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The Hippo pathway controls organ size and tissue homeostasis, and its dysregulation often contributes to tumorigenesis. Extensive studies have shown that the Hippo pathway inhibits cell proliferation, and survival in a cell-autonomous manner. We examined the function of the Hippo pathway kinases LATS1/2 (large tumor suppressor 1 and 2) in cancer cells. As expected, loss of LATS1/2 promotes cancer cell growth in most cell lines. Surprisingly, however, LATS1/2 deletion inhibits the growth of murine MC38 colon cancer cells, especially under detachment conditions. This growth inhibitory effect caused by LATS1/2 deletion is due to uncontrolled activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), the key downstream transcriptional coactivators inhibited by LATS1/2. We identified Wnt inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (Wisp2) and coiled-coil domain containing 80 (Ccdc80) as direct targets of YAP/TAZ. Their expression is selectively induced by LATS1/2 deletion in MC38 cells. Furthermore, deletion of WISP2 and CCDC80 prevents the growth inhibitory effect of LATS1/2 loss in MC38 cells. Our study demonstrates that the function of LATS1/2 in cell growth is cell context dependent, suggesting that LATS1/2 inhibition can be a therapeutic approach for some cancer types.

Ectopic epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in facilitating tumorigenesis. Here, we first demonstrated that ANKDD1A is a functional tumor suppressor gene, especially in the hypoxia microenvironment. ANKDD1A directly interacts with FIH1 and inhibits the transcriptional activity of HIF1α by upregulating FIH1. In addition, ANKDD1A decreases the half-life of HIF1α by upregulating FIH1, decreases glucose uptake and lactate production, inhibits glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) autophagy, and induces apoptosis in GBM cells under hypoxia. Moreover, ANKDD1A is highly frequently methylated in GBM. The tumor-specific methylation of ANKDD1A indicates that it could be used as a potential epigenetic biomarker as well as a possible therapeutic target.

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribes medium-sized non-coding RNAs (collectively termed Pol III genes). Emerging diverse roles of Pol III genes suggest that individual Pol III genes are exquisitely regulated by transcription and epigenetic factors. Here we report global Pol III expression/methylation profiles and molecular mechanisms of Pol III regulation that have not been as extensively studied, using nc886 as a representative Pol III gene. In a human mammary epithelial cell system that recapitulates early breast tumorigenesis, the fraction of actively transcribed Pol III genes increases reaching a plateau during immortalization. Hyper-methylation of Pol III genes inhibits Pol III binding to DNA via inducing repressed chromatin and is a determinant for the Pol III repertoire. When Pol III genes are hypo-methylated, MYC amplifies their transcription, regardless of its recognition DNA motif. Thus, Pol III expression during tumorigenesis is delineated by methylation and magnified by MYC.

Developmental and cancer models show Wnt/β-catenin-dependent signaling mediates diverse phenotypic outcomes in the pancreas that are dictated by context, duration and strength of activation. While generally assumed to be pro-tumorigenic, it is unclear to what extent dysregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling impacts tumor progression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In the present study, Wnt/β-catenin activity was characterized across a spectrum of PDAC cell lines and primary tumors. Reporter and gene expression-based assays revealed wide heterogeneity in Wnt/β-catenin transcriptional activity across PDAC cell lines and patient tumors, as well as variable responsiveness to exogenous Wnt ligand stimulation. An experimentally generated, pancreas-specific gene expression signature of Wnt/β-catenin transcriptional activation was used to stratify pathway activation across a cohort of resected, early-stage PDAC tumors (N=41). In this cohort, higher Wnt/β-catenin activation was found to significantly correlate with lymphvascular invasion and worse disease-specific survival (median survival time 20.3 versus 43.9 months, log-rank P=0.03). Supporting the importance of Wnt ligand in mediating autocrine Wnt signaling, Wnt/β-catenin activity was significantly inhibited in PDAC cell lines by WLS gene silencing and the small-molecule inhibitor IWP-2, both of which functionally block Wnt ligand processing and secretion. Transcriptional profiling revealed elevated expression of WNT7B occurred in PDAC cell lines with high levels of cell autonomous Wnt/β-catenin activity. Gene-knockdown studies in AsPC-1 and HPAF-2 cell lines confirmed WNT7B-mediated cell autonomous Wnt/β-catenin activation, as well as an anchorage-independent growth phenotype. Our findings indicate WNT7B can serve as a primary determinant of differential Wnt/β-catenin activation in PDAC. Disrupting the interaction between Wnt ligands and their receptors may be a particularly suitable approach for therapeutic modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in PDAC and other cancer contexts where Wnt activation is mediated by ligand expression rather than mutations in canonical pathway members.

