HBP1: a HMG box transcriptional repressor that is targeted by the retinoblastoma family

pRb: master of differentiation. Coupling irreversible cell cycle withdrawal with induction of muscle-specific transcription

The protein product of the retinoblastoma (RB) gene is necessary for the completion of the muscle differentiation program and for myogenic basic helix-loop-helix-dependent transcription. In fact, in addition to induction and maintenance of permanent cell cycle withdrawal through negative regulation of E2F-responsive genes involved in proliferation, pRb also plays a positive role in the activation of muscle-specific genes. In pRb-/- myocytes, the expression of late myogenic markers is defective and myoblast fusion into myotubes occurs without irreversible cell cycle exit. This evidence demonstrates only a partial functional redundancy between pRb and its relatives p107 and pRb2/p130, as these pRb-/- multinucleated cells, which display p107 levels higher than normal myotubes, respond to mitogens with cell cycle re-entry and DNA synthesis. At the molecular level, pRb myogenic functions are mediated by cooperation with MyoD, Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), High mobility group box protein-1 (HBP1) and histone deacetylase1, affecting chromatin configuration and tissue-specific transcription, and by post-translational modification in response to intracellular signaling cascades.

Pocket protein function in melanocyte homeostasis and neoplasia

Melanoma is the most lethal of human skin cancers and its incidence is increasing worldwide [L.K. Dennis (1999). Arch. Dermatol. 135, 275; C. Garbe et al. (2000). Cancer 89, 1269]. Melanomas often metastasize early during the course of the disease and are then highly intractable to current therapeutic regimens [M.F. Demierre and G. Merlino (2004). Curr. Oncol. Rep. 6, 406]. Consequently, understanding the factors that maintain melanocyte homeostasis and prevent their neoplastic transformation into melanoma is of utmost interest from the perspective of therapeutic interdiction. This review will focus on the role of the pocket proteins (PPs), Rb1 (retinoblastoma protein), retinoblastoma-like 1 (Rbl1 also known as p107) and retinoblastoma-like 2 (Rbl2 also known as p130), in melanocyte homeostasis, with particular emphasis on their functions in the cell cycle and the DNA damage repair response. The potential mechanisms of PP deregulation in melanoma and the possibility of PP-independent pathways to melanoma development will also be considered. Finally, the role of the PP family in ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced melanoma and the precise contribution that each PP family member makes to melanocyte homeostasis will be discussed in the context of a number of genetically engineered mouse models.

Suppression of Wnt signaling by the green tea compound (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) in invasive breast cancer cells. Requirement of the transcriptional repressor HBP1

Genetic and biochemical de-regulation of Wnt signaling is correlated with breast and other cancers. Our goal was to identify compounds that block Wnt signaling as a first step toward investigating new strategies for suppression of invasive and other breast cancers. In a limited phytonutrient screen, EGCG ((-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate), the major phytochemical in green tea, emerged as an intriguing candidate. Epidemiological studies have associated green tea consumption with reduced recurrence of invasive and other breast cancers. Wnt signaling was inhibited by EGCG in a dose-dependent manner in breast cancer cells. The apparent mechanism targeted the HBP1 transcriptional repressor, which we had previously characterized as a suppressor of Wnt signaling. EGCG treatment induced HBP1 transcriptional repressor levels through an increase in HBP1 mRNA stability, but not transcriptional initiation. To test functionality, DNA-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to knockdown the endogenous HBP1 gene. Consistently, the HBP1 knockdown lines had reduced sensitivity to EGCG in the suppression of Wnt signaling and of a target gene (c-MYC). Because our ongoing studies clinically link abrogation of HBP1 with invasive breast cancer, we tested if EGCG also regulated biological functions associated with de-regulated Wnt signaling and with invasive breast cancer. EGCG reduced both breast cancer cell tumorigenic proliferation and invasiveness in an HBP1-dependent manner. Together, the emerging mechanism is that EGCG blocks Wnt signaling by inducing the HBP1 transcriptional repressor and inhibits aspects of invasive breast cancer. These studies provide a framework for considering future studies in breast cancer treatment and prevention.

Polyglutamine is Not All: The Functional Role of the AXH Domain in the Ataxin-1 Protein

A family of neurodegenerative diseases is associated with anomalous expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the coding region of the corresponding proteins. The current working hypothesis is that polyglutamine diseases are caused by misfolding and aggregation of the proteins with a process dictated by the polyglutamine tracts, although increasing evidence suggests an involvement of the protein context in modulating these properties. Here, we show that the AXH domain of ataxin-1, the protein involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type-1, is the region responsible for the transcriptional repression activity of ataxin-1 and participates in protein aggregation. In vitro, the isolated domain undergoes a conformational transition towards a beta-enriched structure associated with aggregation and amyloid fibre formation spontaneously and without need for destabilizing conditions. Using a transfected cell line, we demonstrate that, while determined by polyglutamine expansion, ataxin-1 aggregation is noticeably reduced by deletion of AXH or by replacement with the homologous sequence from the transcription factor HBP1, which has no known tendency to aggregate. These results provide the first direct evidence of an involvement of a region other than the polyglutamine tract in polyglutamine pathologies.

Effects of overexpression of HBP1 upon growth and differentiation of leukemic myeloid cells

HMG-box containing protein 1 (HBP1) is a member of the high mobility group (HMG) of chromosomal proteins. Since HBP1 exhibits tumor-suppressor activity in nonmyeloid tissues, we examined the effects of ectopic overexpression of HBP1 upon the growth and differentiation of myeloid cells. We prepared transient and stable transfectants of the myeloblast cell line K562, which overexpress HBP1 mRNA and protein. HBP1 transfectants displayed slower growth in cell culture and reduced colony formation in soft agar, retardation of S-phase progression, reduced expression of cyclin D1 and D3 mRNAs and increased expression of p21 mRNA. HBP1 transfectants also underwent increased apoptosis, as demonstrated by morphology and binding of Annexin V. Fas ligand mRNA levels were increased in HBP1 transfectants, suggesting involvement of the Fas/Fas ligand pathway. HBP1 overexpression enhanced differentiation of K562 cells towards erythroid and megakaryocyte lineages, as evidenced by increased hemoglobin and CD41a expression. Overexpression of HBP1 modulated mRNA levels for myeloid-specific transcription factors C/EBPalpha, c-Myb, c-Myc, and JunB, as well as lineage-specific transcription factors PU.1, GATA-1, and RUNX1. These findings suggest that in myeloid cells HBP1 may serve as a tumor suppressor and a general differentiation inducer and may synergize with chemical differentiating agents to enhance lineage-specific differentiation.

