Regulation of androgen receptor activity by the nuclear receptor corepressor SMRT

Androgen receptor mutants detected in recurrent prostate cancer exhibit diverse functional characteristics

BACKGROUND

Alterations in the function of androgen receptor (AR) and its signaling pathway may be responsible for the progression of prostate cancer. The goal of the present study was to investigate the potential roles of AR structural and functional alterations in the progression of prostate cancer, and the relationship between the structure and function of the AR.

METHODS

AR gene in 58 prostate cancer samples was examined for mutations using PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. Effects of mutations on the structure and function of AR were investigated by androgen-binding assays and transactivation assays, respectively.

RESULTS

Four novel somatic mutations (G142V, D221H, E872Q, and M886I) were identified from recurrent prostate cancer samples. None of the AR mutants differed from wild-type AR (wtAR) in their abilities to bind the synthetic androgen methyltrienolone. However, these mutated AR exhibited diverse functional characteristics as compared with wtAR. G142V and D221H showed increased responses to DHT. E872Q could be abnormally activated by 17beta-estradiol, progesterone, and cyproterone acetate (CPA). Furthermore, E872Q and M886I presented increased responses to DHT in the presence of coactivators TIF-2 and CBP, but not p300. On the other hand, although overexpression of corepressors N-CoR and SMRT could result in evident inhibition on DHT- or CPA-induced transactivity of wtAR and the AR mutants, N-CoR displayed stronger inhibitory effects on DHT-induced transactivity of the AR mutants (especially for E872Q and M886I) than that of wtAR. To our knowledge, this is the first characterization of enhanced inhibitory effects of corepressors on the transactivity of the AR mutants found in prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The data presented here demonstrate that AR mutants found in prostate cancer had different functional alterations, which might play an important role in the progression of prostate cancer.

Androgen receptor corepressors: an overview

Androgens play pivotal roles in sex differentiation and development, in reproductive functions, and sexual behavior. The actions of androgens are mediated through the intracellular androgen receptor (AR), a member of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily, which regulates a wide range of target gene expression. Recent studies indicate that the proper transcriptional activity of AR is modulated by AR coregulators, including coactivators that can enhance AR transactivation and corepressors that can suppress AR transactivation. Here, we summarize the recent discoveries relating to AR corepressor function with the following different mechanisms: (1) corepressors that inhibit the DNA binding or nuclear translocation of AR; (2) corepressors that recruit histone deacetylases; (3) corepressors that interrupt the interaction between AR and its coactivators; (4) corepressors that interrupt the interaction between the N-terminus and C-terminus of AR; (5) corepressors that function as scaffolds for other AR coregulators; (6) corepressors that target the basal transcriptional machinery; (7) other mechanisms. The potential impact and future directions of AR corepressors are also discussed.

Differently regulated androgen receptor transcriptional complex in prostate cancer compared with normal prostate

BACKGROUND

The coregulators of androgen receptors (AR) influence the transcriptional activity of AR. In order to better understand the mechanism of carcinogenesis in the prostate, we investigated the relationship between AR and AR coregulators in the early stage of prostate cancer.

METHODS

mRNA was purified from 15 samples of prostate cancer and normal tissue and transcribed into cDNA. We screened eight AR coregulators for different gene expressions in prostate cancer, comparing these with normal tissue by a real-time polymerase chain reaction Syber green method, then quantified each component of the AR transcriptional complex by a real-time PCR hybri-probe method. The extent of gene expression similarity was compared by simple Pearson correlation coefficient analysis between prostate cancer and normal tissue. We applied a z-test to calculate significant differences between r-values.

RESULTS

We found that the gene expression level of FHL2 decreased in prostate cancer compared with that of normal tissue and the gene expressions of PSA, AR and SMRT were not significant. The correlation coefficient analysis revealed that strong associations were found in the pairs of AR versus SMRT, AR versus FHL2 and SMRT versus FHL2 in prostate cancer, whereas similarity was found only in the pair of AR versus FHL2 in normal tissue. No association was observed between prostate-specific antigen and other genes.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that the AR-AR coregulator relationship is different between prostate cancer and normal tissue, leading to the hypothesis that the AR transcriptional complex is regulated differently between prostate cancer and normal tissue.