Hypoxia is linked to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor progression in numerous carcinomas. Responses to hypoxia are thought to operate via hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), but the importance of co-factors that regulate HIF signaling within tumors is not well understood. Here, we elucidate a signaling pathway that physically and functionally couples tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin to HIF1α signaling and HIF1α-mediated tumor EMT. Primary human lung adenocarcinomas accumulate pY654-β-catenin and HIF1α. All pY654-β-catenin, and only the tyrosine phosphorylated form, was found complexed with HIF1α and active Src, both within the human tumors and in lung tumor cell lines exposed to hypoxia. Phosphorylation of Y654, generated by hypoxia mediated, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent Src kinase activation, was required for β-catenin to interact with HIF1α and Src, to promote HIF1α transcriptional activity, and for hypoxia-induced EMT. Mice bearing hypoxic pancreatic islet adenomas, generated by treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibodies, accumulate HIF1α/pY654-β-catenin complexes and develop an invasive phenotype. Concurrent administration of the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine abrogated β-catenin/HIF pathway activity and restored adenoma architecture. Collectively, the findings implicate accumulation of pY654-β-catenin specifically complexed to HIF1α and Src kinase as critically involved in HIF1α signaling and tumor invasion. The findings also suggest that targeting ROS-dependent aspects of the pY654-β-catenin/ HIF1α pathway may attenuate untoward biological effects of anti-angiogenic agents and tumor hypoxia.

High-risk papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) is one of the less represented HPV types in low-grade lesions of the anogenital tract, whereas it occupies the second place in cervical cancer, where it can be found in 16% of the cases worldwide, after HPV16 present in 54% of them. These epidemiological data indicate that HPV18 infection is more prone to carcinogenic progression. The main oncogenic proteins, E6 and E7 of HPV18, are functionally comparable to the homologous proteins of the other high-risk viruses, including HPV16. In this work, we investigated the possibility that the higher oncogenic potential of HPV18 might be due to transcriptional regulation of the E6/E7 oncogenes. By comparing the E6/E7 promoter and enhancer sequences of the mucosal HPV genomes, we identified E2F binding sites specific for HPV18. The E2F family of transcription factors contains activators (E2F1–3) and repressors (E2F4–8) that regulate the transcription of S-phase and mitotic genes and thereby have a crucial role in cell-cycle progression. Surprisingly, we identified E2F5 as a direct activator of HPV18 E6/E7 transcription by sequential silencing of E2F members in HeLa cells. In addition, we could show that E2F5 positively regulates S-phase entry in HeLa cells and that this activation of the cell cycle by a member of the E2F repressor family is specific for HPV18-expressing cells. Diverting the function of E2F5 from a cell-cycle repressor into an activator might contribute to the higher oncogenic potential of HPV18 when compared with other high-risk HPV types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myc is a transcription factor that significantly contributes to cancer progression by modulating the expression of important genes through binding to a DNA sequence, CACGTG, called E-box. We find that on Myc binding to chromatin, the lysine-demethylating enzyme, LSD1, triggers a transient demethylation of lysine 4 in the histone H3. In addition, we demonstrate that Myc binds and recruits LSD1 to the E-box chromatin and the formation of this complex is stimulated by cAMP-PKA. Demethylation by LSD1 produces H2O2, which locally oxidizes guanine and induces the recruitment of 8-oxoguanine–DNA glycosylase (OGG1) and of the nuclease Ape1 on the E-box chromatin. Inhibition of oxidation or silencing of LSD1, OGG1 or Ape1 significantly reduce transcription and inhibit mRNA accumulation of Myc-target genes. Collectively, these data highlight the role of transient LSD1-mediated demethylation of H3K4 leading to local DNA oxidation as driving force in the assembly of the Myc-induced transcription initiation complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the regulation of FOXM1 expression by estrogen receptor α (ERα) and its role in hormonal therapy and endocrine resistance. FOXM1 protein and mRNA expression was regulated by ER-ligands, including estrogen, tamoxifen (OHT) and fulvestrant (ICI182780; ICI) in breast carcinoma cell lines. Depletion of ERα by RNA interference (RNAi) in MCF-7 cells downregulated FOXM1 expression. Reporter gene assays showed that ERα activates FOXM1 transcription through an estrogen-response element (ERE) located within the proximal promoter region. The direct binding of ERα to the FOXM1 promoter was confirmed in vitro by mobility shift and DNA pull-down assays