Post-transcriptional regulation of rat liver gene expression by glucocorticoids

Fulton, R., Birnie, G. D. and Knowler, J. T. (1985) Post-transcriptional regulation of rat liver gene expression by glucocorticoids. Nucleic Acids Research, 13(18), pp. 6467-6482. (doi: 10.1093/nar/13.18.6467)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/13.18.6467

Abstract

We have investigated the mechanisms whereby glucocorticoids control the expression of specific genes in the livers of adult male rats. Construction and differential screening of a cDNA library representing normal rat liver polysomal poly(A)+ RNAs allowed selection of probes for hormonally regulated genes. The mechanism of this regulation was analysed by studying the changes in relative abundance of the RNA sequences homologous to four selected recombinants in RNA from subcellular fractions of liver, and comparing them with that of albumin mRNA. The relative abundance of these four RNA sequences increased to varying degrees in the nucleus, whilst that of three of them was concomitantly depleted in polysomal RNA when circulating levels of glucocorticoids were negligible, i.e. 14 days after adrenalectomy. One of the sequences was identified as α2U-globulin mRNA. Within 2 hours of injecting Dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) into rats that had been adrenalectomised 14 days previously, the relative abundances of α2U-globulin RNA in nuclear and polysomal RNA returned to those found in normal rat liver. The data indicate that reduced glucocorticoid levels lead to sequence specific retention of RNA in the nucleus and that the RNA retained is released to the cytoplasm following glucocorticoid injection. Our results provide an example, for the first time, of glucocorticoid regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Fulton, Dr Ruth and Knowler, Dr John
Authors: Fulton, R., Birnie, G. D., and Knowler, J. T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:Nucleic Acids Research
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0305-1048
ISSN (Online):1362-4962

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