Human High Mobility Group Box Transcription Factor 1 Affects Thymocyte Development and Transgene Variegation

It has been shown previously that a human CD2 (hCD2) disabled locus control region (LCR) transgene is unable to establish an open chromatin configuration in all the T cells, and this leads to position effect variegation of the transgene. In this study we show that thymus-specific overexpression of human high mobility group box transcription factor 1 (HBP1), a transcription factor that binds a specific sequence within the hCD2 LCR, affects thymus cellularity as well as the number of CD8(+) thymocytes in two independent transgenic mouse lines and increases the proportion of T cells that fully activate the transgenic locus in hCD2 variegating mice in a sequence-specific dependent manner. This finding suggests that overexpression of HBP1 can affect lineage commitment and can relieve the suppressive influence of heterochromatin, allowing thymocytes to express the variegating target locus more efficiently. These effects could be the result of direct HBP1 action on LCR activity. Alternatively, the extra HBP1 molecules may sequester repressive elements away from the LCR, thus allowing transcription permissive states to form on the transgene locus.

Boat, an AXH domain protein, suppresses the cytotoxicity of mutant ataxin-1

Ataxin-1 is a neurodegenerative disorder protein whose glutamine-repeat expanded form causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) in humans and exerts cytotoxicity in Drosophila and mouse. We report here that the cytotoxicity caused by ataxin-1 is modulated by association with a related protein, Brother of ataxin-1 (Boat). Boat and ataxin-1 share a conserved AXH (ataxin-1 and HMG-box protein 1) domain, which is essential for both proteins' interactions with the transcriptional corepressor SMRT and its Drosophila homolog, SMRTER. The Boat-ataxin-1 interaction is mediated through multiple regions in both proteins, including a newly identified NBA (N-terminal region of Boat and ataxin-1) domain. We investigated the physiological relevance of the Boat-ataxin-1 interaction in Drosophila and discovered that a mutant ataxin-1-mediated eye defect is suppressed by ataxin-1's association with Boat. Correspondingly, in transgenic SCA1 mouse, Boat expression is greatly reduced in Purkinje cells, the primary targets of SCA1. Our study thus establishes that Boat is an in vivo binding partner of ataxin-1 whose altered expression in Purkinje cells may contribute to their degeneration in SCA1 animals.

Global gene expression analysis in time series following N-acetyl L-cysteine induced epithelial differentiation of human normal and cancer cells in vitro

Background

Cancer prevention trials using different types of antioxidant supplements have been carried out at several occasions and one of the investigated compounds has been the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Studies at the cellular level have previously demonstrated that a single supplementation of NAC induces a ten-fold more rapid differentiation in normal primary human keratinocytes as well as a reversion of a colon carcinoma cell line from neoplastic proliferation to apical-basolateral differentiation [1]. The investigated cells showed an early change in the organization of the cytoskeleton, several newly established adherens junctions with E-cadherin/β-catenin complexes and increased focal adhesions, all features characterizing the differentiation process.

Methods

In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the proliferation arrest and accelerated differentiation induced by NAC treatment of NHEK and Caco-2 cells in vitro, we performed global gene expression analysis of NAC treated cells in a time series (1, 12 and 24 hours post NAC treatment) using the Affymetrix GeneChip™ Human Genome U95Av2 chip, which contains approximately 12,000 previously characterized sequences. The treated samples were compared to the corresponding untreated culture at the same time point.

Results

Microarray data analysis revealed an increasing number of differentially expressed transcripts over time upon NAC treatment. The early response (1 hour) was transient, while a constitutive trend was commonly found among genes differentially regulated at later time points (12 and 24 hours). Connections to the induction of differentiation and inhibition of growth were identified for a majority of up- and down-regulated genes. All of the observed transcriptional changes, except for seven genes, were unique to either cell line. Only one gene, ID-1, was mutually regulated at 1 hour post treatment and might represent a common mediator of early NAC action.

The detection of several genes that previously have been identified as stimulated or repressed during the differentiation of NHEK and Caco-2 provided validation of results. In addition, real-time kinetic PCR analysis of selected genes also verified the differential regulation as identified by the microarray platform.

Conclusion

NAC induces a limited and transient early response followed by a more consistent and extensively different expression at later time points in both the normal and cancer cell lines investigated. The responses are largely related to inhibition of proliferation and stimulation of differentiation in both cell types but are almost completely lineage specific. ID-1 is indicated as an early mediator of NAC action.

A distinct microarray gene expression profile in primary rat hepatocytes incubated with ursodeoxycholic acid

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its taurine-conjugated derivative, TUDCA, modulate cell death and cell cycle regulators, such as E2F-1 and p53. However, precise pathways underlying UDCA's effects are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify specific cellular targets of UDCA.

METHODS

The expression profile of primary rat hepatocytes incubated with UDCA was determined using Affymetrix GeneChip Rat 230A arrays. Hybridization data were processed to identify genes with significant expression changes. RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses of a selected target confirmed microarray data.

RESULTS

The results showed that >440 genes were modulated with UDCA by >1.5-fold; approximately 25% were significantly different from controls. Genes affected by UDCA included new regulatory molecules, such as Apaf-1. RT-PCR and immunoblotting confirmed a decrease in Apaf-1. Other altered genes were directly involved in cell cycle (cyclin D1, cadherin 1, HMG-box containing protein 1) and apoptosis (prothymosin-alpha) events. The E2F-1/p53/Apaf-1 pathway appears to be targeted by UDCA. Finally, transcripts for proteins with kinase activity and transcription factors were specifically modulated by TUDCA.

CONCLUSIONS

This study expands our knowledge of the biological effects of UDCA in hepatocytes. Most of the identified genes represent novel potential targets of UDCA, which may ultimately explain its therapeutic properties.

The AXH Domain Adopts Alternative Folds

AXH is a protein module identified in two unrelated families that comprise the transcriptional repressor HBP1 and ataxin-1 (ATX1), the protein responsible for spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1). SCA1 is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with protein misfolding and formation of toxic intranuclear aggregates. We have solved the structure in solution of monomeric AXH from HBP1. The domain adopts a nonclassical permutation of an OB fold and binds nucleic acids, a function previously unidentified for this region of HBP1. Comparison of HBP1 AXH with the crystal structure of dimeric ATX1 AXH indicates that, despite the significant sequence homology, the two proteins have different topologies, suggesting that AXH has chameleon properties. We further demonstrate that HBP1 AXH remains monomeric, whereas the ATX1 dimer spontaneously aggregates and forms fibers. Our results describe an entirely novel, to our knowledge, example of a chameleon fold and suggest a link between these properties and the SCA1 pathogenesis.