and in vivo by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. Our data also revealed that upon OHT treatment ERα recruits histone deacetylases to the ERE site of the FOXM1 promoter, which is associated with a decrease in histone acetylation and transcription activity. Importantly, silencing of FOXM1 by RNAi abolished estrogen-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation and overcame acquired tamoxifen resistance. Conversely, ectopic expression of FOXM1 abrogated the cell cycle arrest mediated by the anti-estrogen OHT. OHT repressed FOXM1 expression in endocrine sensitive but not resistant breast carcinoma cell lines. Furthermore, qRT–PCR analysis of breast cancer patient samples revealed that there was a strong and significant positive correlation between ERα and FOXM1 mRNA expression. Collectively, these results show FOXM1 to be a key mediator of the mitogenic functions of ERα and estrogen in breast cancer cells, and also suggest that the deregulation of FOXM1 may contribute to anti-estrogen insensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) growth is dependent on androgens and on the androgen receptor (AR), which acts by modulating gene transcription. Tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) proteins (FKBP52, FKBP51 and Cyp40) interact with AR in PCa cells, suggesting roles in AR-mediated gene transcription and cell growth. We report here that FKBP51 and Cyp40, but not FKBP52, are significantly elevated in PCa tissues and in androgen-dependent (AD) and androgen-independent (AI) cell lines. Overexpression of FKBP51 in AD LNCaP cells increased AR transcriptional activity in the presence and absence of androgen, whereas siRNA knockdown of FKBP51 dramatically decreased AD gene transcription and proliferation. Knockdown of Cyp40 also inhibited androgen-mediated transcription and growth in LNCaP cells. However, disruption of FKBP51 and Cyp40 in AI C4-2 cells caused only a small reduction in proliferation, indicating that Cyp40 and FKBP51 predominantly regulate AD cell proliferation. Under knockdown conditions, the inhibitory effects of TPR ligands, cyclosporine A (CsA) and FK506, on AR activity were not observed, indicating that Cyp40 and FKBP51 are the targets of CsA and FK506, respectively. Our findings show that FKBP51 and Cyp40 are positive regulators of AR that can be selectively targeted by CsA and FK506 to achieve inhibition of androgen-induced cell proliferation. These proteins and their cognate ligands thus provide new strategies in the treatment of PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen receptor-α (ERα) is a major therapeutic target of hormonal therapies in breast cancer, and its expression in tumors is predictive of clinical response. Protein levels of ERα are tightly controlled by the 26S proteasome; yet, how the clinical proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, affects ERα regulation has not been studied. Bortezomib selectively inhibits the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome. Unlike other laboratory proteasome inhibitors, bortezomib failed to stabilize ERα protein at a dose exceeding 90% inhibition of the chymotrypsin-like activity. Unexpectedly, however, chronic bortezomib exposure caused a reduction of ERα levels in multiple ER+ breast cancer cell lines. This response can be explained by the fact that bortezomib induced a dramatic decrease in ERα mRNA because of direct transcriptional inhibition and loss of RNA polymerase II recruitment on the ERα gene promoter. Bortezomib treatment resulted in promoter-specific changes in estrogen-induced gene transcription that related with occupancy of ERα and RNA polymerase II (PolII) on endogenous promoters. In addition, bortezomib inhibited estrogen-dependent growth in soft agar. These results reveal a novel link between proteasome activity and expression of ERα in breast cancer and uncover distinct roles of the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome in the regulation of the ERα pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Myc-interacting zinc-finger protein-1 (Miz-1) is known to be a poxvirus and zinc-finger (POZ) transcription factor required for Myc transcriptional repression, additional regulatory function of Miz-1 is less well understood. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified human alternate reading frame (ARF) protein as a novel interaction partner of Miz-1. The zinc-finger domain of Miz-1 is involved in its binding to ARF. In addition, we found that Miz-1 was able to interact with p53 through its DNA-binding domain, thus to diminish the binding of p53 to its target promoter and inhibit p53-mediated gene transcription. Interestingly, the Miz-1-regulated p53 transcriptional suppression does not require the presence of ARF or Mdm2. Importantly, ARF and p53 were found to competitively bind to Miz-1 in regulating p53-mediated transcription, and this conclusion was verified by both in vitro binding assay and competitive chromatin immunoprecipitation assay using a bona fide p53 endogenous Bax and Puma promoters. Thus, our study reveals