Cell cycle control of the human HSP70 gene: implications for the role of a cellular E1A-like function

The gene encoding the human 70-kilodalton heat shock protein (HSP70) is subject to activation by the adenovirus E1A gene product and appears to be regulated in the absence of heat shock by a cellular activity similar to E1A. Given the relation of E1A to alteration of growth control, we have investigated the expression of the HSP70 gene during the cell cycle. Assay of mRNA levels after release from a thymidine-aphidicolin block revealed a 20-fold increase in mRNA abundance, reaching a peak level in the post-S-phase period. Upon reaching this peak level, the abundance of the mRNA then declined as the cells entered the next cycle. Control of the abundance of the mRNA during the cell cycle appeared to be primarily at the level of transcription as measured in nuclear runoff assays. Very similar results were obtained by analyzing the expression of the HSP70 gene in the adenovirus-transformed 293 cell line. Furthermore, the E1A gene was also found to be cell cycle regulated; the activation and peak level of the E1A mRNA occurred at an earlier time than those of the heat shock mRNA, consistent with, but not proof of, the hypothesis that E1A is responsible for the cell cycle control of the HSP70 expression. We therefore suggest that the E1A-like cellular activity may govern certain aspects of cell cycle transcription.