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Two distinct domains of Bicoid mediate its transcriptional downregulation by the Torso pathway.

The transcriptional activity of the Bicoid morphogen is directly downregulated by the Torso signal transduction cascade at the anterior pole of the Drosophila embryo. This regulation does not involve the homeodomain or direct phosphorylation of Bicoid. We analyse the transcriptional regulation of Bicoid in response to the Torso pathway, using Bicoid variants and fusion proteins between the Bicoid domains and the Gal4 DNA-binding domain. We show that Bicoid possesses three autonomous activation domains. Two of these domains, the serine/threonine-rich and the acidic domains, are downregulated by Torso, whereas the third activation domain, which is rich in glutamine, is not. The alanine-rich domain, previously described as an activation domain in vitro, has a repressive activity that is independent of Torso. Thus, Bicoid downregulation by Torso results from a competition between the glutamine-rich domain that is insensitive to Torso and the serine/threonine-rich and acidic activation domains downregulated by Torso. The alanine-rich domain contributes to this process indirectly by reducing the global activity of the protein and in particular the activity of the glutamine-rich domain that might otherwise prevent downregulation by Torso.

Animals↗

Functional domains of c-myc promoter binding protein 1 involved in transcriptional repression and cell growth regulation.

We initially identified c-myc promoter binding protein 1 (MBP-1), which negatively regulates c-myc promoter activity, from a human cervical carcinoma cell expression library. Subsequent studies on the biological role of MBP-1 demonstrated induction of cell death in fibroblasts and loss of anchorage-independent growth, reduced invasive ability, and tumorigenicity of human breast carcinoma cells. To investigate the potential role of MBP-1 as a transcriptional regulator, a chimeric protein containing MBP-1 fused to the DNA binding domain of the yeast transactivator factor GAL4 was constructed. This fusion protein exhibited repressor activity on the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter via upstream GAL4 DNA binding sites. Structure-function analysis of mutant MBP-1 in the context of the GAL4 DNA binding domain revealed that MBP-1 transcriptional repressor domains are located in the N terminus (amino acids 1 to 47) and C terminus (amino acids 232 to 338), whereas the activation domain lies in the middle (amino acids 140 to 244). The N-terminal domain exhibited stronger transcriptional repressor activity than the C-terminal region. When the N-terminal repressor domain was transferred to a potent activator, transcription was strongly inhibited. Both of the repressor domains contained hydrophobic regions and had an LXVXL motif in common. Site-directed mutagenesis in the repressor domains indicated that the leucine residues in the LXVXL motif are required for transcriptional repression. Mutation of the leucine residues in the common motif of MBP-1 also abrogated the repressor activity on the c-myc promoter. In addition, the leucine mutant forms of MBP-1 failed to suppress cell growth in fibroblasts like wild-type MBP-1. Taken together, our results indicate that MBP-1 is a complex cellular factor containing multiple transcriptional regulatory domains that play an important role in cell growth regulation.

3T3 Cells↗

dMi-2, a hunchback-interacting protein that functions in polycomb repression.

Early in Drosophila embryogenesis, gap gene products directly repress transcription of homeotic (HOX) genes and thereby delimit HOX expression domains. Subsequently, Polycomb-group proteins maintain this repression. Currently, there is no known molecular link between gap and Polycomb-group proteins. Here, dMi-2 is identified as a protein that binds to a domain in the gap protein Hunchback that is specifically required for the repression of HOX genes. Genetic analyses show that dMi-2 participates in both Hunchback and Polycomb repression in vivo. Hence, recruitment of dMi-2 may serve as a link between repression of HOX genes by Hunchback and Polycomb proteins.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Collagen and major histocompatibility class II expression in mesenchymal cells from CIITA hypomorphic mice.