HMG box transcription factor gene Hbp1 is expressed in germ cells of the developing mouse testis

HMG box containing protein 1 (HBP1) is a high mobility group domain transcriptional repressor that regulates proliferation in differentiated tissues. We have found mouse Hbp1 to be expressed strongly in the embryonic mouse testis from approximately 12.5 days post coitum, compared with low levels of expression in the embryonic ovary. Expression of Hbp1 is maintained in the developing testis beyond the onset of spermatogenesis after birth. Whole-mount in situ hybridisation analysis showed that expression of Hbp1 in the XY gonad is localized within the developing testis cords, the precursors of the seminiferous tubules. Expression of Hbp1 is not apparent in testis cords of gonads from homozygous W(e) mutant embryos, which lack germ cells. In situ hybridisation analysis on cryosectioned embryonic testis indicated that Hbp1 expression resembles that of the germ cell marker Oct4. We conclude that Hbp1 is up-regulated specifically in germ cells of the developing XY gonad. The expression of Hbp1 in XY germ cells appears to correlate with the onset of mitotic arrest in these cells.

p38 MAP kinase's emerging role as a tumor suppressor

The p38 proteins are an evolutionally conserved family of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Recent studies have led to progress in our understanding the roles of p38 MAPK in regulation of tumorigenesis through key cellular growth-control mechanisms. Along with the previously well-characterized proapoptotic functions, new data highlight the critical contributions of p38 MAPK in the negative regulation of cell cycle progression. This review will focus on the ability of p38 MAPK to positively regulate several tumor suppressor (p53- and Rb-dependent) pathways and to attenuate oncogenic (Cdc25A and Cdc25B phosphatases) signals. The concept of p38 MAPK as a potential tumor suppressor will be developed.

p55, the Drosophila ortholog of RbAp46/RbAp48, is required for the repression of dE2F2/RBF-regulated genes

Many proteins have been proposed to be involved in retinoblastoma protein (pRB)-mediated repression, but it is largely uncertain which cofactors are essential for pRB to repress endogenous E2F-regulated promoters. Here we have taken advantage of the stream-lined Drosophila dE2F/RBF pathway, which has only two E2Fs (dE2F1 and dE2F2), and two pRB family members (RBF1 and RBF2). With RNA interference (RNAi), we depleted potential corepressors and looked for the elevated expression of groups of E2F target genes that are known to be directly regulated by RBF1 and RBF2. Previous studies have implicated histone deacetylase (HDAC) and SWI/SNF chromatin-modifying complexes in pRB-mediated repression. However, our results fail to support the idea that the SWI/SNF proteins are required for RBF-mediated repression and suggest that a requirement for HDAC activities is likely to be limited to a subset of targets. We found that the chromatin assembly factor p55/dCAF-1 is essential for the repression of dE2F2-regulated targets. The removal of p55 deregulated the expression of E2F targets that are normally repressed by dE2F2/RBF1 and dE2F2/RBF2 complexes in a cell cycle-independent manner but had no effect on the expression of E2F targets that are normally coupled with cell proliferation. The results indicate that the mechanisms of RBF regulation at these two types of E2F targets are different and suggest that p55, and perhaps p55's mammalian orthologs RbAp46 and RbAp48, have a conserved function in repression by pRB-related proteins.

The HBP1 transcriptional repressor and the p38 MAP kinase: unlikely partners in G1 regulation and tumor suppression

Mechanisms that inhibit cell cycle progression and establish growth arrest are fundamental to tumor suppression and to normal cell differentiation. A complete understanding of these mechanisms should provide new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for future clinical applications related to cancer-specific pathways. This review will focus on the HMG-box protein 1 (HBP1) transcriptional repressor and its roles in cell cycle progression and tumor suppression. The work of several labs now suggests a new pathway for inhibiting G1 progression with exciting possible implications for tumor suppression. Our recent work suggests that the two previously unassociated proteins-the HBP1 transcription factor and the p38 MAP kinase pathway-may now participate together in a G1 regulatory network. Several recent papers collectively highlight an unexpected role and connection of the p38 MAP kinase-signaling pathway in cell cycle control, senescence, and tumor suppression. Together, these initially divergent observations may provide clues into a new tumor suppressive network and spur further investigations that may contribute to new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cancer.

HBP1 and Mad1 repressors bind the Sin3 corepressor PAH2 domain with opposite helical orientations

Recruitment of the histone deacetylase (HDAC)-associated Sin3 corepressor is an obligatory step in many eukaryotic gene silencing pathways. Here we show that HBP1, a cell cycle inhibitor and regulator of differentiation, represses transcription in a HDAC/Sin3-dependent manner by targeting the mammalian Sin3A (mSin3A) PAH2 domain. HBP1 is unrelated to the Mad1 repressor for which high-resolution structures in complex with PAH2 have been described. We show that like Mad1, the HBP1 transrepression domain binds through a helical structure to the hydrophobic cleft of mSin3A PAH2. Notably, the HBP1 helix binds PAH2 in a reversed orientation relative to Mad1 and, equally unexpectedly, this is correlated with a chain reversal of the minimal Sin3 interaction motifs. These results not only provide insights into how multiple, unrelated transcription factors recruit the same coregulator, but also have implications for how sequence similarity searches are conducted.

Rb Inhibits E2F-1-induced Cell Death in a LXCXE-dependent Manner by Active Repression

Rb (retinoblastoma protein) inhibits E2F-1-induced cell death. We now show that the ability of Rb to inhibit E2F-1-induced cell death is dependent on a functional LXCXE-binding site in Rb, thereby suggesting that proteins that bind the LXCXE-binding site in Rb may regulate the anti-apoptotic activity of Rb. HDAC1, an LXCXE protein that plays a critical role in Rb-mediated transcription repression, abrogates the effect of Rb on E2F-1-induced cell death. In contrast, RF-Cp145, another LXCXE protein, cooperates with Rb to inhibit E2F-1-induced cell death. Both proteins exert their effect in an LXCXE-dependent manner. Rb regulates E2F-induced cell death by acting upstream of p73. Rb represses the p73 promoter. Our results further suggest a model in which Rb-E2F-1 complexes mediate the anti-apoptotic activity of Rb through active repression of target genes without recruiting HDAC1.

HBP1 repression of the p47phox gene: cell cycle regulation via the NADPH oxidase

Several studies have linked the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the NADPH oxidase to cellular growth control. In many cases, activation of the NADPH oxidase and subsequent ROS generation is required for growth factor signaling and mitogenesis in nonimmune cells. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcriptional repressor HBP1 (HMG box-containing protein 1) regulates the gene for the p47phox regulatory subunit of the NADPH oxidase. HBP1 represses growth regulatory genes (e.g., N-Myc, c-Myc, and cyclin D1) and is an inhibitor of G(1) progression. The promoter of the p47phox gene contains six tandem high-affinity HBP1 DNA-binding elements at positions -1243 to -1318 bp from the transcriptional start site which were required for repression. Furthermore, HBP1 repressed the expression of the endogenous p47phox gene through sequence-specific binding. With HBP1 expression and the subsequent reduction in p47phox gene expression, intracellular superoxide production was correspondingly reduced. Using both the wild type and a dominant-negative mutant of HBP1, we demonstrated that the repression of superoxide production through the NADPH oxidase contributed to the observed cell cycle inhibition by HBP1. Together, these results indicate that HBP1 may contribute to the regulation of NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide production through transcriptional repression of the p47phox gene. This study defines a transcriptional mechanism for regulating intracellular ROS levels and has implications in cell cycle regulation.