Negative modulation of androgen receptor transcriptional activity by Daxx

The transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor (AR) modulated by positive or negative regulators plays a critical role in controlling the growth and survival of prostate cancer cells. Although numerous positive regulators have been identified, negative regulators of AR are less well understood. We report here that Daxx functions as a negative AR coregulator through direct protein-protein interactions. Overexpression of Daxx suppressed AR-mediated promoter activity in COS-1 and LNCaP cells and AR-mediated prostate-specific antigen expression in LNCaP cells. Conversely, downregulation of endogenous Daxx expression by RNA interference enhances androgen-induced prostate-specific antigen expression in LNCaP cells. In vitro and in vivo interaction studies revealed that Daxx binds to both the amino-terminal and the DNA-binding domain of the AR. Daxx proteins interfere with the AR DNA-binding activity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, sumoylation of AR at its amino-terminal domain is involved in Daxx interaction and trans-repression. Together, these findings not only provide a novel role of Daxx in controlling AR transactivation activity but also uncover the mechanism underlying sumoylation-dependent transcriptional repression of the AR.

The androgen receptor recruits nuclear receptor CoRepressor (N-CoR) in the presence of mifepristone via its N and C termini revealing a novel molecular mechanism for androgen receptor antagonists

The androgen receptor (AR) activates target gene expression in the presence of agonist ligands via the recruitment of transcriptional coactivators, but recent work shows that overexpression of the nuclear corepressors NCoR and SMRT attenuates this agonist-mediated AR activation. Here we demonstrate using NCoR siRNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation that endogenous NCoR is recruited to and represses the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-liganded AR. Furthermore this study shows that NCoR and coactivators compete for AR in the presence of DHT. AR antagonists such as bicalutamide that are currently in use for prostate cancer treatment can also mediate NCoR recruitment, but mifepristone (RU486) at nanomolar concentrations is unique in its ability to markedly enhance the AR-NCoR interaction. The RU486-liganded AR interacted with a C-terminal fragment of NCoR, and this interaction was mediated by the two most C-terminal nuclear receptor interacting domains (RIDs) present in NCoR. Significantly, in addition to the AR ligand binding domain, the AR N terminus was also required for this interaction. Mutagenesis studies demonstrate that the N-terminal surface of the AR-mediating NCoR recruitment was distinct from tau5 and from the FXXLF motif that mediates agonist-induced N-C-terminal interaction. Taken together these data demonstrate that NCoR is a physiological regulator of the AR and reveal a new mechanism for AR antagonism that may be exploited for the development of more potent AR antagonists.

Cyclin D1 binding to the androgen receptor (AR) NH2-terminal domain inhibits activation function 2 association and reveals dual roles for AR corepression

The androgen receptor (AR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, the activity of which is critical for the development and progression of prostate cancer. We and others have previously demonstrated that cyclin D1 is a potent corepressor of the AR. Although cyclin D1 is suspected to recruit histone deacetylases to the AR complex, previous studies have demonstrated that this activity alone is insufficient for cyclin D1 function. Here, we uncover a novel, secondary means of cyclin D1-mediated repression, through modulation of AR amino-carboxy terminal interactions. We show that cyclin D1 predominantly binds the N-terminal domain of the AR, dependent on the AR 23FxxLF27 motif. Through this motif, cyclin D1 abrogates the ability of the AR N-terminal domain to interact with the C terminus. Secondary amino-terminal domain sites capable of fostering interaction with the C terminus were refractory to cyclin D1 action, indicating that the ability of cyclin D1 to modulate AR amino-carboxy terminal interactions is specific to 23FxxLF27. Deletion of the N-terminal cyclin D1 binding site severely compromised AR activity (due to loss of FxxLF) but unmasked a repressor action through interaction with the AR C terminus. In summary, these data reveal novel, unexpected mechanisms of cyclin D1 activity and demonstrate that this function of cyclin D1 is critical for AR modulation.