Major histocompatibility class II (MHC II) transactivator (CIITA) is critical for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced repression of collagen [Xu, Y., Wang, L., Buttice, G., Sengupta, P.K., Smith, B.D., 2004. Major histocompatibility class II transactivator (CIITA) mediates repression of collagen (COL1A2) transcription by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). J. Biol. Chem. 279, 41319-41332] and activation of MHC II transcription. To better understand the role of CIITA and IFN-gamma induced repression of collagen, mesenchymal cells (lung fibroblasts, adventitial fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells) were isolated from a CIITA deficient mouse (C2ta(tm1Ccum)). IFN-gamma induced MHC II expression and repressed collagen type I expression in all three cell types isolated from the wild type background. As expected, IFN-gamma treatment of cells isolated from CIITA deficient mice did not induce MHC II production or activate the MHC II promoter. Interestingly, collagen gene expression and promoter activity was similar to that of wild type. Moreover, IFN-gamma induced CIITA mRNA and a truncated form of CIITA protein in all cells isolated from CIITA deficient mice. Most importantly, truncated CIITA occupied the collagen alpha 2(I) gene (col1a2) transcription start site during IFN-gamma treatment, but it did not occupy the MHC II promoter as judged by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Exogenous expression of a similar truncated form of CIITA maintained its ability to repress col1a2 transcription, but lost its ability to activate MHC II gene transcription suggesting a role for the CIITA C-terminal domain in activation, but not repression. IFN-gamma induced primarily types I and IV CIITA isoforms in the mouse cells. All three isoforms of CIITA were capable of repressing col1a2 and activating MHC II gene transcription. These data suggest that the previously described CIITA knockout mouse carries a hypomorphic mutation, rather than a null mutation. The removal of the leucine rich region in CIITA blocks activation of MHC II without altering repression of collagen transcription.

Animals↗

An activator protein 1-like motif mediates 17beta-estradiol repression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor promoter via an estrogen receptor alpha-dependent mechanism in ovarian and breast cancer cells.

Although it is recognized that estrogen is one of the most important regulators of GnRH receptor (GnRHR) gene expression, the mechanism underlying the regulation at the transcriptional level is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that 17beta-estradiol (E2) repressed human GnRHR promoter via an activator protein 1-like motif and estrogen receptor-alpha, of which the DNA-binding domain and the ligand-binding domain were indispensable for the repression. Interestingly, the same cis-acting motif was also found to be important for both the basal activity and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate responsiveness of the GnRHR promoter. EMSAs indicated that multiple transcription factors including c-Jun and c-Fos bound to the activator protein 1-like site and that their DNA binding activity was not significantly affected by E2 treatment. In addition, we demonstrated that the E2 repression could be antagonized by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which stimulated c-Jun phosphorylation on serine 63, a process that is a prerequisite for recruitment of the transcriptional coactivator cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP). Concomitantly, we found that overexpression of CBP could reverse the suppression in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, our data indicate that E2-activated estrogen receptor-alpha represses human GnRHR gene transcription via an indirect mechanism involving CBP and possibly other transcriptional regulators.

Base Sequence↗

Histone deacetylase-dependent transcriptional repression by pRB in yeast occurs independently of interaction through the LXCXE binding cleft.

We have developed a yeast model system to address transcriptional repression by the retinoblastoma protein (pRB). When fused to the DNA-binding domain of Gal4p (DB-pRB), pRB can repress transcription of reporter genes containing Gal4p binding sites; the histone deacetylase activity encoded by yeast RPD3 is required for DB-pRB repression. Mutation of the LXCXE binding cleft in pRB, a region reported to be required for histone deacetylase recruitment, does not interfere with pRB-mediated repression. From these findings based on yeast experiments, we surmise that the small pocket region of pRB must contain an additional domain that confers histone deacetylase-dependent transcriptional repression. This hypothesis was verified by experiments examining pRB-dependent histone deacetylase association in mammalian cells. In addition to RPD3, repression by pRB in yeast requires MSI1, an ortholog of RbAp48, but not SIN3 or SAP30. By comparing the genetic requirements of DB-pRB repression in yeast to those of other DB-repressor fusions, we can suggest a mechanism by which pRB recruits histone deacetylase activity.

Binding Sites↗

LexA represses CTXphi transcription by blocking access of the alpha C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase to promoter DNA.

CTXPhi is a Vibrio cholerae-specific temperate filamentous phage that encodes cholera toxin. CTXPhi lysogens can be induced with DNA damage-inducing agents such as UV light, leading to the release of CTXPhi virions and the rapid dissemination of cholera toxin genes to new V. cholerae hosts. This environmental regulation is directly mediated by LexA, the host-encoded global SOS transcription factor. LexA and a phage-encoded repressor, RstR, both repress transcription from P(rstA), the primary CTXPhi promoter. Because the LexA binding site is located upstream of the core P(rstA) promoter and overlaps with A-tract sequences, we speculated that LexA represses P(rstA) by occluding a promoter UP element, a binding site for the C-terminal domain of the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) (alphaCTD). Using in vitro transcription assays, we have shown that the LexA binding site stimulates maximal rstA transcription in the absence of any added factors. The alphaCTD of RNAP is required for this stimulation, demonstrating that the LexA site contains, or overlaps with, a promoter UP element. LexA represses rstA transcription by normal RNAP but fails to repress rstA transcription catalyzed by RNAP lacking the alphaCTD. DNase I footprint analysis mapped the alphaCTD binding site to the upstream promoter region that includes the LexA binding site. The addition of free alpha subunits blocked the binding of LexA to rstA promoter DNA, indicating that LexA and the alphaCTD directly compete for binding to their respective sites. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a repressor blocking transcription initiation by occluding a promoter UP element.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The RING domains of the promyelocytic leukemia protein PML and the arenaviral protein Z repress translation by directly inhibiting translation initiation factor eIF4E.

The promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is a mammalian regulator of cell growth which is characteristically disrupted in acute promyelocytic leukemia and by a variety of viruses. PML contains a RING domain which is required for its growth-suppressive and antiviral properties. Although normally nuclear, in certain pathogenic conditions, including arenaviral infection, PML is relocated to the cytoplasm, where its functions are poorly understood. Here, we observe that PML and arenavirus protein Z use regions around the first zinc-binding site of their respective RING domains to directly interact, with sub-micromolar affinity, with the dorsal surface of translation initiation factor eIF4E, representing a novel mode of eIF4E recognition. PML and Z profoundly reduce the affinity of eIF4E for its substrate, the 5' 7-methyl guanosine cap of mRNA, by over 100-fold. Association with the dorsal surface of eIF4E and direct antagonism of mRNA cap binding by PML and Z lead to direct inhibition of translation. These activities of the RING domains of PML and Z do not involve ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, in contrast to many RINGs which have been observed to do so. Although PML and Z have well characterized physiological functions in regulation of growth and apoptosis, this work establishes the first discrete biochemical mechanism which underlies the biological activities of their RING domains. Thus, we establish PML and Z as translational repressors, with potential contributions to the pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia and variety of viral infections.

Arenavirus↗

Silent domains are assembled continuously from the telomere and are defined by promoter distance and strength, and by SIR3 dosage.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, telomeres repress transcription of genes located nearby. This region-specific gene inactivation is thought to involve the packaging of telomeric domains into silent chromatin. To gain insight into the mechanism of telomeric silencing, a genetic assay to examine the spread of silencing along the distal right arm of chromosome V was developed. The frequency of silencing a telomere-adjacent URA3 gene decreased with increasing distance of the gene's promoter from the telomere, irrespective of transcriptional orientation. The distance over which telomeric silencing of URA3 was observed was extended by weakening the gene's promoter--specifically, by deleting PPR1, the trans-activator of URA3. The silent telomeric domain was extended even farther by increasing the gene dosage of SIR3. These results suggest that a gene's promoter is a key determinant in controlling silencing on that gene and that SIR3 is a crucial component of the silent chromatin domain that initiates at the telomere and is assembled inwardly along the yeast chromosome. Finally, silencing is not observed on the centromeric side of an actively transcribed telomeric gene, demonstrating that the repressed telomeric domain is propagated continuously along the DNA. Taken together, these data reflect the complex and dynamic organization of eukaryotic genomes into functionally distinct regions.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗

The N-CoR/histone deacetylase 3 complex is required for repression by thyroid hormone receptor.

Nuclear receptor corepressors (N-CoR) and silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid receptors (SMRT) have both been implicated in thyroid hormone receptor (TR)-mediated repression. Here we show that endogenous N-CoR, TBL1, and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), but not HDAC1, -2, or -4, are recruited to a stably integrated reporter gene repressed by unliganded TR as well as the orphan receptor RevErb. Unliganded TR also recruits this complex to a transiently transfected reporter, and transcriptional repression is associated with local histone deacetylation that is reversed by the presence of thyroid hormone. Knockdown of N-CoR using small interfering RNAs markedly reduces repression by the TR ligand binding domain in human 293T cells, whereas knockdown of SMRT has little effect. RevErb repression appears to involve both corepressors in this system. Knockdown of HDAC3 markedly reduces repression by both TR and RevErb, while knockdown of HDAC1 or 2 has more modest, partly nonspecific effects. Thus, HDAC3 is critical for repression by multiple nuclear receptors and the N-CoR HDAC3 complex plays a unique and necessary role in TR-mediated gene repression in human 293T cells.

