OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) regulates the transcription activity of zinc finger transcription factor SNAI1, and to define the main regulation domain. METHODS: A series of 5' truncated promoters of SNAI1 were amplified and subcloned into the pGL3-Basic vector to construct promoter luciferase report plasmids. The promoter luciferase report plasmids were cotransfected with HBx recombinant adenovirus and pRL-TK plasmid into human hepatocellular cancer cells of the line SMMC7721. Luciferase activity was measured, and relative luciferase activity was calculated. RESULTS: Luciferase reporter plasmids containing 5' flanking deletion of SNAI1 promoter were successfully constructed. HBx obviously upregulated the activity of the SNAI1 promoter (-869 - +59), other than the SNAI1 promoter (-514 - +59) and SNAI1 promoter (-194 - +59). CONCLUSION: HBx can stimulate the transcription of SNAI1, and the transcription regulation domain is located in the segment from -869 - -514 of the SNAI1 promoter.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) regulates the transcription activity of zinc finger transcription factor SNAI1, and to define the main regulation domain. METHODS: A series of 5' truncated promoters of SNAI1 were amplified and subcloned into the pGL3-Basic vector to construct promoter luciferase report plasmids. The promoter luciferase report plasmids were cotransfected with HBx recombinant adenovirus and pRL-TK plasmid into human hepatocellular cancer cells of the line SMMC7721. Luciferase activity was measured, and relative luciferase activity was calculated. RESULTS: Luciferase reporter plasmids containing 5' flanking deletion of SNAI1 promoter were successfully constructed. HBx obviously upregulated the activity of the SNAI1 promoter (-869 - +59), other than the SNAI1 promoter (-514 - +59) and SNAI1 promoter (-194 - +59). CONCLUSION:HBx can stimulate the transcription of SNAI1, and the transcription regulation domain is located in the segment from -869 - -514 of the SNAI1 promoter.