Cellular proteins localized at and interacting within ND10/PML nuclear bodies/PODs suggest functions of a nuclear depot

Variations on a theme: the alternate translocations in APL

The t(15;17)(q22;q21) translocation is tightly linked to the APL phenotype, and the resultant PML-RAR fusion can be demonstrated in 98% of APL cases. Rare variant translocations have been reported, the majority of which on detailed analysis represent cryptic PML-RAR fusions. However, a handful of APL cases have been described with different genotypes. These include the t(11;17)(q23;q21) that produces the PLZF-RAR fusion, t(5;17)(q35;q21) that forms NPM-RAR, t(11;17)(q13;q21) that generates NUMA-RAR, and der(17) that creates STAT5b-RAR. In this review we will discuss these variant translocations, and discuss the insights that we have gained from their study.

SUMO-1 protease-1 regulates gene transcription through PML

During a screen to identify c-Jun activators, we isolated a cysteine protease, SuPr-1, that induced c-Jun-dependent transcription independently of c-Jun phosphorylation. SuPr-1 is a member of a new family of proteases that hydrolyze the ubiquitin-like modifier, SUMO-1. SuPr-1 hydrolyzed SUMO-1-modified forms of the promyelocytic leukemia gene product, PML, and altered the subcellular distribution of PML in nuclear PODs (PML oncogenic domains). SuPr-1 also altered the distribution of other nuclear POD-associated proteins, such as CBP and Daxx, that act as transcriptional regulators. SuPr-1 action on transcription was enhanced by PML, and SuPr-1 failed to activate transcription in PML-deficient fibroblasts. Our studies establish an important role for SUMO proteases in transcription.

Finding a role for PML in APL pathogenesis: a critical assessment of potential PML activities

In normal mammalian cells the promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is primarily localized in multiprotein nuclear complexes called PML nuclear bodies. However, both PML and PML nuclear bodies are disrupted in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The treatment of APL patients with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) results in clinical remission associated with blast cell differentiation and reformation of the PML nuclear bodies. These observations imply that the structural integrity of the PML nuclear body is critically important for normal cellular functions. Indeed, PML protein is a negative growth regulator capable of causing growth arrest in the G(1) phase of the cell cycle, transformation suppression, senescence and apoptosis. These PML-mediated, physiological effects can be readily demonstrated. However, a discrete biochemical and molecular model of PML function has yet to be defined. Upon first assessment of the current PML literature there appears to be a seemingly endless list of potential PML partner proteins implicating PML in a variety of regulatory mechanisms at every level of gene expression. The purpose of this review is to simplify this confusing field of research by using strict criteria to deduce which models of PML body function are well supported.

Gamma interferon and cadmium treatments modulate eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-dependent mRNA transport of cyclin D1 in a PML-dependent manner

The eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), when dysregulated, transforms cells. A substantial fraction of eIF4E forms nuclear bodies that colocalize with those associated with the promyelocytic leukemia protein PML. Overexpression studies indicate that nuclear eIF4E promotes the transport of cyclin D1 mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and that PML is a key negative regulator of this function. Since previous studies used overexpression methods, the physiological relevance of eIF4E mRNA transport function or its interaction with PML remained unknown. Therefore, we monitored whether eIF4E-dependent transport could be modulated in response to environmental conditions. Here we report that cadmium treatment, which disperses PML nuclear bodies, leaves eIF4E bodies intact, leading to increased transport of cyclin D1 mRNA and increased cyclin D1 protein levels. Removal of cadmium allows PML to reassociate with eIF4E nuclear bodies, leading to decreased cyclin D1 transport and reduced cyclin D1 protein levels. In contrast, we show that treating cells with interferon increased the levels of PML protein at the PML-eIF4E nuclear body, leading to nuclear retention of cyclin D1 transcripts and reduced cyclin D1 protein levels. Neither interferon nor cadmium treatment altered cyclin D1 levels in PML(-/-) cells. Consistently, overexpression of a series of PML and eIF4E mutant proteins established that PML eIF4E interaction is required for the observed effects of cadmium and interferon treatment. The present study provides the first evidence that physiological factors modulate the mRNA transport functions of eIF4E and that this regulation is PML dependent.