Cell Line↗

The transcription elongation factor CA150 interacts with RNA polymerase II and the pre-mRNA splicing factor SF1.

CA150 represses RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription by inhibiting the elongation of transcripts. The FF repeat domains of CA150 bind directly to the phosphorylated carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNAPII. We determined that this interaction is required for efficient CA150-mediated repression of transcription from the alpha(4)-integrin promoter. Additional functional determinants, namely, the WW1 and WW2 domains of CA150, were also required for efficient repression. A protein that interacted directly with CA150 WW1 and WW2 was identified as the splicing-transcription factor SF1. Previous studies have demonstrated a role for SF1 in transcription repression, and we found that binding of the CA150 WW1 and WW2 domains to SF1 correlated exactly with the functional contribution of these domains for repression. The binding specificity of the CA150 WW domains was found to be unique in comparison to known classes of WW domains. Furthermore, the CA150 binding site, within the carboxyl-terminal half of SF1, contains a novel type of proline-rich motif that may be recognized by the CA150 WW1 and WW2 domains. These results support a model for the recruitment of CA150 to repress transcription elongation. In this model, CA150 binds to the phosphorylated CTD of elongating RNAPII and SF1 targets the nascent transcript.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Repression of AGAMOUS by BELLRINGER in floral and inflorescence meristems.

A common aspect of gene regulation in all developmental systems is the sustained repression of key regulatory genes in inappropriate spatial or temporal domains. To understand the mechanism of transcriptional repression of the floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG), we identified two mutations in the BELLRINGER (BLR) gene based on a striking floral phenotype, in which homeotic transformations from sepals to carpels are found in flowers derived from old terminating shoots. Furthermore, this phenotype is drastically enhanced by growth at a high temperature and by combining blr with mutants of LEUNIG and SEUSS, two putative transcriptional corepressors of AG. We showed that the floral phenotype of blr mutants is caused by derepression of AG, suggesting that BLR functions as a transcription repressor. Because BLR encodes a BELL1-like (BELL) homeobox protein, direct binding of BLR to AG cis-regulatory elements was tested by gel-shift assays, and putative BLR binding motifs were identified. In addition, these putative BLR binding motifs were shown to be conserved in 17 of the 29 Brassicaceae species by phylogenetic footprinting. Because BELL homeobox proteins are a family of plant-specific transcription factors with 12 members in Arabidopsis thaliana, our findings will facilitate the identification of regulatory targets of other BELL proteins and help determine their biological functions. The age-dependent and high temperature-enhanced derepression of AG in blr mutants led us to propose that AG expression might be regulated by a thermal time-dependent molecular mechanism.

AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis↗

The retinoblastoma protein binds E2F residues required for activation in vivo and TBP binding in vitro.

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumour suppressor protein is capable of repressing the activity of promoters containing DNA binding sites for the transcription factor E2F. Recently a protein which binds RB and possesses the DNA binding characteristics of E2F has been cloned. Here we show that the E2F activation domain is the target for RB-induced repression. RB can silence the 57 residue E2F activation domain but cannot effectively repress an E2F mutant which has reduced RB binding capacity. Extensive mutagenesis of E2F shows residues involved in RB binding are required for transcription activation. Mutations which affect both functions most dramatically lie within the minimal RB binding region. A further subset of sensitive residues lies within a new repeat motif E/DF XX L X P which flanks the minimum RB binding site. These data show that RB can mask E2F residues involved in the activation process, possibly by mimicking a component of the transcriptional machinery. Consistent with this model, we find that the TATA box binding protein TBP can bind to the E2F activation domain in vitro in a manner indistinguishable from that of RB.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcriptional inhibition by a glucocorticoid receptor-beta-galactosidase fusion protein.

Binary developmental decisions and homeostatic regulation by steroids require negative transcriptional regulation to balance steroid-mediated stimulatory effects. Human glucocorticoid receptor mutants were used to identify regions important for trans-repression of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of chorionic gonadotropin. While the amino terminus is not critical, the DNA binding and ligand binding domains are required for efficient repression. However, the function of the carboxyl terminus can be substituted by a polypeptide from the human mineralocorticoid receptor or beta-galactosidase gene. The function of these fusion repressors supports the model that the human glucocorticoid receptor negatively regulates transcription via a steric hindrance mechanism. These results suggest a potentially general strategy for creation of sequence-specific transcriptional repressors.

Cell Line↗

Identification of an effector specificity subregion within the aromatic-responsive regulators DmpR and XylR by DNA shuffling.