Differential modulation of androgen receptor transcriptional activity by the nuclear receptor co-repressor (N-CoR)

Antiandrogens are widely used agents in the treatment of prostate cancer, as inhibitors of AR (androgen receptor) action. Although the precise mechanism of antiandrogen action is not yet elucidated, recent studies indicate the involvement of nuclear receptor co-repressors. In the present study, the regulation of AR transcriptional activity by N-CoR (nuclear receptor co-repressor), in the presence of different ligands, has been investigated. Increasing levels of N-CoR differentially affected the transcriptional activity of AR occupied with either agonistic or antagonistic ligands. Small amounts of co-transfected N-CoR repressed CPA (cyproterone acetate)- and mifepristone (RU486)-mediated AR activity, but did not affect agonist (R1881)-induced AR activity. Larger amounts of co-transfected N-CoR repressed AR activity for all ligands, and converted the partial agonists CPA and RU486 into strong AR antagonists. In the presence of the agonist R1881, co-expression of the p160 co-activator TIF2 (transcriptional intermediary factor 2) relieved N-CoR repression up to control levels. However, in the presence of RU486 and CPA, TIF2 did not functionally compete with N-CoR, suggesting that antagonist-bound AR has a preference for N-CoR. The AR mutation T877A (Thr877-->Ala), which is frequently found in prostate cancer and affects the ligand-induced conformational change of the AR, considerably reduced the repressive action of N-CoR. The agonistic activities of CPA- and hydroxyflutamide-occupied T877A-AR were hardly affected by N-CoR, whereas TIF2 strongly enhanced their activities. These results indicate that lack of N-CoR action allows these antiandrogens to act as strong agonists on the mutant AR.

The LATS2/KPM Tumor Suppressor Is a Negative Regulator of the Androgen Receptor

The androgen receptor (AR) is a member of the steroid receptor superfamily that plays critical roles in the development and maintenance of the male reproductive system and in prostate cancer. Actions of AR are controlled by interaction with several classes of coregulators. In this study, we have identified LATS2/KPM as a novel AR-interacting protein. Human LATS1 and LATS2 are tumor suppressors that are homologs of Drosophila warts/lats. The interaction surface of LATS2 is mapped to the central region of the protein, whereas the AR ligand binding domain is sufficient for this interaction. LATS2 functions as a modulator of AR by inhibiting androgen-regulated gene expression. The mechanism of LATS2-mediated repression of AR activity appears to involve the inhibition of AR NH2- and COOH-terminal interaction. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in human prostate carcinoma cells reveal that LATS2 and AR are present in the protein complex that binds at the promoter and enhancer regions of prostate-specific antigen, and overexpression of LATS2 results in a reduction in androgen-induced expression of endogenous prostate-specific antigen mRNA. Immunohistochemistry shows that LATS2 and AR are localized within the prostate epithelium and that LATS2 expression is lower in human prostate tumor samples than in normal prostate. The results suggest that LATS2 may play a role in AR-mediated transcription and contribute to the development of prostate cancer.

Recruitment of beta-catenin by wild-type or mutant androgen receptors correlates with ligand-stimulated growth of prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancers respond to treatments that suppress androgen receptor (AR) function, with bicalutamide, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate (CPA) being AR antagonists in clinical use. As CPA has substantial agonist activity, it was examined to identify AR coactivator/corepressor interactions that may mediate androgen-stimulated prostate cancer growth. The CPA-liganded AR was coactivated by steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) but did not mediate N-C terminal interactions or recruit beta-catenin, indicating a nonagonist conformation. Nonetheless, CPA did not enhance AR interaction with nuclear receptor corepressor, whereas the AR antagonist RU486 (mifepristone) strongly stimulated AR-nuclear receptor corepressor binding. The role of coactivators was further assessed with a T877A AR mutation, found in LNCaP prostate cancer cells, which converts hydroxyflutamide (HF, the active flutamide metabolite) into an agonist that stimulates LNCaP cell growth. The HF and CPA-liganded T877A ARs were coactivated by SRC-1, but only the HF-liganded T877A AR was coactivated by beta-catenin. L-39, a novel AR antagonist that transcriptionally activates the T877A AR, but still inhibits LNCaP growth, similarly mediated recruitment of SRC-1 and not beta-catenin. In contrast, beta-catenin coactivated a bicalutamide-responsive mutant AR (W741C) isolated from a bicalutamide-stimulated LNCaP subline, further implicating beta-catenin recruitment in AR-stimulated growth. Androgen-stimulated prostate-specific antigen gene expression in LNCaP cells could be modulated by beta-catenin, and endogenous c-myc expression was repressed by dihydrotestosterone, but not CPA. These results indicate that interactions between AR and beta-catenin contribute to prostate cell growth in vivo, although specific growth promoting genes positively regulated by AR recruitment of beta-catenin remain to be identified.