The Structure of the AXH Domain of Spinocerebellar Ataxin-1

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 is a late-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a CAG triplet repeat in the SCA1 gene. This results in the lengthening of a polyglutamine tract in the gene product ataxin-1. This produces a toxic gain of function that results in specific neuronal death. A region in ataxin-1, the AXH domain, exhibits significant sequence similarity to the transcription factor HBP1. This region of the protein has been implicated in RNA binding and self-association. We have determined the crystal structure of the AXH domain of ataxin-1. The AXH domain is dimeric and contains an OB-fold, a structural motif found in many oligonucleotide-binding proteins, supporting its proposed role in RNA binding. By structure comparison with other proteins that contain an OB-fold, a putative RNA-binding site has been identified. We also identified a cluster of charged surface residues that are well conserved among AXH domains. These residues may constitute a second ligand-binding surface, suggesting that all AXH domains interact with a common yet unidentified partner.

The transcriptional repressor HBP1 is a target of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in cell cycle regulation

The p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathway participates in both apoptosis and G1 arrest. In contrast to the established role in apoptosis, the documented induction of G1 arrest by activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway has attracted recent attention with reports of substrates that are linked to cell cycle regulation. Here, we identify the high-mobility group box protein HBP1 transcriptional repressor as a new substrate for p38 MAP kinase. Our previous work had shown that HBP1 inhibits G1 progression in cell and animal models, and thus indicated that HBP1 could be a relevant substrate for p38 MAP kinase in cell cycle regulation. In the present work, a p38 MAP kinase docking site (amino acids [aa] 81 to 125) and a p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation site (serine 401) were identified in the HBP1 protein. Furthermore, the docking and phosphorylation sites on HBP1 were specific for p38 MAP kinase. In defining the role of p38 MAP kinase regulation, the inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activity was shown to decrease HBP1 protein levels by triggering protein instability, as manifested by a decrease in protein half-life. Consistently, a decrease in protein levels was accompanied by a decrease in overall DNA binding activity. A mutation of the p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation site at aa 401 [(S-A)401HBP1] also triggered HBP1 protein instability. While protein stability was compromised by mutation, the specific activities of (S-A)401HBP1 and of wild-type HBP1 appeared comparable for transcriptional repression. This comparison of transcription-specific activity highlighted that p38 MAP kinase regulated HBP1 protein levels but not the intrinsic activity for DNA binding or for transcriptional repression. Finally, p38 MAP kinase-mediated regulation of the HBP1 protein also contributed to the regulation of G1 progression. Together, our work supports a molecular framework in which p38 MAP kinase activity contributes to cell cycle inhibition by increasing HBP1 and other G1 inhibitory factors by regulating protein stability.

Profiling of estrogen up- and down-regulated gene expression in human breast cancer cells: insights into gene networks and pathways underlying estrogenic control of proliferation and cell phenotype

Estrogens are known to regulate the proliferation of breast cancer cells and to alter their cytoarchitectural and phenotypic properties, but the gene networks and pathways by which estrogenic hormones regulate these events are only partially understood. We used global gene expression profiling by Affymetrix GeneChip microarray analysis, with quantitative PCR verification in many cases, to identify patterns and time courses of genes that are either stimulated or inhibited by estradiol (E2) in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Of the >12,000 genes queried, over 400 showed a robust pattern of regulation, and, notably, the majority (70%) were down-regulated. We observed a general up-regulation of positive proliferation regulators, including survivin, multiple growth factors, genes involved in cell cycle progression, and regulatory factor-receptor loops, and the down-regulation of transcriptional repressors, such as Mad4 and JunB, and of antiproliferative and proapoptotic genes, including B cell translocation gene-1 and -2, cyclin G2, BCL-2 antagonist/killer 1, BCL 2-interacting killer, caspase 9, and TGFbeta family growth inhibitory factors. These together likely contribute to the stimulation of proliferation and the suppression of apoptosis by E2 in these cells. Of interest, E2 appeared to modulate its own activity through the enhanced expression of genes involved in prostaglandin E production and signaling, which could lead to an increase in aromatase expression and E2 production, as well as the decreased expression of several nuclear receptor coactivators that could impact ER activity. Our studies highlight the diverse gene networks and metabolic and cell regulatory pathways through which this hormone operates to achieve its widespread effects on breast cancer cells.

lin-35/Rb and ubc-18, an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, function redundantly to control pharyngeal morphogenesis in C. elegans

The retinoblastoma gene product has been implicated in the regulation of multiple cellular and developmental processes, including a well-defined role in the control of cell cycle progression. The Caenorhabditis elegans retinoblastoma protein homolog, LIN-35, is also a key regulator of cell cycle entry and, as shown by studies of synthetic multivulval genes, plays an important role in the determination of vulval cell fates. We demonstrate an additional and unexpected function for lin-35 in organ morphogenesis. Using a genetic approach to isolate lin-35 synthetic-lethal mutations, we have identified redundant roles for lin-35 and ubc-18, a gene that encodes an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme closely related to human UBCH7. lin-35 and ubc-18 cooperate to control one or more steps during pharyngeal morphogenesis. Based on genetic and phenotypic analyses, this role for lin-35 in pharyngeal morphogenesis appears to be distinct from its cell cycle-related functions. lin-35 and ubc-18 may act in concert to regulate the levels of one or more critical targets during C. elegans development.

The role of retinoblastoma protein family in the control of germ cell proliferation, differentiation and survival

Retinoblastoma family proteins pRb, p107 and p130 are differentially expressed in the rat testis. They function in specific cell types during testicular development and spermatogenesis, participating in the control of proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Their expression levels and phosphorylation status are modulated during germ cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Hyperphosphorylated states and elevated levels of p107 are correlated with cell cycle progression, whereas hypophosphorylated states and reduced levels are associated with suppression of proliferation and apoptosis in germ cells and Leydig cells. These proteins may also serve as markers of cell cycle status of germ cells during spermatogenesis.