The Pseudomonas derived sigma(54)-dependent regulators DmpR and XylR control the expression of genes involved in catabolism of aromatic compounds. Binding to distinct, nonoverlapping groups of aromatic effectors controls the activities of these transcriptional activators. Previous work has derived a common mechanistic model for these two regulators in which effector binding by the N-terminal 210 residues (the A-domain) of the protein relieves repression of an intrinsic ATPase activity essential for its transcription-promoting property and allows productive interaction with the transcriptional apparatus. Here we dissect the A-domains of DmpR and XylR by DNA shuffling to identify the region(s) that mediates the differences in the effector specificity profiles. Analysis of in vivo transcription in response to multiple aromatic effectors and the in vitro phenol-binding abilities of regulator derivatives with hybrid DmpR/XylR A-domains reveals that residues 110 to 186 are key determinants that distinguish the effector profiles of DmpR and XylR. Moreover, the properties of some mosaic DmpR/XylR derivatives reveal that high-affinity aromatic effector binding can be completely uncoupled from the ability to promote transcription. Hence, novel aromatic binding properties will only be translated into functional transcriptional activation if effector binding also triggers release of interdomain repression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Direct interaction of Ski with either Smad3 or Smad4 is necessary and sufficient for Ski-mediated repression of transforming growth factor-beta signaling.

The oncoprotein Ski represses transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling in an N-CoR-independent manner. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying this event has not been elucidated. Here, we identify an additional domain in Ski that mediates interaction with Smad3 which is important for this repression. This domain is distinct from the previously reported N-terminal Smad3 binding domain in Ski. Individual alanine substitution of several residues in the domain significantly affected Ski-Smad3 interaction. Furthermore, combined mutations within this domain, together with those in the previously identified Smad3 binding domain, can completely abolish the interaction of Ski with Smad3, while mutation in each domain alone retained partial interaction. By introducing those mutations that abolish direct interaction with Smad3 or Smad4 individually, or in combination, we show that interaction of Ski with either Smad3 or Smad4 is sufficient for Ski-mediated repression of TGF-beta signaling. Furthermore our results clearly demonstrate that Ski does not disrupt Smad3-Smad4 heteromer formation, and recruitment of Ski to the Smad3/4 complex through binding to either Smad3 or Smad4 is both necessary and sufficient for repression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A single zinc finger motif in the silencing factor REST represses the neural-specific type II sodium channel promoter.

The type II voltage-dependent sodium channel is present in neuronal cells, where it mediates the propagation of nerve impulses. Restricted expression of the type II sodium channel gene to neurons is due, at least in part, to binding of the repressor protein REST (also termed NRSF or XBR) to the RE1 (also called NRSE) sequence in the type II sodium channel gene. Previous studies have shown that a domain in REST containing eight GL1-Krüppel zinc finger motifs mediates DNA binding. Deletional and GAL4-fusion gene analyses now reveal repressor domains that lie outside of the DNA-binding domain in both the amino and carboxyl termini of REST. Mutational analysis further identifies a single zinc finger motif in the carboxyl-terminal domain as being essential for repressing type II sodium channel reporter genes. These studies reveal two domains in REST that may mediate interactions with other proteins involved in restricting expression of a large set of genes to the vertebrate nervous system.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

The Hsp70-Ydj1 molecular chaperone represses the activity of the heme activator protein Hap1 in the absence of heme.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, heme directly mediates the effects of oxygen on transcription through the heme activator protein Hap1. In the absence of heme, Hap1 is bound by at least four cellular proteins, including Hsp90 and Ydj1, forming a higher-order complex, termed HMC, and its activity is repressed. Here we purified the HMC and showed by mass spectrometry that two previously unidentified major components of the HMC are the Ssa-type Hsp70 molecular chaperone and Sro9 proteins. In vivo functional analysis, combined with biochemical analysis, strongly suggests that Ssa proteins are critical for Hap1 repression in the absence of heme. Ssa may repress the activities of both Hap1 DNA-binding and activation domains. The Ssa cochaperones Ydj1 and Sro9 appear to assist Ssa in Hap1 repression, and only Ydj1 residues 1 to 172 containing the J domain are required for Hap1 repression. Our results suggest that Ssa-Ydj1 and Sro9 act together to mediate Hap1 repression in the absence of heme and that molecular chaperones promote heme regulation of Hap1 by a mechanism distinct from the mechanism of steroid signaling.

Blotting, Western↗