Selective transcription of an insulin-regulated gene in nuclear extracts of rat hepatoma cells.

We have previously shown that when H4 hepatoma cells are pretreated with insulin, plant lectins, phorbol esters, or insulin mediator, the steady state concentration of gene 33 mRNA is markedly increased. The increase in gene 33 mRNA concentration with insulin is due to an increase in the transcription rate of this gene. In the present report we demonstrate that nuclear extracts prepared from H4 hepatoma cells pretreated with insulin exhibit enhanced transcription of gene 33 RNA from a DNA template containing the cap site and 1500 bp upstream of the 33 gene. This is a stable effect of insulin on the nuclear RNA polymerase II system since it is observed in frozen and thawed nuclear extracts as well as fresh nuclear extracts.