Actin monomer enhances supervillin-modulated androgen receptor transactivation

Actin-binding protein, supervillin, has been identified as an androgen receptor (AR) coregulator. Although actin has been suggested to participate in transcription regulation, the mechanism is not clear. Here we demonstrate signals involved in the cytoskeleton dynamic can modulate the coregulator function of supervillin. Three actin isoforms cooperate with supervillin in additive manner to further enhance AR transactivation. Latrunculin B toxin, an actin chelator, reduces the availability of monomer actin and attenuates supervillin function. Rac, the small G-protein kinase, is well studied in reorganization of cytoskeleton. The overexpression of constitutive-active Rac triggers the membrane ruffling site and reduces the coregulator activity of supervillin. Together, the availability of actin monomer affects supervillin-modulated AR transactivation.

Human checkpoint protein hRad9 functions as a negative coregulator to repress androgen receptor transactivation in prostate cancer cells

Positive responses to combined androgen elimination therapy and radiation therapy have been well documented in the treatment of prostate cancer patients. The detailed mechanisms how androgen-androgen receptor (AR) cross talks to the radiation-related signal pathways, however, remain largely unknown. Here we report the identification of hRad9, a key member of the checkpoint Rad protein family, as a coregulator to suppress androgen-AR transactivation in prostate cancer cells. In vivo and in vitro interaction assays using Saccharomyces cerevisiae two-hybrid, mammalian two-hybrid, glutathione S-transferase pull-down, and coimmunoprecipitation methods prove that AR can interact with the C terminus of hRad9 via its ligand binding domain. The FXXLF motif within the C terminus of hRad9 interrupts the androgen-induced interaction between the N terminus and C terminus of AR. This interaction between AR and hRad9 may result in the suppression of AR transactivation, demonstrated by the repressed AR transactivation in androgen-induced luciferase reporter assay and the reduced endogenous prostate-specific antigen expression in Western blot assay. Addition of small interfering RNA of hRad9 can reverse hRad9 suppression effects, which suggests that hRad9 functions as a repressor of AR transactivation in vivo. Together, our data provide the first linkage between androgen-AR signals and radiation-induced responses. Further studies of the influence of hRad9 on prostate cancer growth may provide potential new therapeutic approaches.

Androgen receptor in prostate cancer

The normal development and maintenance of the prostate is dependent on androgen acting through the androgen receptor (AR). AR remains important in the development and progression of prostate cancer. AR expression is maintained throughout prostate cancer progression, and the majority of androgen-independent or hormone refractory prostate cancers express AR. Mutation of AR, especially mutations that result in a relaxation of AR ligand specificity, may contribute to the progression of prostate cancer and the failure of endocrine therapy by allowing AR transcriptional activation in response to antiandrogens or other endogenous hormones. Similarly, alterations in the relative expression of AR coregulators have been found to occur with prostate cancer progression and may contribute to differences in AR ligand specificity or transcriptional activity. Prostate cancer progression is also associated with increased growth factor production and an altered response to growth factors by prostate cancer cells. The kinase signal transduction cascades initiated by mitogenic growth factors modulate the transcriptional activity of AR and the interaction between AR and AR coactivators. The inhibition of AR activity through mechanisms in addition to androgen ablation, such as modulation of signal transduction pathways, may delay prostate cancer progression.

