Polyomavirus large T antigen binds the transcriptional coactivator protein p300

Adenovirus E1A binding to DCAF10 targets proteasomal degradation of RUVBL1/2 AAA+ ATPases required for quaternary assembly of multiprotein machines, innate immunity, and responses to metabolic stress

IMPORTANCE

Inactivation of EP300/CREBB paralogous cellular lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) during the early phase of infection is a consistent feature of DNA viruses. The cell responds by stabilizing transcription factor IRF3 which activates transcription of scores of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), inhibiting viral replication. Human respiratory adenoviruses counter this by assembling a CUL4-based ubiquitin ligase complex that polyubiquitinylates RUVBL1 and 2 inducing their proteasomal degradation. This inhibits accumulation of active IRF3 and the expression of anti-viral ISGs, allowing replication of the respiratory HAdVs in the face of inhibition of EP300/CBEBBP KAT activity by the N-terminal region of E1A.

Bromodomain Drug Discovery - the Past, the Present, and the Future

With the bromodomain (BRD) inhibitor JQ1, a remarkable success story of BRD4 as a novel drug target has been set off that yielded many anti-cancer drugs that are now in clinical trials. But not all of the great prospects of BRDs as drug targets may become true. First evaluations of ongoing clinical trials revealed that treatment with BET-inhibitors can be accompanied with significant toxic side effects and the validation of the therapeutic benefit of BET-inhibitors compared to existing therapies is still pending. New strategies that may overcome possible obstacles in BRD drug discovery include combination therapies with other agents, dual target inhibitors, and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). Furthermore, non-BET proteins seem promising drug targets as well. Most recently, BRDs have been identified as putative targets to treat parasitic diseases such as malaria. Milestones in BRD drug discovery are reviewed and promising new developments are evaluated.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 immediate-early protein (bICP0) interacts with the histone acetyltransferase p300, which stimulates productive infection and gC promoter activity

The immediate-early protein, bICP0, ofBovine herpesvirus 1(BHV-1) transactivates viral promoters and stimulates productive infection. bICP0 is expressed constitutively during productive infection, as its gene contains an immediate-early and an early promoter. Like other ICP0 homologues encoded by members of the subfamilyAlphaherpesvirinae, bICP0 contains a zinc RING finger located near its N terminus. Mutations that disrupt the bICP0 zinc RING finger impair its ability to activate transcription, stimulate productive infection, inhibit interferon-dependent transcription in certain cell types and regulate subnuclear localization. bICP0 also interacts with a cellular chromatin-remodelling enzyme, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and can relieve HDAC1-mediated transcriptional repression, suggesting that bICP0 inhibits silencing of the viral genome. In this study, it was shown that bICP0 interacted with the histone acetyltransferase p300 during productive infection and in transiently transfected cells. In addition, p300 enhanced BHV-1 productive infection and transactivated a late viral promoter (gC). In contrast, a CH3-domain deletion mutant of p300, which is a dominant-negative mutant, did not activate the gC promoter. bICP0 and p300 cooperated to activate the gC promoter, suggesting that there is a synergistic effect on promoter activation. As p300 can activate certain antiviral signalling pathways (for example, interferon), it was hypothesized that interactions between p300 and bICP0 may dampen the antiviral response following infection.

Targeting of p300/CREB binding protein coactivators by simian virus 40 is mediated through p53

The primary transforming functions of simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40 LT) are conferred primarily through the binding and inactivation of p53 and the retinoblastoma family members. Normal p53 function requires an association with the CREB binding protein (CBP)/p300 coactivators, and a ternary complex containing SV40 LT, p53, and CBP/p300 has been identified previously. In this report, we have evaluated a secondary function of p53 bound to the SV40 LT complex in mediating the binding of human CBP/p300. We demonstrate that p53 associated with SV40 LT was posttranslationally modified in a manner consistent with the binding of CBP/p300. Furthermore, expression of SV40 LT induced the proportion of p53 phosphorylated on S15. An essential function for p53 in bridging the interaction between SV40 LT and CBP/p300 was identified through the reconstitution of the SV40 LT-CBP/p300 complex upon p53 reexpression in p53-null cells. In addition, the SV40 LT-CBP/p300 complex was disrupted through RNA interference-mediated depletion of endogenous p53. We also demonstrate that SV40 LT was acetylated in a p300- and p53-dependent manner, at least in part through the CH3 domain of p300. Therefore, the binding of p53 serves to modify SV40 LT by targeting CBP and p300 binding to direct the acetylation of SV40 LT.