Regulation of PML-dependent transcriptional repression by pRB and low penetrance pRB mutants

The retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is thought to suppress tumorigenesis, in part, through interactions with E2F transcription factors. However, certain low penetrance pRB mutants substantially reduce tumor incidence despite having a minimal ability to bind E2F. These low penetrance mutants retain the ability to induce a senescence-like state, suggesting that they may suppress tumorigenesis through a senescence-associated process. Here, we identify a novel pRB function that is associated with senescence and which is retained by non-E2F binding low penetrance pRB mutants. It was found that pRB and these mutants substantially increased the production of PML nuclear bodies (NBs). In keeping with the role of PML in transcriptional repression, pRB also promoted PML-dependent transcriptional repression by the c-Myc antagonist Mad1. In a series of pRB-p130 chimeric proteins, the ability to increase NB production correlated with the ability to induce a senescence-like phenotype. However, neither NB formation nor PML function were required for pRB to induce the senescence-like response. Together, these observations indicate that a pRB-induced increase in PML NB formation is coordinated with, but separable from, the pRB-induced senescence program. The data further suggest that PML may contribute to an E2F-independent tumor suppressor function of pRB.

Daxx-mediated accumulation of human cytomegalovirus tegument protein pp71 at ND10 facilitates initiation of viral infection at these nuclear domains

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) starts immediate-early transcription at nuclear domains 10 (ND10), forming a highly dynamic immediate transcript environment at this nuclear site. The reason for this spatial correlation remains enigmatic, and the mechanism for induction of transcription at ND10 is unknown. We investigated whether tegument-based transactivators are involved in the specific intranuclear location of HCMV. Here, we demonstrate that the HCMV transactivator tegument protein pp71 accumulates at ND10 before the production of immediate-early proteins. Intracellular trafficking of pp71 is facilitated through binding to a coiled-coil region of Daxx. The C-terminal domain of Daxx then interacts with SUMO-modified PML, resulting in the deposition of pp71 at ND10. In Daxx-deficient cells, pp71 does not accumulate at ND10, proving in vivo the necessity of Daxx for pp71 deposition. Also, HCMV forms immediate transcript environments at sites other than ND10 in Daxx-deficient cells, and so does the HCMV pp71 knockout mutant UL82(-/-) in normal cells. This result strongly suggests that pp71 and Daxx are essential for HCMV transcription at ND10. Lack of Daxx had the effect of reducing the infection rate. We conclude that the tegument transactivator pp71 facilitates viral genome deposition and transcription at ND10, possibly priming HCMV for more efficient productive infection.

Dubble or nothing? Is HAUSP deubiquitylating enzyme the final arbiter of p53 levels?

Signal transduction processes can be regulated by biochemical modifications that affect protein activity or localization and by protein stability. Proteins implicated in cancer, such as beta-catenin and p53, are regulated by a combination of posttranslational modifications and protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Wood explores how ubiquitylation of these proteins may not be as unidirectional as previously thought. With the identification of substrate-specific deubiquitylating enzymes, ubiquitylation may not always lead to protein destruction, but may provide another finely tunable step for controlling protein activity.

Deconstructing PML-induced premature senescence

In this study, we investigated the subcellular and molecular mechanisms underlying promyelocytic leukemia (PML)-induced premature senescence. We demonstrate that intact PML nuclear bodies are not required for the induction of senescence. We have determined further that of seven known PML isoforms, only PML IV is capable of causing premature senescence, providing the first evidence for functional differences among these isoforms. Of interest is the fact that in contrast to PML(+/+) fibroblasts, PML(-/-) cells are resistant to PML IV-induced senescence. This suggests that although PML IV is necessary for this process to occur, it is not sufficient and requires other components for activity. Finally, we provide evidence that PML IV-induced senescence involves stabilization and activation of p53 through phosphorylation at Ser46 and acetylation at Lys382, and that it occurs independently of telomerase and differs from that elicited by oncogenic Ras. Taken together, our data assign a specific pro-senescent activity to an individual PML isoform that involves p53 activation and is independent from PML nuclear bodies.

Reorganization of nuclear domain 10 induced by papillomavirus capsid protein l2

Nuclear domains (ND) 10 are associated with proteins implicated in transcriptional regulation, growth suppression, and apoptosis. We now show that the minor capsid protein L2 of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 33 induces a reorganization of ND10-associated proteins. Whereas the promyelocytic leukemia protein, the major structural component of ND10, was unaffected by L2, Sp100 was released from ND10 upon L2 expression. The total cellular amount of Sp100, but not of Sp100 mRNA, decreased significantly, suggesting degradation of Sp100. Proteasome inhibitors induced the dispersal of Sp100 and inhibited the nuclear translocation of L2. In contrast to Sp100, Daxx was recruited to ND10 by L2 expression. Coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated interaction of the two proteins. L2-induced reorganization of ND10 was observed both in cell culture and in natural HPV lesions. The differential change in protein composition observed provides further evidence to suggest that the ND10-associated proteins are an important interface of viral life cycle and host cell.