Pax-2 interacts with RB and reverses its repression on the promoter of Rig-1, a Robo member

RB plays dual roles in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. The nervous tissue-specific gene Rig-1, a member of the roundabout (Robo) guidance receptor family, was identified as an RB-regulated gene in the mouse embryo. Herein, we report that a 2.3kb genomic DNA fragment, which contains the first 129 bases of the 5'-untranslated region and 2.2kb of the 5'-flanking region of Rig-1, has a cell type-specific promoter activity. Rig-1 promoter activity is downregulated by RB and upregulated by Pax-2. Furthermore, Rig-1 and Pax-2 mRNAs are coexpressed in the hindbrain and spinal cord of the E11.5 mouse embryo, suggesting that Pax-2 may regulate Rig-1 expression during the embryonic stage. Pax-2 interacts with RB and reverses its transcriptional suppression on the Rig-1 promoter. In summary, the ubiquitous tumor suppressor RB and the neuron-enriched transcription factor Pax-2 may play a role in the regulation of Rig-1 expression during embryogenesis.

Testis-specific HMG-domain protein alters the responses of cells to cisplatin

Cisplatin is an effective agent for the treatment of testicular cancer. In the present study with mouse testicular teratocarcinoma cell extracts, we observed a deficiency in nucleotide excision repair (NER) of a DNA probe bearing a cisplatin 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link. In contrast, repair of the cisplatin 1,3-d(GpTpG) intrastrand cross-link was still active in these cell extracts. A current working hypothesis is that complexes of HMG-domain proteins with the major cisplatin 1,2-intrastrand cross-links could enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity by blocking repair of these lesions on the genome. The family of HMG-domain proteins include a testis-specific protein, tsHMG, which might account for the altered NER in testicular cells. To test this possibility, a human cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa) was constructed which ectopically expressed tsHMG under the control of an inducible promoter. Microscopic examination of tsHMG expression and cisplatin-induced apoptosis on a cellular level revealed that the nuclear protein did indeed modulate the cytotoxic consequences of cisplatin treatment. Also, tsHMG enhanced transcription inhibition by cisplatin. These results reveal that an HMG-domain protein can affect cellular responses to cisplatin and may be relevant to the clinical observation that cancer cells in specific tissues are particularly sensitive to cisplatin.

Analysis of gene expression patterns during glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis using oligonucleotide arrays

To determine the genes responsible for mediating the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on leukemic cells, transcriptional changes in GC-sensitive human pre-B leukemia 697 cells during GC-induced apoptosis were monitored using oligonucleotide microarrays. To circumvent the challenge of recovering mRNAs from dying cells, we compared the pattern of gene expression with that of 697 cells protected from apoptosis by transfection with bcl-2. Of the 12,000 genes examined for their response to GC, 93 genes were induced and 28 genes were repressed, many of which are known to be implicated in signal transduction, growth arrest, and transcription. These included the signal transduction-related genes encoding SOCS1, SOCS2, FKBP51, DSCR1, p56lck, and four protein kinase phosphatases. Growth arrest-related genes encoding p19(INK4d) and several Myc inhibitors were induced in response to the GC treatment. Anti-proliferative- or apoptosis-related genes encoding BTG1, BTG2, and granzyme A were also found to be transcriptionally up-regulated by GC. In addition, the regulation of genes encoding the glucocorticoid receptor and steroid receptor coactivator-1 suggested autoregulation of a GC-mediated signaling pathway.

The retinoblastoma family of proteins directly represses transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The retinoblastoma family of proteins are key cell cycle regulatory molecules important for the differentiation of various mammalian cell types. The retinoblastoma protein regulates transcription of a variety of genes either by blocking the activation domain of various activators or by active repression via recruitment to appropriate promoters. We show here that the retinoblastoma family of proteins functions as direct transcriptional repressors in a heterologous yeast system when fused to the DNA binding domain of Gal4. Mapping experiments indicate that either the A or the B domain of the pocket region is sufficient for repression in vivo. As is the case in mammalian cells, a phosphorylation site mutant of the retinoblastoma protein is a stronger transcriptional repressor than the wild type protein. We show that transcriptional repression by pRb is dependent on CLN3 in vivo. Furthermore, the yeast histone deacetylase components, RPD3 and SIN3, are required for transcriptional repression.

Retinoblastoma protein partners

Studies of the retinoblastoma gene (Rb) have shown that its protein product (pRb) acts to restrict cell proliferation, inhibit apoptosis, and promote cell differentiation. The frequent mutation of the Rb gene, and the functional inactivation of pRb in tumor cells, have spurred interest in the mechanism of pRb action. Recently, much attention has focused on pRb's role in the regulation of the E2F transcription factor. However, biochemical studies have suggested that E2F is only one of many pRb-targets and, to date, at least 110 cellular proteins have been reported to associate with pRb. The plethora of pRb-binding proteins raises several important questions. How many functions does pRb possess, which of these functions are important for development, and which contribute to tumor suppression? The goal of this review is to summarize the current literature of pRb-associated proteins.

Overlapping functions of the pRb family in the regulation of rRNA synthesis

The "pocket" proteins pRb, p107, and p130 are a family of negative growth regulators. Previous studies have demonstrated that overexpression of pRb can repress transcription by RNA polymerase (Pol) I. To assess whether pRb performs this role under physiological conditions, we have examined pre-rRNA levels in cells from mice lacking either pRb alone or combinations of the three pocket proteins. Pol I transcription was unaffected in pRb-knockout fibroblasts, but specific disruption of the entire pRb family deregulated rRNA synthesis. Further analysis showed that p130 shares with pRb the ability to repress Pol I transcription, whereas p107 is ineffective in this system. Production of rRNA is abnormally elevated in Rb(-/-) p130(-/-) fibroblasts. Furthermore, overexpression of p130 can inhibit an rRNA promoter both in vitro and in vivo. This reflects an ability of p130 to bind and inactivate the upstream binding factor, UBF. The data imply that rRNA synthesis in living cells is subject to redundant control by endogenous pRb and p130.

HMG box transcriptional repressor HBP1 maintains a proliferation barrier in differentiated liver tissue

We previously isolated HBP1 as a target of the retinoblastoma (RB) and p130 family members and as the first of the HMG box transcriptional repressors. Our subsequent work demonstrated that HBP1 coordinates differentiation in cell culture models. In the present study, we show that HBP1 regulates proliferation in a differentiated tissue of an animal. Using transgenic mice in which HBP1 expression was specifically increased in hepatocytes under control of the transthyretin promoter, we determined the impact of HBP1 on synchronous cell cycle reentry following partial hepatectomy. Modest overexpression of HBP1 yielded a detectable cell cycle phenotype. Following a mitogenic stimulus induced by two-thirds partial hepatectomy, mice expressing the HBP1 transgene showed a 10- to 12-h delay in progression through G(1) to the peak of S phase. There was a concomitant delay in mid-G(1) events, such as the induction of cyclin E. While the delay in G(1) and S phases correlated with the slight overexpression of transgenic HBP1, the level of the endogenous HBP1 protein itself declined in S phase. In contrast, the onset of the immediate-early response following partial hepatectomy was unchanged in HBP1 transgenic mice. This observation indicated that the observed delay in S phase did not result from changes in signaling pathways leading into the G(0)-to-G(1) transition. Finally, transgenic mice expressing a mutant HBP1 lacking the N-terminal RB interacting domain showed a stronger S-phase response following partial hepatectomy. These results provide the first evidence that HBP1 can regulate cell cycle progression in differentiated tissues.

