The polypyrimidine/polypurine motif in the mouse mu opioid receptor gene promoter is a supercoiling-regulatory element

Chung youl Choe, Hogyoung Kim, Jinping Dong, Andre J. van Wijnen, Ping-Yee Law, Horace H Loh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mu opioid receptor (MOR) is the principle molecular target of opioid analgesics. The polypyrimidine/polypurine (PPy/u) motif enhances the activity of the MOR gene promoter by adopting a non-B DNA conformation. Here, we report that the PPy/u motif regulates the processivity of torsional stress, which is important for endogenous MOR gene expression. Analysis by topoisomerase assays, S1 nuclease digests, and atomic force microscopy showed that, unlike homologous PPy/u motifs, the position- and orientation-induced structural strains to the mouse PPy/u element affect its ability to perturb the relaxation activity of topoisomerase, resulting in polypurine strand-nicked and catenated DNA conformations. Raman spectrum microscopy confirmed that mouse PPy/u containing-plasmid DNA molecules under the different structural strains have a different configuration of ring bases as well as altered Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds. The mouse MOR PPy/u motif drives reporter gene expression fortyfold more effectively in the sense orientation than in the antisense orientation. Furthermore, mouse neuronal cells activate MOR gene expression in response to the perturbations of topology by topoisomerase inhibitors, whereas human cells do not. These results suggest that, interestingly among homologous PPy/u motifs, the mouse MOR PPy/u motif dynamically responds to torsional stress and consequently regulates MOR gene expression in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)52-61
Number of pages10
JournalGene
Volume487
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [ DA-00546 , DA-01583 , DA-05695 ] and the A&F Stark Fund of the Minnesota Medical Foundation .

Keywords

  • Gene expression
  • Homologous PPy/u motifs
  • Mu opioid receptor
  • Supercoiling-regulatory element
  • Topoisomerase

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The polypyrimidine/polypurine motif in the mouse mu opioid receptor gene promoter is a supercoiling-regulatory element'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this