Activation of CREB/ATF sites by polyomavirus large T antigen

Polyomavirus large T antigen (LT) has a direct role in viral replication and a profound effect on cell phenotype. It promotes cell cycle progression, immortalizes primary cells, blocks differentiation, and causes apoptosis. While much of large T function is related to its effects on tumor suppressors of the retinoblastoma susceptibility (Rb) gene family, we have previously shown that activation of the cyclin A promoter can occur through a non-Rb-dependent mechanism. Here we show that activation occurs via an ATF/CREB site. Investigation of the mechanism indicates that large T can synergize with CREB family members to activate transcription. Experiments with Gal4-CREB constructs show that synergy is independent of CREB phosphorylation by protein kinase A. Examination of synergy with Gal4-CREB deletion constructs indicates that large T acts on the constitutive activation domain of CREB. Large T can bind to CREB in vivo. Genetic analysis shows that the DNA-binding domain (residues 264 to 420) is sufficient to activate transcription when it is localized to the nucleus. Further analysis of the DNA-binding domain shows that while site-specific DNA binding is not required, non-site-specific DNA binding is important for the activation. Thus, CREB binding and DNA binding are both important for large T activation of CREB/ATF sites. In contrast to previous models where large T transactivation occurred indirectly, these results also suggest that large T can act directly at promoters to activate transcription.

Transactivation of E2F-regulated genes by polyomavirus large T antigen: evidence for a two-step mechanism

Polyomavirus large T antigen transactivates a variety of genes whose products are involved in S phase induction. These genes are regulated by the E2F family of transcription factors, which are under the control of the pocket protein retinoblastoma protein and its relatives p130 and p107. The viral protein causes a dissociation of E2F-pocket protein complexes that results in transactivation of the genes. This reaction requires the N-terminal binding site for pocket proteins and the J domain that binds chaperones. We found earlier that a mutation of the zinc finger located within the C-terminal domain, a region assumed to function mainly in the replication of viral DNA, also interferes with transactivation. Here we show that binding of the histone acetyltransferase coactivator complex CBP/p300-PCAF to the C terminus correlates with the ability of large T antigen to transactivate genes. This interaction results in promoter-specific acetylation of histones. Inactive mutant proteins with changes within the C-terminal domain were nevertheless able to dissociate the E2F pocket protein complexes, indicating that this dissociation is a necessary but insufficient step in the T antigen-induced transactivation of genes. It has to be accompanied by a second step involving the T antigen-mediated recruitment of a histone acetyltransferase complex.

Polyomavirus tumorantigens have a profound effect on gene expression in mouse fibroblasts

Polyomavirus (Py) large and small tumorantigens together are competent to induce S phase in growth-arrested mouse fibroblasts. The capacity of the large tumorantigen to bind the pocket proteins, pRB, p130 and p107, is important for the transactivation of DNA synthesis enzymes and the cyclins E and A, while the interference of small tumorantigen with protein phosphatase PP2A causes a destabilization of the cdk2 inhibitor p27, and thus leads to strong cyclin E- and cyclin A-dependent cdk2 activity. Py small tumorantigen, in addition, is able to transactivate cyclin A. Hence, this protein might have a much wider effect on gene expression in arrested mouse fibroblasts than hitherto suspected. This may have a profound part in the known capacity of Py to form tumors in mice. Therefore, it was interesting to gain an insight into the spectrum of transcriptional deregulation by Py tumorantigens. Accordingly, we performed microarray analysis of quiescent mouse fibroblasts in the absence and presence of small or large tumorantigen. We found that the viral proteins can induce or repress a great variety of genes beyond those involved in the S phase induction and DNA synthesis. The results of the microarray analysis were confirmed for selected genes by several methods, including real-time PCR. Interestingly, a mutation of the binding site for pocket proteins in case of LT and for PP2A in case of ST has a variable effect on the deregulation of genes by the viral proteins depending on the gene in question. In fact, some genes are transactivated by LT as well as ST completely independent of an interaction with their major cellular targets, pocket proteins and PP2A, respectively.

Stimulation of DNA replication from the polyomavirus origin by PCAF and GCN5 acetyltransferases: acetylation of large T antigen

The PCAF and GCN5 acetyltransferases, but not p300 or CBP, stimulate DNA replication when tethered near the polyomavirus origin. Replication stimulation by PCAF and GCN5 is blocked by mutational inactivation of their acetyltransferase domains but not by deletion of sequences that bind p300 or CBP. Acetylation of histones near the polyomavirus origin assembled into chromatin in vivo is not detectably altered by expression of these acetyltransferases. PCAF and GCN5 interact with polyomavirus large T antigen in vivo, PCAF acetylates large T antigen in vitro, and large T-antigen acetylation in vivo is dependent upon the integrity of the PCAF acetyltransferase domain. These data suggest replication stimulation occurs through recruitment of large T antigen to the origin and acetylation by PCAF or GCN5.