Molecular mechanism of suppression of testicular steroidogenesis by proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) has been demonstrated to inhibit steroidogenesis in Leydig cells at the transcriptional level of steroidogenic enzymes. However, the molecular mechanism of this observed gene repression is not well understood. We now demonstrate that nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activated by TNF-alpha inhibits the transactivation of orphan nuclear receptors, which regulate the expression of steroidogenic-enzyme genes. TNF-alpha treatment suppressed the luteinizing-hormone-induced or Nur77/SF-1-stimulated promoter activity of steroidogenic-enzyme genes in Leydig cells. The TNF-alpha-mediated gene suppression was blocked by treatment with an inhibitor of NF-kappaB. In addition, overexpression of the p65 (RelA) subunit of NF-kappaB showed the same effect as TNF-alpha and inhibited Nur77 transactivation, suggesting the involvement of NF-kappaB activation in the observed gene repression. Physical association of Nur77 with p65 was revealed by mammalian two-hybrid, GST pull-down, and coimmunoprecipitation analyses. The NF-kappaB inhibition of Nur77 transactivation was likely due to the competition of p65 for Nur77 binding with coactivators. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that TNF-alpha treatment caused the recruitment of NF-kappaB to the promoter of the steroidogenic-enzyme p450c17 gene, supporting the hypothesis that the TNF-alpha-mediated gene repression involves NF-kappaB inhibition of the transcriptional activity of Nur77 and other orphan nuclear receptors. These findings provide a molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis by proinflammatory cytokines.

Ataxin 1, a SCA1 neurodegenerative disorder protein, is functionally linked to the silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors

Ataxin 1 (Atx1) is a foci-forming polyglutamine protein of unknown function, whose mutant form causes type 1 spinocerebellar ataxia in humans and exerts neurotoxicity in transgenic mouse and fly expressing mutant Atx1. In this study, we demonstrate that Atx1 interacts with the transcriptional corepressor SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors) and with histone deacetylase 3. Atx1 binds chromosomes and mediates transcriptional repression when tethered to DNA. Interaction with SMRT-related factors is a conserved feature of Atx1, because Atx1 also binds SMRTER, a Drosophila cognate of SMRT. Significantly, mutant Atx1 forms aggregates in Drosophila, and such mutant Atx1-mediated aggregates sequester SMRTER. Consistently, the neurodegenerative eye phenotype caused by mutant Atx1 is enhanced by a Smrter mutation and, conversely, is suppressed by a chromosomal duplication that contains the wild type Smrter gene. Together, our results suggest that Atx1 is a transcriptional factor whose mutant form exerts its deleterious effects in part by perturbing corepressor-dependent transcriptional pathways.

ARA67/PAT1 functions as a repressor to suppress androgen receptor transactivation

The androgen receptor (AR) may recruit multiple coregulators for proper or optimal transactivation. Here we report the identification and characterization of ARA67/PAT1 as an AR coregulator from a prostate cDNA library. ARA67/PAT1 was screened out as an AR N terminus interacting protein. Interaction mapping shows that the cooperation of multiple domains within ARA67/PAT1 may be required for the maximal interaction with AR. ARA67/PAT1 functions as a repressor with better suppressive effects on AR compared to glucocorticoid receptor and estrogen receptor. Further mechanism dissection reveals that the interrupted AR cytoplasmic-nuclear shuttling may play a major role in ARA67/PAT1 mediated suppression on AR. Together, these results suggest that ARA67/PAT1 may function as a novel repressor that can modulate AR function in prostate cancer.

