well as HiNF-P/H4TF-2. However, the contribution of HiNF-D to the enhancement and/or suppression of H4 gene transcription at specific cell cycle stages remains to be established. We used a panel of synchronized HeLa S3 cell lines containing stably integrated H4 promoter/CAT reporter gene constructs with mutations in H4-Site II. The temporal regulation of CAT mRNA accumulation under the control of the H4 promoter was analyzed by RNase protection analysis. Our main finding is that mutation of the HiNF-D/CDP-cut binding site alters the timing of histone gene activation during the cell cycle. Furthermore, our data indicate that HiNF-P/H4TF-2 may functionally compensate for HiNF-M/IRF-2 at Site II to regulate histone H4 gene transcription in HeLa S3 cervical carcinoma cells during early S phase. We postulate that HiNF-D (CDP-cut/cyclin A/CDC2/pRB containing complex) promotes HiNF-M/IRF-2 (and/or HiNF-P/H4TF-2) dependent histone H4 gene activation at the G1/S phase transition and attenuates H4 gene transcription at later cell cycle stages. The mechanistic division in the gene regulatory functions of the three H4-Site II binding proteins may ensure that histone H4 gene expression is stringently coupled with the onset of S phase in response to growth factor/cytokine-induced cell cycle progression. J. Cell. Physiol. 177:453–464, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The integrated activities of IRF-2 (HiNF-M), CDP/cut (HiNF-D) and H4TF-2 (HiNF-P) regulate transcription of a cell cycle controlled human histone H4 gene: mechanistic differences between distinct H4 genes.

Maximal transcription of a prototypical cell cycle controlled histone H4 gene requires a proliferation-specific in vivo genomic protein/DNA interaction element, Site II. Three sequence-specific transcription factors interact with overlapping recognition motifs within Site II: interferon regulatory factor IRF-2 (HiNF-M), the putative H4 subtype-specific protein H4TF-2 (HiNF-P), and HiNF-D which represents a complex of the homeodomain protein CDP/cut, CDC2, cyclin A and pRB. However, natural sequence variation in the Site II sequences of different human H4 genes abolishes binding of specific trans-acting factors; the functional consequences of these variations have not been investigated. To address the precise contribution of H4 promoter factors to the level of H4 gene transcription, we performed a systematic mutational analysis of Site II transcriptional motifs. These mutants were tested for ability to bind each of the Site II cognate proteins, and subsequently evaluated for ability to confer H4 transcriptional activity using chimeric H4 promoter/CAT fusion constructs in different cell types. We also analyzed the effect of over-expressing IRF-2 on CAT reporter gene expression driven by mutant H4 promoters and assessed H4 transcriptional control in cells nullizygous for IRF-1 and IRF-2. Our results show that the recognition sequence for IRF-2 (HiNF-M) is the dominant component of Site II and modulates H4 gene transcription levels by 3 fold. However, the overlapping recognition sequences for IRF-2 (HiNF-M), H4TF-2 (HiNF-P) and CDP/cut (HiNF-D) together modulate H4 gene transcription levels by at least an order of magnitude. Thus, maximal activation of H4 gene transcription during the cell cycle in vivo requires the integrated activities of multiple transcription factors at Site II. We postulate that the composite organization of Site II supports responsiveness to multiple signalling pathways modulating the activities of H4 gene transcription factors during the cell cycle. Variations in Site II sequences among different H4 genes may accommodate differential regulation of H4 gene expression in cells and tissues with unique phenotypic properties.

ATF1 and CREB trans-activate a cell cycle regulated histone H4 gene at a distal nuclear matrix associated promoter element.

Proteins of the ATF/CREB class of transcription factors stimulate gene expression of several cell growth-related genes through protein kinase A-related cAMP response elements. The promoter activity of cell cycle regulated histone H4 genes is regulated by at least four principal cis-acting elements which mediate G1/S phase control and/or enhancement of transcription during the cell cycle. Using protein-DNA interaction assays we show that the H4 promoter contains two ATF/CREB recognition motifs which interact with CREB, ATF1, and ATF2 but not with ATF4/CREB2. One ATF/CRE motif is located in the distal promoter at the nuclear matrix-associated Site IV, and the second motif is present in the proximal promoter at Site I. Both ATF/CRE motifs overlap binding sequences for the multifunctional YY1 transcription factor, which has previously been shown to be nuclear matrix associated. Subnuclear fractionation reveals that there are two ATF1 isoforms which appear to differ with respect to DNA binding activity and partition selectively between nuclear matrix and nonmatrix compartments, consistent with the role of the nuclear matrix in regulating gene expression. Site-directed mutational studies demonstrate that Site I and Site IV together support ATF1- and CREB-induced trans-activation of the H4 promoter. Thus, our data establish that ATF/CREB factors functionally modulate histone H4 gene transcription at distal and proximal promoter elements.

Cytokine induction of proliferation and expression of CDC2 and cyclin A in FDC-P1 myeloid hematopoietic progenitor cells: regulation of ubiquitous and cell cycle-dependent histone gene transcription factors.

