A far upstream cis-element is required for Wilms' tumor-1 (WT1) gene expression in renal cell culture.

To identify novel cis-regulatory elements responsible for the tissue-restricted expression pattern of the Wilms' tumor-1 (WT1) gene, we mapped a total of 11 DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the 5'-flanking region and first intron of the human gene, six of which were specific for WT1 expressing cell lines. A 1.4-kilobase (kb) fragment from the mouse wt1 5'-flanking region contained cross-hybridizing sequence with significant homology to a region of DNase I hypersensitivity in the human WT1 gene which bound to nuclear matrix in human fetal kidney 293 cells.

Sp1 is a critical regulator of the Wilms' tumor-1 gene.

We performed deletion analysis of WT1-reporter constructs containing up to 24 kilobases of 5'-flanking and first intron WT1 sequence in stably transfected cultured cells as an unbiased approach to identify cis elements critical for WT1 transcription. Although not a tissue-specific element, a proximate 9-base pair CTC repeat accounted for approximately 80% of WT1 transcription in this assay. Enhancer activity of the element and mutated versions correlated completely with their ability to form a DNA-protein complex in gel shifts.

MAZ-dependent termination between closely spaced human complement genes.

The zinc finger protein MAZ, originally identified as a factor that binds to the c-myc P2 promoter, is associated with transcriptional termination. As shown in these studies, a termination sequence between the closely spaced human complement genes C2 and Factor B contains a protein binding site which interacts with three different proteins in vitro. Binding of one of these factors, MAZ, correlates with activity of the C2 termination sequence in vivo.

MAZ, a zinc finger protein, binds to c-MYC and C2 gene sequences regulating transcriptional initiation and termination.

ME1a1, a 16-base-pair nuclear factor binding site residing between the c-MYC P1 and P2 transcription initiation sites, is required for P2 activity. A cDNA encoding a 477-amino acid zinc finger protein designated MAZ (MYC-associated zinc finger protein) was cloned from a HeLa lambda gt11 library by screening with a concatamerized ME1a1 binding site probe. In addition to six potential zinc fingers of the Cys2His2 type, MAZ contains an amino-terminal proline-rich domain and several polyalanine tracts.

Reversible biotinylation of C1q with a cleavable biotinyl derivative. Application in C1q receptor (C1qR) purification.

Reversible biotinylation of human C1q without impairment of its physiologic functions has allowed us to develop a simple and rapid purification method for C1q receptor (C1qR). The biotinylating reagent, NHS-SS-biotin (Mr 606.7) contains an extended connector or cross-linker arm which limits steric hindrance and is bridged by a cleavable disulfide bond to the biotin component.

Nerve-related 3S acetylcholinesterase in murine thymus.

One form of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), 3S, has been identified in the thymus of normal mice as the predominant species. Histochemical studies show that the AChE is localized to nerves or to nerve-related tissues. The form isolated is composed of a salt and a detergent-sensitive fraction.