Coregulator function: a key to understanding tissue specificity of selective receptor modulators

Ligands for the nuclear receptor superfamily control many aspects of biology, including development, reproduction, and homeostasis, through regulation of the transcriptional activity of their cognate receptors. Selective receptor modulators (SRMs) are receptor ligands that exhibit agonistic or antagonistic biocharacter in a cell- and tissue context-dependent manner. The prototypical SRM is tamoxifen, which as a selective estrogen receptor modulator, can activate or inhibit estrogen receptor action. SRM-induced alterations in the conformation of the ligand-binding domains of nuclear receptors influence their abilities to interact with other proteins, such as coactivators and corepressors. It has been postulated, therefore, that the relative balance of coactivator and corepressor expression within a given target cell determines the relative agonist vs. antagonist activity of SRMs. However, recent evidence reveals that the cellular environment also plays a critical role in determining SRM biocharacter. Cellular signaling influences the activity and subcellular localization of coactivators and corepressors as well as nuclear receptors, and this contributes to gene-, cell-, and tissue-specific responses to SRM ligands. Increased understanding of the effect of cellular environment on nuclear receptors and their coregulators has the potential to open the field of SRM discovery and research to many members of the nuclear receptor superfamily.

Nuclear Receptor Recruitment of Histone-Modifying Enzymes to Target Gene Promoters

Nuclear receptors (NRs) compose one of the largest known families of eukaryotic transcription factors and, as such, serve as a paradigm for understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional regulation. The packaging of eukaryotic genomic DNA into a higher ordered chromatin structure, which generally acts as a barrier to transcription by inhibiting transcription factor accessibility, has a major influence on the mechanisms by which NRs activate or repress gene expression. A major breakthrough in the field's understanding of these mechanisms comes from the recent identification of NR-associated coregulatory factors (i.e., coactivators and corepressors). Although several of these NR cofactors are involved in chromatin remodeling and facilitating the recruitment of the basal transcription machinery, the focus of this chapter is on NR coactivators and corepressors that act to covalently modify the amino-terminal tails of core histones. These modifications (acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation) are thought to directly affect chromatin structure and?or serve as binding surfaces for other coregulatory proteins. This chapter presents the most current models for NR recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes and then summarizes their functional importance in NR-associated gene expression.

Agonist-antagonist induced coactivator and corepressor interplay on the human androgen receptor

The human androgen receptor (AR) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. However, in contrast to other members of this family the amino-(N)-terminus of AR harbors the major transactivation function. Previously we have shown that hormone antagonists that bind to the carboxy-terminal ligand-binding domain repress AR through recruitment of corepressors that are recruited to the receptor N-terminus. Here we show by a modified mammalian two-hybrid system that both the AR interacting domains of the coactivator SRC1 and of the corepressor SMRT compete for interaction with the AR N-terminus. In contrast to other members of the nuclear receptor superfamily the LXXLL motifs of SRC1e are not required for this interaction, instead a stretch of 135 amino acids of the glutamine rich region (Qr) of SRC1e is essential to bind to the AR N-terminus. We show that the Qr-region of SRC1 is able to inhibit the interaction of SMRT with AR. Also, we demonstrate that the corepressor mediated repression decreases the antagonist-induced transactivation while, surprisingly, it increases the agonist-induced transactivation. This may indicate that coactivators and corepressors act in concert to dictate the overall receptor-mediated action dependent on the type of ligand.

Androgen receptor isoforms AR-A and AR-B display functional differences in cultured human bone cells and genital skin fibroblasts

Two isoforms of the androgen receptor (AR-A and AR-B), differing by a lack of the first 187 amino acids in the NH2-terminal transactivation domain of AR-A, are expressed in connective tissue and bone. Transient transfections of normal human osteoblastic cells (HOB) and of genital skin fibroblasts defective in AR (GSF-540) were utilized to compare the functional properties of AR isoforms in mesenchymal tissues. Overexpression of AR-B or AR-A did not significantly affect type I collagen secretion. However, overexpression of AR-B (but not AR-A) restored androgen-dependent DNA synthesis in AR-defective fibroblasts and increased DHT-mediated DNA synthesis three-fold in osteoblastic cells. Overexpression of AR-A did not affect DHT action but reduced DHT-dependent DNA synthesis when transfected together with AR-B. The need for an NH2-terminal sequence of the AR for complete receptor function was demonstrated using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. A peptide coding for the amino terminus of the complete AR was able to decrease the binding affinity of AR-B and increase the binding affinity of AR-A to the androgen response element. Our results suggest that AR-A lacks the ability to stimulate cell proliferation possibly due to reduced binding of AR co-activating proteins to the truncated N-terminal transactivation domain rather than due to impaired stability of the AR-A isoform.

