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Triiodothyronine regulation of multiple rat hepatic genes: requirement for ongoing protein synthesis

P S Hamblin1, A Santos, N C Wong

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.

Insights

Rapidly turning over proteins are crucial for thyroid hormone (T3) regulation of rat liver gene expression. Inhibiting protein synthesis with cycloheximide or emetine significantly alters T3

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Thyroid hormone (T3) regulates gene expression in the liver.
  • The role of rapidly turning over proteins in T3-mediated gene regulation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of rapidly turning over proteins in T3 regulation of hepatic gene expression.
  • To determine the impact of protein synthesis inhibition on T3-induced mRNA changes.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of cycloheximide or emetine (protein synthesis inhibitors) before or after T3 treatment in rats.
  • Quantification of specific mRNA levels (mRNA-S14, S7, S4, S6, S8, S10) using techniques not specified in the abstract.
  • Assessment of poly(A)+ RNA mass.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of protein synthesis before T3 markedly reduced T3 induction of mRNA-S14.
  • Cycloheximide similarly affected five other T3-regulated genes.
  • Delayed cycloheximide administration prevented or blunted T3-induced increases in mRNA-S7 and S4.
  • Cycloheximide caused rapid declines in mRNA-S6 and S8, returning them to baseline.
  • The expected T3-induced fall in mRNA-S10 was significantly blunted by cycloheximide.
  • No generalized decrease in poly(A)+ RNA mass was observed.

Conclusions:

  • Rapidly turning over proteins play a critical role in both the induction and repression of T3-regulated hepatic genes.
  • Protein synthesis is essential for the proper temporal and quantitative response of these genes to thyroid hormone.

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