Abstract

We used a nuclear RNA transcript elongation assay to show that cAMP analogs and dexamethasone cause a selective increase of transcription of the P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase gene in H4IIE hepatoma cells. 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP increased transcription within 5 min and the maximal rate, generally 10-15-fold above the basal rate, was attained by 30 min. This increase was of sufficient magnitude to account for the effect on mRNAPEPCK (for example, where PEPCK is phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) accumulation. After the initial increase, and with continued presence of cAMP, transcription of this gene declined to a new steady-state level which was 2-3 times the basal value. The effect of cAMP analogs on P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase gene transcription was obtained in the absence of protein synthesis. This, and the rapidity of the response, indicates that the effect of cAMP is exerted directly on the P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase gene. Dexamethasone results in a specific, 6-fold increase of transcription, sufficient to account for the increase of mRNAPEPCK which follows treatment of H4IIE cells with this glucocorticoid. When 1 nM insulin was added to either untreated H4IIE cells, or cells first treated with a cAMP analog or dexamethasone, there was a marked reduction of cytoplasmic mRNAPEPCK. The inhibitory effect of insulin was readily reversible, as cells regained the basal level of mRNAPEPCK and full responsiveness to cAMP within 1 h after removing insulin. The transcript elongation assay was used to show that insulin inhibits transcription of the gene coding for mRNAPEPCK. The concentration of insulin required for 50% inhibition was 2-5 pM, whereas approximately 200 pM of proinsulin was required to achieve the same inhibition of transcription. This effect was specific, since insulin did not affect the synthesis of total RNA; it was rapid, as 5 nM insulin decreased the rate of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase gene transcription by 50% within 15 min; and it also does not require ongoing protein synthesis. The magnitude and kinetics of the response suggest that the primary action of insulin in the regulation of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis is exerted at the level of mRNAPEPCK transcription. The insulin-mediated inhibition of mRNAPEPCK transcription was noted in untreated cells and in cells first treated with 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP, dexamethasone, or both of these agents. Hence, among these compounds, insulin is the dominant regulatory molecule.