To evaluate transcriptional mechanisms during cytokine induction of myeloid progenitor cell proliferation, we examined the expression and activity of transcription factors that control cell cycle-dependent histone genes in interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent FDC-P1 cells. Histone genes are transcriptionally upregulated in response to a series of cellular regulatory signals that mediate competency for cell cycle progression of the G1/S-phase transition. We therefore focused on factors that are functionally related to activity of the principal cell cycle regulatory element of the histone H4 promoter: CDC2, cyclin A, as well as RB- and IRF-related proteins. Comparisons were made with activities of ubiquitous transcription factors that influence a broad spectrum of promoters independent of proliferation or expression of tissue-specific phenotypic properties. Northern blot analysis indicates that cellular levels of cyclin A and CDC2 mRNAs increase when DNA synthesis and H4 gene expression are initiated, supporting involvement in cell cycle progression. Using gel-shift assays, incorporating factor-specific antibody and oligonucleotide competition controls, we define three sequential period following cytokine stimulation of FDC-P1 cells when selective upregulation of a subset of transcription factors is observed. In the initial period, the levels of SP1 and HiNF-P are moderately elevated; ATF, AP-1, and HiNF-M/IRF-2 are maximal during the second period; while E2F and HiNF-D, which contain cyclin A as a component, predominate during the third period, coinciding with maximal H4 gene expression and DNA synthesis. Differential regulation of H4 gene transcription factors following growth stimulation is consistent with a principal role of histone gene promoter elements in integrating cues from multiple signaling pathways that control cell cycle induction and progression. Regulation of transcription factors controlling histone gene promoter activity within the context of a staged cascade of responsiveness to cyclins and other physiological mediators of proliferation in FDC-P1 cells provides a paradigm for experimentally addressing interdependent cell cycle and cell growth parameters that are operative in hematopoietic stem cells.

Functional Role for Sp1 in the Transcriptional Amplification of a Cell Cycle Regulated Histone H4 Gene

The promoter of the cell cycle regulated histone FO108 H4 gene is mediated by two in vivo protein/DNA interaction domains, sites I and II. We have shown previously that site II mediates the cell cycle controlled enhancement of H4 gene transcription at the G1/S phase boundary. Here we show that site I, an element containing both G-rich and ATF-like consensus sequences, confers maximal levels of transcription in proliferating cells. By the combined application of gel shift assays with site-directed mutagenesis, DNase I footprinting, oligonucleotide competition, in vitro expression of recombinant proteins, and specific antibody supershift studies, we demonstrate that the proximal G-rich sequence within site I interacts with the transcription factor Sp1, while the distal portion of site I interacts with members of the ATF family of proteins, including ATF-1. In vitro transcription studies as well as expression assays of transiently and stably transfected genes in HeLa cells reveal that the deletion of site I causes a dramatic decrease in expression. Mutation of the Sp1 element, which abolishes Sp1 binding, results in a 6-10-fold reduction in reporter activity. In addition, overexpression of Sp1 in Sp1-deficient cells results in the dramatic activation of the histone promoter. In contrast, mutation of the asymmetric ATF binding site, located distally within site I, has a more limited effect upon expression. Interestingly, the contribution of the Sp1 site to maximal transcription was cell type dependent. Thus, we demonstrate that the Sp1 binding site of the site I histone H4 promoter in particular is critical for maximal expression in living cells and postulate that this site may act to amplify the cell cycle response.

Histone H4 proximal promoter mediates a complex transcriptional response during differentiation of 3T3L1 adipocytes

We have investigated the promoter element(s) required by the cell cycle regulated FO108 human histone H4 gene for control of gene expression during adipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Stable 3T3L1 cell lines were established that express fusion genes in which the histone H4 promoter is joined to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) as a reporter gene. Expression of the H4CAT fusion genes was monitored in proliferating and confluent 3T3L1 preadipocytes and in differentiating 3T3L1 adipocytes. The results indicate that the H4 cell cycle element (CCE), which mediates S phase-specific stimulation of H4 gene transcription, is not required for transcriptional regulation during differentiation. Instead, a minimal H4 promoter (nucleotides -46 to -11) is sufficient to mediate the complex transcriptional response of H4 gene expression observed during the process of adipocyte differentiation of 3T3L1 cells. In addition, the data suggest that down-regulation of histone gene expression during cellular differentiation may be mediated by passive inactivation of the promoter due to loss of positive regulatory factor(s).

Structural and functional characterization of two wheat histone H2B promoters.

Two wheat histone H2B genes (TH123 and TH153) were isolated. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that some characteristic sequence motifs were conserved in both the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions. A canonical TATA box and several CCAAT sequences were present in the presumed promoter regions. Motifs similar or identical to the hexamer (ACGTCA) and octamer (CGCGGATC) motifs that are positive cis-acting elements of the wheat H3 (TH012) promoter were also observed in both the H2B promoters. A gel mobility shift assay indicated that the hexamer and hexamer-like motifs bound the wheat bZIP proteins HBP-1a and/or HBP-1b in vitro. A novel sequence motif, (A/T)(G/A)AAAT(A/G), was found downstream of a translational stop codon as observed in several plant histone H2B cDNAs. Promoter activity was analyzed with H2B promoter-GUS fusion genes in the transient system using tobacco protoplasts. Studies of the promoter function in transgenic tobacco plants showed that the H2B promoters were preferentially active in meristematic tissues. Taken together, our data indicate that the H2B genes are regulated, in part, by the same mechanism as found in H3 and H4 gene transcription.