IL-2 gene transcription is affected by several nuclear proteins. We asked whether dexamethasone (Dex) and cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibit IL-2 gene transcription by interfering with the activity of nuclear proteins that bind to the IL-2 promoter. Nuclear extracts from primary human T lymphocytes were analyzed by electrophoretic DNA mobility shift assays. Both Dex and CsA inhibited the binding of tr...

The differentiation of osteoblasts from mesenchymal precursors requires a series of cell fate decisions controlled by a hierarchy of transcription factors. Among these are RUNX2, Osterix (OSX), ATF4, and a large number of nuclear coregulators. During bone development, initial RUNX2 expression coincides with the formation of mesenchymal condensations well before the branching of chondrogenic and...

Understanding organisms from a systems perspective is essential for predicting cellular behaviour as well as designing gene-metabolic circuits for novel functions. The structure, dynamics and interactions of cellular networks are all vital components of systems biology. To facilitate investigation of these aspects, we have developed an integrative technique called network component analysis, wh...

Proteins of the SWI/SNF family disrupt chromatin, hydrolysing ATP in the process. How they do so is still mysterious, but recent studies indicate that they can be targeted to the nuclear infrastructure and to particular genes, where they cooperate with other enzymes to activate or repress transcription.

Our understanding of metabolism is undergoing a dramatic shift. Indeed, the efforts made towards elucidating the mechanisms controlling the major regulatory pathways are now being rewarded. At the molecular level, the crucial role of transcription factors is particularly well-illustrated by the link between alterations of their functions and the occurrence of major metabolic diseases. In additi...

Biochemical adaptation is one of the basic functions that are widely implemented in biological systems for a variety of purposes such as signal sensing, stress response and homeostasis. The adaptation time scales span from milliseconds to days, involving different regulatory machineries in different processes. The adaptive networks with enzymatic regulation (ERNs) have been investigated in deta...

The molecular mechanism involved in altered regulation of the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic gluconeogenesis, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), during endotoxemia is not completely understood. We examined, therefore, the effect of a nonlethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin on PEPCK gene expression in fasted rats. 5 h after endotoxin treatment, the PEPCK transcription rate and the ...

Transcription factors are often targeted for rapid degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Recent evidence points to a correlation between the potency and instability of transcriptional activators, suggesting a possible direct role for ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in transcriptional activation.

Inactivation of p53 is critical for the formation of most tumors. Illumination of the key function(s) of p53 protein in protecting cells from becoming cancerous is therefore a worthy goal. Arguably p53's most important function is to act as a transcription factor that directly regulates perhaps several hundred of the cell's RNA polymerase II (RNAP II)-transcribed genes, and indirectly regulates...