that Miz-1 acts as a p53 suppressor by interfering with p53 DNA-binding ability, and ARF is able to counteract the suppression of Miz-1 on p53 by direct binding to Miz-1, suggesting that Miz-1 is a novel mediator in the ARF-p53 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptation of cancer cells to their microenvironment is an important driving force in the clonal selection that leads to invasive and metastatic disease. O2 concentrations are markedly reduced in many human cancers compared with normal tissue, and a major mechanism mediating adaptive responses to reduced O2 availability (hypoxia) is the regulation of transcription by hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms by which HIF-1 contributes to cancer progression, focusing on (1) clinical data associating increased HIF-1 levels with patient mortality; (2) preclinical data linking HIF-1 activity with tumor growth; (3) molecular data linking specific HIF-1 target gene products to critical aspects of cancer biology and (4) pharmacological data showing anticancer effects of HIF-1 inhibitors in mouse models of human cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multifunctional protein Yin Yang 1 (YY1) has an important role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. YY1 is highly expressed in various types of cancers, including prostate cancer. Currently, the mechanism underlying the functional role of YY1 in prostate tumorigenesis remains unclear. In this report, we investigated the functional interplay between YY1 and androgen receptor (AR), and the effect of YY1 on AR-mediated transcription. We found that YY1 physically interacts with AR both in a cell-free system and in cultured cells. YY1 is required for the optimal transcriptional activity of AR in promoting the transcription of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) promoter. However, ectopic YY1 expression in LNCaP cells did not further enhance the reporter driven by the PSA promoter, suggesting that an optimal level of YY1 is already established in prostate tumor cells. Consistently, YY1 depletion in LNCaP cells reduced endogenous PSA levels, but overexpressed YY1 did not significantly increase PSA expression. We also observed that YY1–AR interaction is essential to YY1-mediated transcription activity of AR and YY1 is a necessary component in the complex binding to the androgen response element. Thus, our study demonstrates that YY1 interacts with AR and regulates its transcriptional activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LYRIC/AEG-1 and its altered expression have been linked to carcinogenesis in prostate, brain and melanoma as well as promoting chemoresistance and metastasis in breast cancer. LYRIC/AEG-1 function remains unclear, although LYRIC/AEG-1 is activated by oncogenic HA-RAS, through binding of c-myc to its promoter, which in turn regulates the key components of the PI3-kinase and nuclear factor-κB pathways. We have identified the transcriptional repressor PLZF as an interacting protein of LYRIC/AEG through a yeast two-hybrid screen. PLZF regulates the expression of genes involved in cell growth and apoptosis including c-myc. Coexpression of LYRIC/AEG-1 with PLZF leads to a reduction in PLZF-mediated repression by reducing PLZF binding to promoters. We have confirmed that nuclear LYRIC/AEG-1 and PLZF interact in mammalian cells via the N- and C termini of LYRIC/AEG-1 and a region C terminal to the RD2 domain of PLZF. Both proteins colocalize to nuclear bodies containing histone deacetylases, which are known to promote PLZF-mediated repression. Our data suggest one mechanism for cells with altered LYRIC/AEG-1 expression to evade apoptosis and increase cell growth during tumourigenesis through the regulation of PLZF repression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various studies have detailed the role of E2F proteins in both transcription activation and repression. Further study has shown that distinct promoter elements, but comprising the same E2F-recognition motif, confer positive or negative E2F control and that this reflects binding of either activator or repressor E2F proteins, respectively. We now show that the specificity of binding of an activator or repressor E2F protein is determined by adjacent sequences that bind a cooperating transcription factor. We propose that the functional E2F element is a module comprising not only the E2F-binding site but also the adjacent site for the cooperating transcription factor.Oncogene (2009) 28, 2873–2881; doi:10.1038/onc.2009.153; published online 22 June 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIPK2 is a eukaryotic Serine–Threonine kinase that controls cellular proliferation and survival in response to exogenous signals. Here, we show that the human transcription factor ZBTB4 is a new target of HIPK2. The two proteins interact in vitro, colocalize and associate in vivo, and HIPK2 phosphorylates several conserved residues of ZBTB4. Overexpressing HIPK2 causes the degradation of ZBTB4, whereas overexpressing a kinase-deficient mutant of HIPK2 has no effect. The