Negative regulation of the Wnt-beta-catenin pathway by the transcriptional repressor HBP1

In certain cancers, constitutive Wnt signaling results from mutation in one or more pathway components. The result is the accumulation and nuclear localization of beta-catenin, which interacts with the lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF)/T-cell factor (TCF) family of HMG-box transcription factors, which activate important growth regulatory genes, including cyclin D1 and c-myc. As exemplified by APC and axin, the negative regulation of beta-catenin is important for tumor suppression. Another potential mode of negative regulation is transcriptional repression of cyclin D1 and other Wnt target genes. In mammals, the transcriptional repressors in the Wnt pathway are not well defined. We have previously identified HBP1 as an HMG-box repressor and a cell cycle inhibitor. Here, we show that HBP1 is a repressor of the cyclin D1 gene and inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway. The inhibition of Wnt signaling and growth requires a common domain of HBP1. The apparent mechanism is an inhibition of TCF/LEF DNA binding through a physical interaction with HBP1. These data suggest that the suppression of Wnt signaling by HBP1 may be a mechanism to prevent inappropriate proliferation.

Pocket protein p130/Rb2 is required for efficient herpes simplex virus type 1 gene expression and viral replication

We have reported previously that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection disrupts normal progression of the mammalian cell cycle, causing cells to enter a G(1)-like state. Infected cells were characterized by a decline in cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) activities, loss of hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRb), accumulation of E2F-pocket protein complexes, and failure to initiate cellular DNA replication. In the present study, we investigated the role of the pocket proteins pRb, p107, and p130 in HSV-1-dependent cell cycle inhibition and cyclin kinase regulation by infecting murine 3T3 cells derived from wild-type (WT) mouse embryos or embryos with deletions of pRb (pRb(-/-)), p107 (p107(-/-)), p130 (p130(-/-)), or both p130 and p107 (p130(-/-)/p107(-/-)). With respect to CDK2 inhibition, viral protein accumulation, viral DNA replication, and progeny virus yield, WT, pRb(-/-), and p107(-/-) cells were essentially identical. In contrast, after infection of p130(-/-) cells, we observed no inhibition of CDK2 activity, a 5- to 6-h delay in accumulation of viral proteins, an impaired ability to form viral DNA replication compartments, and reduced viral DNA synthesis. As a result, progeny virus yield was reduced 2 logs compared to that in WT cells. Notably, p130(-/-)/p107(-/-) double-knockout cells had a virus replication phenotype intermediate between those of the p107(-/-) and p130(-/-) cells. We conclude from these studies that p130 is a key factor in regulating aspects of cell cycle progression, as well as the timely expression of viral genes and replication of viral DNA.

Retinoblastoma-binding Protein 2 (Rbp2) Potentiates Nuclear Hormone Receptor-mediated Transcription

Retinoblastoma-binding protein 2 (Rbp2) was originally identified as a retinoblastoma protein (RB) pocket domain-binding protein. Although Rbp2 has been shown to interact with RB, p107, TATA-binding protein, and T-cell oncogene rhombotin-2, the physiological function of Rbp2 remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that Rbp2 not only binds to nuclear receptors (NRs) but also enhances the transcription mediated by them. Rbp2 interacts with the DNA-binding domains of NRs and potentiates NR-mediated transcription in an AF-2-dependent manner. Both the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of Rbp2 are critical for the transactivation activity of Rbp2 on NRs. The C terminus is the NR-interacting region. In addition, RB functions in maximizing the effect of Rbp2 on the transcription by NRs. These results suggest that Rbp2 is a coregulator of NRs and define a potential role for Rbp2 in NR-mediated transcription.

Histone H1 diversity: bridging regulatory signals to linker histone function

Genes encoding linker histone variants have evolved to link their expression to signals controlling the proliferative capacities of cells, i.e. cycling and growth-arrested cells express distinct and specific H1 subtypes. In metazoan, these variants show a tripartite structure, with considerably divergent sequences in their amino and carboxyl terminus domains. The aim of this review is to show how specific regulatory signals control the expression of an individual H1 and to discuss the functional significance of the two variables associated with a linker histone: its primary sequence and the timing of its expression.

Ebp1, an ErbB-3 binding protein, interacts with Rb and affects Rb transcriptional regulation

Ebp1, an ErbB-3 binding protein, inhibits the proliferation and induces the differentiation of human breast cancer cells. The mechanisms of these effects are unknown. Rb, the product of the retinoblastoma gene, is an important modulator of cell cycle progression and cellular differentiation. We report that Rb is a binding target for Ebp1. Ebp1 was localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of logarithmically growing AU565 breast cancer cells and HeLa cells as determined by confocal immunofluorescent microscopy. Ebp1 was present in Rb immunoprecipitates derived from AU565 breast cancer cells. GST-Rb also bound endogenous Ebp1. Using GST-Ebp1 constructs, we determined that the 72 C-terminal amino acids of Ebp1 were sufficient to bind Rb. Dephosphorylation of Ebp1 enhanced the interaction of Ebp1 with Rb. The overexpression of Ebp1 in MCF-7 and AU565 (Rb(+)) cells inhibited the activity of the E2F1 regulated cyclin-E promoter. Ebp1 bound E2F1 indirectly via Rb in lysates of MCF-7 cells. The interaction of Ebp1 with Rb may prove to be an important mechanism of Ebp1 induced changes in cell proliferation and differentiation.