Induction and bypass of p53 during productive infection by polyomavirus

Lytic infection by polyomavirus leads to elevated levels of p53 and induction of p53 target genes p21Cip1/WAF1 (p21) and BAX. This is seen both in polyomavirus-infected primary mouse cell cultures and in kidney tissue of infected mice. Stabilization of p53 and induction of a p53 response are accompanied by phosphorylation of p53 on serine 18, mimicking a DNA damage response. Stabilization of p53 does not depend on p19Arf interaction with mdm2. Cells infected by a mutant virus defective in binding pRb and in inducing G(1)-to-S progression show a greatly diminished p53 response. However, cells infected by wild-type virus and blocked from entering S phase by addition of mimosine still show a p53 response. These results suggest a role of E2F target genes in inducing a p53 response. Polyomavirus large T antigen coprecipitates with p53 phosphorylated on serine 18 and also with p21Cip1/WAF1. Implications of these and other findings on possible mechanisms of induction and override of p53 functions during productive infection by polyomavirus are discussed.

Binding of p300/CBP co-activators by polyoma large T antigen

Small DNA tumor viruses such as simian virus 40 (SV40) and polyomavirus (Py) take advantage of host cell proteins to transcribe and replicate their DNA. Interactions between the viral T antigens and host proteins result in cell transformation and tumor induction. Large T antigen of SV40 interacts with p53, pRb/p107/p130 family members, and the cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP)/p300. Py large T antigen is known to interact only with pRb and p300 among these proteins. Here we report that Py large T binds to CBP in vivo and in vitro. In co-transfection assays, Py large T inhibits the co-activation functions of CBP/p300 in CREB-mediated transactivation but not in NF-kappa B-mediated transactivation. p53 appears not to be involved in the functions of CREB-mediated transactivation and is not essential for large T:CBP interaction. Mutations introduced into a region of Py large T with homology to adenovirus E1A and SV40 large T prevent binding to the co-activators. These mutant large T antigens fail to inhibit CREB-mediated transactivation. The CBP/p300-binding Py mutants are able to transform established rat embryo fibroblasts but are restricted in their ability to induce tumors in the newborn mouse, indicating that interaction of large T with the co-activators may be essential for virus replication and spread in the intact host.

Transactivation of murine cyclin A by polyomavirus large and small T antigens

Polyomavirus large and small T antigens cooperate in the induction of S phase in serum-deprived Swiss 3T3 cells. While the large T antigen is able to induce S phase-specific enzymes, we have recently shown that both T antigens contribute to the production of the cyclins E and A and that the small T antigen is essential for the induction of cyclin A-dependent cdk2 activity (S. Schüchner and E. Wintersberger, J. Virol. 73:9266-9273, 1999). Here we present our attempts to elucidate the mechanisms by which the large and the small T antigens transactivate the murine cyclin A gene. Using Swiss 3T3 cells carrying the T antigens and various mutants thereof under the hormone-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus promoter, as well as transient-cotransfection experiments with the T antigens and cyclin A promoter-luciferase reporter constructs, we found the following. The large T antigen activates the cyclin A promoter via two transcription factor binding sites, a cyclic AMP responsive element (CRE), and the major negative regulatory site called CDE-CHR. While an intact binding site for pocket proteins is required for the function of this T antigen at the CDE-CHR, its activity at the CRE is largely independent thereof. In contrast, an intact J domain and an intact zinc finger are required at both sites. The small T antigen also appears to have an influence on the cyclin A promoter through the CRE as well as the CDE-CHR. For this an interaction with protein phosphatase 2A is essential; mutation of the J domain does not totally eliminate but greatly reduces the transactivating ability.

Effect on polyomavirus T-antigen function of mutations in a conserved leucine-rich segment of the DnaJ domain

The N-terminal part of the mouse polyomavirus T antigens contains a highly conserved segment (-LLELLKL-), including amino acid residues 13 to 19. The sequence motif is predicted to form alpha helix I in the DnaJ domain of the T antigens. Four mutants with conservative substitutions of amino acid residues 13 and 14 were constructed. Of the four substitutions, L13M, L13I, L13V, and L14V, only L13V resulted in a phenotypic change. In transfected mouse cells, L13V large T antigen showed a more than 100-fold-reduced viral DNA synthesis. The viral replication could not be rescued by cotransfection of the cells with DNA expressing small t antigen or a large T antigen truncated at the C terminus that would compensate for a defect in host cell stimulation. In contrast to the effect on DNA replication, the L13V substitution in large T antigen did not prevent complex formation with Hsc70 and the Rb protein. Also, the activity of the protein in transactivation of transcription from the adenovirus E2 promoter was unimpaired, showing that the transcription factor E2F was released from pRb. The L13V substitution also caused a defect in small t antigen. However, this phenotypic change was due to protein instability. In contrast, middle T antigen with the L13V substitution remained stable and functional in cellular transformation. Together, the data show that the effect of the L13V substitution did not abrogate the Hsc70 interaction of the DnaJ domain. However, it is possible that the substitution of amino acid residue 13 affected specific DnaJ functions of large T antigen.