chemical activation of HIPK2 also decreases the amount of ZBTB4 in cells. Conversely, the inhibition of HIPK2 by drugs or by RNA interference causes a large increase in ZBTB4 levels. This negative regulation of ZBTB4 by HIPK2 occurs under normal conditions of cell growth. In addition, the degradation is increased by DNA damage. These findings have two consequences. First, we have recently shown that ZBTB4 inhibits the transcription of p21. Therefore, the activation of p21 by HIPK2 is two-pronged: stimulation of the activator p53, and simultaneous repression of the inhibitor ZBTB4. Second, ZBTB4 is also known to bind methylated DNA and repress methylated sequences. Consequently, our findings raise the possibility that HIPK2 might influence the epigenetic regulation of gene expression at loci that remain to be identified.Oncogene (2009) 28, 2535–2544; doi:10.1038/onc.2009.109; published online 18 May 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

c-Myc is an oncogenic transcription factor capable of activating transcription by all three nuclear RNA polymerases, thus acting as a high-level coordinator of protein synthesis capacity and cell growth rate. c-Myc recruits RNA polymerase I-related transcription factors to the rDNA when quiescent cells are stimulated to re-enter the cell cycle. Using a model system of cell lines with variable c-Myc status, we show that on stimulation c-Myc rapidly induces gene loop structures in rDNA chromatin that juxtapose upstream and downstream rDNA sequences. c-Myc activation is both necessary and sufficient for this change in rDNA chromatin conformation. c-Myc activation induces association of TTF-1 with the rDNA, and c-Myc is physically associated with induced rDNA gene loops. The origins of two or more rDNA gene loops are closely juxtaposed, suggesting the possibility that c-Myc induces nucleolar chromatin hubs. Induction of rDNA gene loops may be an early step in the reprogramming of quiescent cells as they re-enter the growth cycle.Oncogene (2009) 28, 1833–1842; doi:10.1038/onc.2009.21; published online 9 March 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has recently been discovered that cell-cycle gene transcription is regulated by a core complex named LINC that switches from a transcriptionally repressive complex in G0–G1 with the p130 or p107 pocket proteins and E2F4 to a transcriptionally active complex in S–G2 containing B-Myb. We have studied the function of LINC in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells, which are distinguished by a rapid cell cycle resulting from an extremely short G1 phase. We show that suppressing expression of the LINC component, Lin-9, in F9 cells causes arrest in mitosis, and we have used this system to screen for transcriptional targets. In these cells, B-Myb was found in complexes with Lin-9 and several other LINC constituents, however, the pocket proteins did not associate with LINC unless F9 cells were differentiated. Lin-9 and B-Myb were both required for transcription of G2/M genes such as Cyclin B1 and Survivin. Moreover, B-Myb was demonstrated to recruit Lin-9 to the Survivin promoter through multiple Myb-binding sites. The demonstration that a B-Myb/LINC complex is vital for progression through mitosis in cells lacking a G1/S checkpoint has implications for both undifferentiated embryonal cells and for cancers in which pocket protein function is compromised.Oncogene (2009) 28, 1737–1747; doi:10.1038/onc.2009.22; published online 2 March 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oncogene EWS-FLI1 encodes a chimeric transcription factor expressed in Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs). EWS-FLI1 target gene expression is thought to drive ESFT pathogenesis and, therefore, inhibition of EWS-FLI1 activity holds high therapeutic promise. As the activity of many transcription factors is regulated by post-translational modifications, we studied the presence of modifications on EWS-FLI1. The immuno-purified fusion-protein was recognized by an antibody specific for O-linked β-N-acetylglucosaminylation, and bound readily to a phosphoprotein-specific dye. Inhibition of Ser/Thr-specific phophatases increased EWS-FLI1 molecular weight and reduced its O-GlcNAc content, suggesting that phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation of EWS-FLI1 interact dynamically. By mutation analysis, O-GlcNAcylation was delineated to Ser/Thr residues of the amino-terminal EWS transcriptional-activation domain. Metabolic inhibition of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway abrogated O-GlcNAcylation of EWS-FLI1 and interfered specifically with transcriptional activation of the EWS-FLI1 target Id2. These results suggest that drugs modulating glycosylation of EWS-FLI1 interfere functionally with its activity and might, therefore, constitute promising additions to the current ESFT chemotherapy.Oncogene (2009) 28, 1280–1284; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.484; published online 19 January 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although p73α induces many of the same