Cloning and expression of human HBP1, a high mobility group protein that enhances myeloperoxidase (MPO) promoter activity

Factors which regulate transcription in immature myeloid cells are of great current interest for the light they may shed upon myeloid differentiation. In the course of screening for transcription factors which interact with the human myeloperoxidase (MPO) promoter we, for the first time, identified and cloned the cDNA and genomic DNA for human HBP1 (HMG-Box containing protein 1), a member of the high mobility group of non-histone chromosomal proteins. HBP1 cDNA was initially cloned from rat brain in 1994, but its presence in human cells or in myeloid tissue had not been described previously. The sequence of human HBP1 cDNA shows 84% overall homology with the rat HBP1 cDNA sequence. We have subsequently cloned the gene, which is present as a single copy, 25 kbp in length. Northern blotting reveals a single 2.6 kb mRNA transcript which is expressed at higher levels in human myeloid and B lymphoid cell lines than in T cell lines tested and is present in several non-myeloid human cell lines. Comparison of the mRNA and genomic sequences reveals the gene to contain 10 exons and 9 introns. The sequence of human HBP1 mRNA contains a single open reading frame, which codes for a protein 514 amino acids in length. The amino acid sequence specified by the coding region shows 95% homology with the rat HBP1 protein. The human protein sequence exhibits a putative DNA-binding domain similar to that seen in rat HBP1 and shows homology with the activation and repressor domains previously demonstrated in the rat protein. We have expressed human HBP1 protein both in vitro and in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The expressed fusion protein binds to a sequence in a functionally important region within the basal human MPO promoter. In transient co-transfection experiments HBP1 enhances MPO promoter activity. Human HBP1 appears to be a novel transcription factor which is likely to play an important role in regulating transcription in developing myeloid cells.

Regulation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein by cyclin/cdks

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRB) is a paradigm for understanding cell cycle- and proliferation-dependent transcription and how deregulation of this process contributes to the neoplastic process in humans. The ability of pRB to regulate transcription, and consequently cell proliferation and differentiation, is regulated by the activity of cyclin/cdks. In general, phosphorylation of pRB by cyclin/cdks inactivates pRB-mediated transcriptional inhibition and growth suppression. However, it is apparent that pRB is a multi-functional protein that can inhibit transcription through various mechanisms. This review focuses on recent data to suggest that different pRB functions are progressively and cooperatively inactivated by multiple cyclin/cdk complexes during G1- and S-phase. The implications of such a model for pRB-mediated tumor suppression are discussed.

Interaction between YY1 and the retinoblastoma protein. Regulation of cell cycle progression in differentiated cells

Overexpression of the transcription factor YY1 activates DNA synthesis in differentiated primary human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Overexpression of the retinoblastoma protein together with YY1 blocked this effect. In growth-arrested cells, YY1 resides in a complex with the retinoblastoma protein, but the complex is not detected in serum-stimulated S phase cultures, indicating that the interaction of the retinoblastoma protein and YY1 is cell cycle-regulated. Recombinant retinoblastoma protein directly interacts with YY1, destabilizing the interaction of YY1 with DNA and inhibiting its transcription initiator function in vitro. We conclude that in differentiated cells elevation of the nuclear level of YY1 protein favors progression into the S phase, and we propose that this activity is regulated by its interaction with the retinoblastoma protein.

Differential expression and regulation of the retinoblastoma family of proteins during testicular development and spermatogenesis: roles in the control of germ cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis

Normal spermatogenesis is highly dependent on well-balanced germ cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes are largely unknown. Retinoblastoma family proteins (pRb, p107 and p130) are potentially important regulators of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. pRb has been shown to be expressed in the rat testis and involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis. In the present study, the expression and localization of the other two pRb family members, p107 and p130, were analysed at both mRNA and protein levels during testicular development and spermatogenesis using Northern, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Furthermore, changes of levels and phosphorylation status of pRb family proteins in response to growth suppression and/or apoptosis induction were investigated using a seminiferous tubule culture system and three animal models. Our data suggest that: (1) pRb family proteins are differentially expressed in the rat testis and they function in a cell-type-specific manner during testicular development and spermatogenesis; (2) they participate in the control of germ cell cycle and act in a cell cycle-phase-specific fashion during germ cell proliferation, and (3) they are also involved in the regulation of apoptosis of germ cells and Leydig cells.

p107 and p130: versatile proteins with interesting pockets

p107 and p130 were originally identified as targets of the transforming domains of viral oncoproteins encoded by small DNA tumor viruses. Together with pRB, the protein product of the retinoblastoma gene (Rb), p107 and p130 represent a family of closely related proteins that play critical roles in the regulation of cell proliferation. p107, p130, and pRB are transcriptional regulators whose activities are coupled to the cell cycle. Each of these proteins associates with E2F and is directly regulated by phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinases. In vivo studies of p107 and p130 function have revealed that their roles overlap extensively with one another and with pRB. In addition, the analysis of mice (and cell lines derived from these animals) deficient in these proteins shows that the individual members of this family harbor distinct functions that, at present, are poorly understood. The characterization of tumor cells continues to emphasize the important and somewhat unique role of pRB in tumor suppression, and the evidence linking the specific inactivation of p107 or p130 to tumor development remains quite limited. In this review we summarize the biochemical and functional properties of p107 and p130, and we compare and contrast these properties to those of pRB.

The retinoblastoma gene: a prototypic and multifunctional tumor suppressor

Genome instability has been implicated in the generation of multiple somatic mutations that underlie cancer. Germline mutation in the retinoblastoma (RB) gene leads to tumor formation in both human and experimental animal models, and reintroduction of wild-type RB is able to suppress neoplastic phenotypes. Rb governs the passage of cells through the G1 phase-restriction point and this control is lost in most cancer cells. Rb has also been shown to promote terminal differentiation and prevent cell cycle reentry. Recent studies implicate Rb in mitotic progression, faithful chromosome segregation, checkpoint control, and chromatin remodeling, suggesting that Rb may function in the maintenance of genome integrity. It is likely that Rb suppresses tumor formation by virtue of its multiple biological activities. A single protein capable of performing multiple antioncogenic functions may be a common characteristic of other tumor suppressors including p53 and BRCA1/2.

Integration of the pRB and p53 cell cycle control pathways

Two fundamental molecular pathways, the pRB and p53 pathways, regulate cell growth and cell death. The importance of these pathways in cellular growth control is underscored by the observation that members of these pathways are found mutated in all human cancers. These two pathways have typically been studied and described independently. However, as we discuss here, recent data have revealed an intimate molecular and genetic interaction between the p53 and pRB pathways.

Cells degrade a novel inhibitor of differentiation with E1A-like properties upon exiting the cell cycle

Control of proliferation and differentiation by the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRB) and related family members depends upon their interactions with key cellular substrates. Efforts to identify such cellular targets led to the isolation of a novel protein, EID-1 (for E1A-like inhibitor of differentiation 1). Here, we show that EID-1 is a potent inhibitor of differentiation and link this activity to its ability to inhibit p300 (and the highly related molecule, CREB-binding protein, or CBP) histone acetylation activity. EID-1 is rapidly degraded by the proteasome as cells exit the cell cycle. Ubiquitination of EID-1 requires an intact C-terminal region that is also necessary for stable binding to p300 and pRB, two proteins that bind to the ubiquitin ligase MDM2. A pRB variant that can bind to EID1, but not MDM2, stabilizes EID-1 in cells. Thus, EID-1 may act at a nodal point that couples cell cycle exit to the transcriptional activation of genes required for differentiation.

Phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma-related protein p130 in growth-arrested cells

The retinoblastoma family of proteins including pRB, p107 and p130 undergoes cell cycle dependent phosphorylation during the mid-G1 to S phase transition. This phosphorylation is dependent upon the activity of cyclin D/cdk4. In contrast to pRB and p107, p130 is phosphorylated during G0 and the early G1 phase of the cell cycle. We observed that p130 is specifically phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues in T98G cells arrested in G0 by serum deprivation or density arrest. Identification of the phospho-serine and phospho-threonine residues revealed that most were clustered within a short co-linear region unique to p130, defined as the Loop. Deletion of the Loop region resulted in a change in the phosphorylation status of p130 under growth arrest conditions. Notably, deletion of the Loop did not affect the ability of p130 to bind to E2F-4 or SV40 Large T antigen, to induce growth arrest in Saos-2 cells, and to become hyperphosphorylated during the proliferative phase of the cell cycle. p130 undergoes specific G0 phosphorylation in a manner that distinguishes it from pRB and p107.

Involvement of retinoblastoma protein and HBP1 in histone H1(0) gene expression

The histone H1(0)-encoding gene is expressed in vertebrates in differentiating cells during the arrest of proliferation. In the H1(0) promoter, a specific regulatory element, which we named the H4 box, exhibits features which implicate a role in mediating H1(0) gene expression in response to both differentiation and cell cycle control signals. For instance, within the linker histone gene family, the H4 box is found only in the promoters of differentiation-associated subtypes, suggesting that it is specifically involved in differentiation-dependent expression of these genes. In addition, an element nearly identical to the H4 box is conserved in the promoters of histone H4-encoding genes and is known to be involved in their cell cycle-dependent expression. The transcription factors interacting with the H1(0) H4 box were therefore expected to link differentiation-dependent expression of H1(0) to the cell cycle control machinery. The aim of this work was to identify such transcription factors and to obtain information concerning the regulatory pathway involved. Interestingly, our cloning strategy led to the isolation of a retinoblastoma protein (RB) partner known as HBP1. HBP1, a high-mobility group box transcription factor, interacted specifically with the H1(0) H4 box and moreover was expressed in a differentiation-dependent manner. We also showed that the HBP1-encoding gene is able to produce different forms of HBP1. Finally, we demonstrated that both HBP1 and RB were involved in the activation of H1(0) gene expression. We therefore propose that HBP1 mediates a link between the cell cycle control machinery and cell differentiation signals. Through modulating the expression of specific chromatin-associated proteins such as histone H1(0), HBP1 plays a vital role in chromatin remodeling events during the arrest of cell proliferation in differentiating cells.

The retinoblastoma gene family members pRB and p107 coactivate the AP-1-dependent mouse tissue factor promoter in fibroblasts

Serum-stimulation of quiescent mouse fibroblasts results in transcriptional activation of tissue factor (TF), the cellular initiator of blood coagulation. This requires the rapid entry of c-Fos into specific AP-1 DNA-binding complexes and can be strongly inhibited by the adenovirus EIA 12S gene product. In this study, we utilized a panel of E1A mutants deficient in cellular protein binding to analyse the molecular basis for EIA inhibition of a minimal, c-Fos-dependent TF promoter/ reporter construct in mouse AKR-2B fibroblasts. Mutations which impaired binding of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein family members pRB, p107, and p130 relieved E1A-mediated inhibition of transcription in response to serum-stimulation or c-Fos overexpression. Inhibition was restricted to the G0 to G1 transition, consistent with the specificity of E1A for hypophosphorylated forms of RB proteins. Although E1A mutants deficient in CBP/p300 binding retained the ability to inhibit TF transcription, deletion of the amino-terminal portion of the CBP/p300 interaction domain was required to permit rescue of TF promoter activity by coexpression of pRB. Moreover, ectopic p107 could effectively substitute for pRB in relieving E1A-mediated repression. In primary mouse embryo fibroblasts, activity of the minimal AP-1-dependent TF promoter was suppressed in Rb(-/-) cells compared to parallel Rb(+/-) and Rb(+/+) transfectants. Ectopic expression of either pRB or p107 markedly enhanced TF promoter activity in Rb(-/-) fibroblasts. Collectively, these data imply that pRB and p107 can cooperate with c-Fos to activate TF gene transcription in fibroblasts and suggest a requirement for another, as yet unidentified, E1A-binding protein.

pRB binds to and modulates the transrepressing activity of the E1A-regulated transcription factor p120E4F

The retinoblastoma protein pRB is involved in the transcriptional control of genes essential for cell cycle progression and differentiation. pRB interacts with different transcription factors and thereby modulates their activity by sequestration, corepression, or activation. We report that pRB, but not p107 and p130, binds to and facilitates repression by p120(E4F), a ubiquitously expressed GLI-Kruppel-related protein identified as a cellular target of E1A. The interaction involves two distinct regions of p120(E4F) and the C-terminal part of pRB. In vivo pRB-p120(E4F) complexes can only be detected in growth-arrested cells, and accordingly contain the hypophosphorylated form of pRB. Repression of an E4F-responsive promoter is strongly increased by combined expression of p120(E4F) and pRB, which correlates with pRB-dependent enhancement of p120(E4F) binding activity. Elevated levels of p120(E4F) have been shown to block growth of mouse fibroblasts in G(1). We find this requires pRB, because RB(-/-) fibroblasts are significantly less sensitive to excess p120(E4F).

Caenorhabditis elegans lin-13, a member of the LIN-35 Rb class of genes involved in vulval development, encodes a protein with zinc fingers and an LXCXE motif

The SynMuv genes appear to be involved in providing a signal that inhibits vulval precursor cells from adopting vulval fates in Caenorhabditis elegans. One group of SynMuv genes, termed class B, includes genes encoding proteins related to the tumor suppressor Rb and RbAp48, a protein that binds Rb. Here, we provide genetic evidence that lin-13 behaves as a class B SynMuv gene. We show that null alleles of lin-13 are temperature sensitive and maternally rescued, resulting in phenotypes ranging in severity from L2 arrest (when both maternal and zygotic activities are removed at 25 degrees ), to sterile Multivulva (when only zygotic activity is removed at 25 degrees ), to sterile non-Multivulva (when both maternal and zygotic activities are removed at 15 degrees ), to wild-type/class B SynMuv (when only zygotic activity is removed at 15 degrees ). We also show that LIN-13 is a nuclear protein that contains multiple zinc fingers and a motif, LXCXE, that has been implicated in Rb binding. These results together suggest a role for LIN-13 in Rb-mediated repression of vulval fates.