SNF2-related CBP activator protein (SRCAP) functions as a coactivator of steroid receptor-mediated transcription through synergistic interactions with CARM-1 and GRIP-1

SRCAP (SNF2-related CBP activator protein) is a 350-kDa protein that shares homology with the SNF2 family of proteins whose members function in various aspects of transcriptional regulation. In various cell types, SRCAP is found in distinct multiprotein complexes that include proteins found in SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes. SRCAP was identified by its ability to bind to CBP and was found to potentiate the ability of CBP to activate transcription. Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that SRCAP functions as a coactivator for CREB-mediated transcription of a number of promoters, including that of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene. Our current studies demonstrate that SRCAP enhances phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promoter transcription induced by glucocorticoids. SRCAP also enhances glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcription of a simple promoter containing only two glucocorticoid response elements, indicating that SRCAP functions as a glucocorticoid receptor coactivator. In similar studies, SRCAP was also found to serve as a coactivator for the androgen receptor. SRCAP exhibits synergistic activation with nuclear receptor coactivators and functionally interacts in vivo with glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein-1 and coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase-1. We propose that SRCAP, by virtue of its ability to interact with CBP, functions as a coactivator to regulate transcription initiated by several signaling pathways.

Repressors of androgen and progesterone receptor action

Androgen and progesterone receptors (AR and PR) are two determining factors in gonadal differentiation that are highly expressed in developing and mature gonads. Loss of AR results in XY sex reversal and mutations causing reduced AR activity lead to varying degrees of defects in masculinization. Female PR knockout mice are infertile due to ovarian defects. While much has been discovered about positive regulation of these receptors by coactivators little is known about repression of the transcriptional activity of AR and PR in the presence of agonists. In this study we assessed the effect of SMRT and DAX-1 on AR and PR activity in the presence of both agonists and partial antagonists. We show that SMRT and DAX-1 repress agonist-dependent activity of both receptors, and the mechanism of repression includes disruption of the receptor dimer interactions rather than recruitment of histone deacetylases. We demonstrate that endogenous agonist-bound PR and DAX-1 in T47D breast cancer cells and endogenous AR and DAX-1 in LNCaP prostate cancer cells can be coimmunoprecipitated suggesting that the interaction is physiological. Surprisingly, although DAX-1 represses partial antagonist activity of AR, it was ineffective in repressing partial antagonist induced activity of PR. In contrast to most reported repressors, the expression of DAX-1 is restricted. We found that although DAX-1 is expressed in normal human prostate, its expression is strongly reduced in benign prostatic hyperplasia suggesting that DAX-1 plays a role in limiting AR activity in prostate.

Nuclear receptor modifications and endocrine cell proliferation

Heritable and reversible changes in gene expression can occur without alterations in DNA sequence largely dependent upon the position of a gene within an accessible (euchromatic) chromatin environment. This position effect variegation in Drosophila and S. pombe, and higher order chromatin structure regulation in yeast, is orchestrated by modifier genes of the Su(var) group (e.g. histone deacetylases (HDACs), protein phosphatases) and enhancer E(var) group (e.g. ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling proteins). Higher order chromatin structure is regulated in part by covalent modification of the N-terminal histone tails of chromatin and histone tails in turn serve as platforms for recruitment of signaling modules that include non-histone proteins such as HP1 and NuRD. As the enzymes governing chromatin structure through covalent modifications of histones (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination) can also target non-histone substrates, a mechanism is in place by which epigenetic regulatory processes can affect the function of these alternate substrates. The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily consists of conserved modular transcriptional regulators. Herein, we review the functional properties of nuclear receptors regulated by their direct acetylation including ligand-dependent activation, cellular growth and apoptosis.