cellular events as p53, it is structurally distinct from p53 in that it possesses a unique COOH-terminal domain. To dissect the function of this domain, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening of a HeLa cDNA library using residues 552–636 of p73α as bait. Among the clones that showed a specific interaction with p73α was AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα). Additional yeast two-hybrid assays indicated that the βγ-binding domain of AMPKα is critical for the interaction with p73α. The interaction was further confirmed in vitro by glutathione S-transferase pull-down, and in vivo by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence microscopy. Transient coexpression of AMPKα resulted in downregulation of the effect of p73α, but not of p53, on various p53-responsive promoters. Chromatin immunoprecipitation indicated p73α-dependent recruitment of AMPKα to the p21WAF1 promoter. Treatment with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, an agonist of AMPKα, and expression of dominant-negative versions of AMPKα revealed that the repression of p73α was independent of AMPKα kinase activity. In addition, cisplatin-induced growth repression was impaired when AMPKα was overexpressed. Upon the knock down of AMPKα by siRNA, the induction of p21WAF1 by p73α was significantly increased. Taken together, these data indicate that AMPKα specifically regulates p73α by a direct interaction without affecting its phosphorylation status. From these data, we speculate that AMPKα may provide a molecular clue to understand the repressive role of the C-terminus of p73α in transcription and DNA damage response.Oncogene (2009) 28, 1040–1052; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.452; published online 15 December 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIC1 is a newly discovered tumor suppressor and transcriptional repressor that is frequently silenced in human tumors. HIC1 protein expression has been linked to better outcomes in breast cancers. The molecular mechanism underlying HIC1-mediated transcriptional and growth suppression, and the relevant targets of HIC1-mediated transcriptional modulation, is currently unclear. We have identified an HIC1 DNA-binding site in E2F-responsive gene promoters and demonstrate that HIC1 targets E2F-responsive genes for transcriptional regulation and growth suppression. We and others have recently discovered that Brg1, a central component of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling family, is required for the transcriptional regulation of multiple cell cycle control-related genes, including E2F-responsive promoters. We studied HIC1 interactions with, and dependence upon, Brg1 activity, and found that HIC1 can recruit Brg1 to E2F-responsive promoters and that its transcriptional repression of these genes is dependent upon Brg1. These data indicate that HIC1 is a central molecule in a novel mechanism controlling cell growth and that the disruption of this HIC1-mediated pathway may lead to abnormal cell proliferation and, ultimately, cancer.Oncogene (2009) 28, 651–661; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.419; published online 17 November 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested that the mdmX gene is constitutively transcribed, and that MdmX protein activity is instead controlled by cellular localization and DNA damage induced Mdm2-mediated ubiquitination leading to proteasomal degradation. In these studies, we report that the human mdmX (hdmX) mRNA is reproducibly decreased in various human cell lines following treatment with various DNA-damaging agents. Repression of hdmX transcripts is observed in DNA-damaged HCT116 colon cancer cells and in isogenic p53−/− cells, suggesting that this effect is p53-independent. Reduction in the amount of hdmX transcript occurs in both human tumor cell lines and primary human diploid fibroblasts, and results in a significant reduction of HdmX protein. Examination of hdmX promoter activity suggests that damage-induced repression of hdmX mRNA is not significantly impacted by transcription initiation. In contrast, changes in hdmX mRNA splicing appear to partly explain the reduction in full-length hdmX mRNA levels in tumor cell lines with the destabilization of full-length hdmX transcripts, potentially through microRNA miR-34a regulation, also impacting transcript levels. Taken together, this study uncovers previously unrecognized cellular mechanisms by which hdmX mRNA levels are kept low following genotoxic stress.Oncogene (2008) 27, 6657–6666; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.266; published online 18 August 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p53 tumor suppressor continues to hold distinction as the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer. The ability of p53 to induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis, of cells exposed to environmental or oncogenic stress constitutes a major pathway whereby p53 exerts its tumor suppressor function. In the past decade, we have discovered that p53 is not alone in