Reversal of an antiestrogen-mediated cell cycle arrest of MCF-7 cells by viral tumor antigens requires the retinoblastoma protein-binding domain

Proliferation of MCF-7 cells is estrogen dependent and antiestrogen sensitive. In the absence of estrogens or presence of antiestrogens MCF-7 cells arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and this arrest is associated with an accumulation of the active, hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Because active pRb negatively regulates passage from G1 to S phase, this suggests that pRb is a crucial target of estrogen action, and that its inactivation might lead to antiestrogen resistance. We tested this hypothesis by expressing viral tumor antigens (T antigens), which bind and inactivate pRb, in MCF-7 cells, and determining the effects on cell proliferation in the presence of antiestrogens. The results of these experiments demonstrate that T antigen expression confers antiestrogen resistance to MCF-7 cells. Using a panel of mutant T antigens, we further demonstrate that the pRb-binding, but not the p53 binding domain is required to confer antiestrogen resistance. Thus, pRb is an important target of estrogen action, and its inactivation can contribute to the development of antiestrogen resistance.

Expression of p300-truncated fragments results in the modulation of apoptosis in rat mesangial cells

BACKGROUND

Mesangial cell proliferation, apoptosis, and matrix deposition have pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of renal diseases such as diabetic nephropathy and glomerulonephritis. The behavior of mesangial cells depends on the integration of intracellular signals elicited by hormones and cytokines. We hypothesized that p300 is primarily involved in the integration of signal transduction pathways in rat mesangial cells (RMCs) and that interference with p300 function will alter apoptotic signals.

METHODS

We established an RMC cell line expressing the Tet-activator (tTA). RMC-tTA cells were transiently transfected with vectors coding for either the N-terminal third or the C-terminal third of p300. Expression was induced by the addition of doxycycline [Dox; 1 microg/mL; 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS)]. The percentage of apoptosis was determined using the TUNEL technique. Specific protein-protein interactions were determined by Western blot analysis of immunoprecipitated complexes. Cells were treated with 5% FBS or with H2O2 (500 micromol/L, 1 h) with and without Dox.

RESULTS

The expression of p300-C resulted in increased susceptibility to low serum-induced (20.0 +/- 4.6 vs. 3.0 +/- 1.7%) and to H2O2-induced apoptosis (75.3 +/- 13.3 vs. 50.8 +/- 6.5%) compared with controls. Immunoprecipitation of p300-C showed an interaction with the transcription factor c-Fos, which was enhanced by H2O2 treatment. Expression of the p300-N resulted in a rescue (34.8 +/- 6. 4 vs. 50.8 +/- 6.5%) from H2O2-induced apoptosis compared with controls. P300-N was shown to form a complex with the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB).

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that endogenous p300 is involved in apoptosis in mesangial cells. We propose that interference or enhancement of endogenous p300 function, by expression of exogenous fragments, can alter interactions with c-Fos or NF-kappaB and modulate signals during cellular stress.

A novel transcriptional repression domain mediates p21(WAF1/CIP1) induction of p300 transactivation

The transcriptional coactivators p300 and CREB binding protein (CBP) are important regulators of the cell cycle, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Both p300 and CBP are targeted by viral oncoproteins, are mutated in certain forms of cancer, are phosphorylated in a cell cycle-dependent manner, interact with transcription factors such as p53 and E2F, and can be found complexed with cyclinE-Cdk2 in vivo. Moreover, p300-deficient cells show defects in proliferation. Here we demonstrate that transcriptional activation by both p300 and CBP is stimulated by coexpression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF/CIP1). Significantly this stimulation is independent of both the inherent histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of p300 and CBP and of the previously reported carboxyl-terminal binding site for cyclinE-Cdk2. Rather, we describe a previously uncharacterized transcriptional repression domain (CRD1) within p300. p300 transactivation is stimulated through derepression of CRD1 by p21. Significantly p21 regulation of CRD1 is dependent on the nature of the core promoter. We suggest that CRD1 provides a novel mechanism through which p300 and CBP can switch activities between the promoters of genes that stimulate growth and those that enhance cell cycle arrest.