its mission to destroy damaged or aberrantly proliferating cells: it has two homologs, p63 and p73, that in various cellular contexts and stresses contribute to this process. In this review, the mechanisms whereby p53, and in some cases p63 and p73, induce apoptosis are discussed. Other reviews have focused more extensively on the contribution of individual p53-regulated genes to apoptosis induction by this protein, whereas in this review, we focus more on those factors that mediate the decision between growth arrest and apoptosis by p53, p63 and p73, and on the post-translational modifications and protein–protein interactions that influence this decision.Oncogene (2008) 27, 6507–6521; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.315 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p53 tumour suppressor is involved in several crucial cellular functions including cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. p53 stabilization occurs under hypoxic and DNA damage conditions. However, only in the latter scenario is stabilized p53 capable of inducing the expression of its pro-apoptotic targets. Here we present evidence that under hypoxia-mimicking conditions p53 acetylation is reduced to a greater extent at K320 site targeted by P300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) than at K382 site targeted by p300/CBP. The limited amounts of acetylated p53 at K320 are preferentially recruited to the promoter of the p21WAF-1/CIP-1 gene, which appears to be unaffected by hypoxia, but are not recruited to the BID promoter and hence p53 is incapable of upregulating pro-apoptotic BID in hypoxic conditions. As the K320 p53 acetylation is the site predominantly affected in hypoxia, the PCAF histone acetyltransferase activity is the key regulator of the cellular fate modulated by p53 under these conditions. In addition, we provide evidence that PCAF acetylates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in hypoxic conditions and that the acetylated HIF-1α is recruited to a particular subset of its targets. In conclusion, PCAF regulates the balance between cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in hypoxia by modulating the activity and protein stability of both p53 and HIF-1α.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5785–5796; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.192; published online 23 June 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Runx genes are important in development and cancer, where they can act either as oncogenes or tumour suppressors. We compared the effects of ectopic Runx expression in established fibroblasts, where all three genes produce an indistinguishable phenotype entailing epithelioid morphology and increased cell survival under stress conditions. Gene array analysis revealed a strongly overlapping transcriptional signature, with no examples of opposing regulation of the same target gene. A common set of 50 highly regulated genes was identified after further filtering on regulation by inducible RUNX1-ER. This set revealed a strong bias toward genes with annotated roles in cancer and development, and a preponderance of targets encoding extracellular or surface proteins, reflecting the marked effects of Runx on cell adhesion. Furthermore, in silico prediction of resistance to glucocorticoid growth inhibition was confirmed in fibroblasts and lymphoid cells expressing ectopic Runx. The effects of fibroblast expression of common RUNX1 fusion oncoproteins (RUNX1-ETO, TEL-RUNX1 and CBFB-MYH11) were also tested. Although two direct Runx activation target genes were repressed (Ncam1 and Rgc32), the fusion proteins appeared to disrupt the regulation of downregulated targets (Cebpd, Id2 and Rgs2) rather than impose constitutive repression. These results elucidate the oncogenic potential of the Runx family and reveal novel targets for therapeutic inhibition.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5856–5866; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.195; published online 16 June 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death-associated protein kinase 2 (DAPK2) belongs to a family of proapoptotic Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine kinases. We recently identified DAPK2 as an enhancing factor during granulocytic differentiation. To identify transcriptional DAPK2 regulators, we cloned 2.7 kb of the 5′-flanking region of the DAPK2 gene. We found that E2F1 and Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) strongly activate the DAPK2 promoter. We mapped the E2F1 and KLF6 responsive elements to a GC-rich region 5′ of exon 1 containing several binding sites for KLF6 and Sp1 but not for E2F. Moreover, we showed that transcriptional activation of DAPK2 by E2F1 and KLF6 is dependent on Sp1 using Sp1/KLF6-deficient insect cells, mithramycin A treatment to block Sp1-binding or Sp1 knockdown cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed recruitment of Sp1 and to lesser extent that of E2F1 and KLF6 to the DAPK2 promoter. Activation of E2F1 in osteosarcoma cells led to an increase of endogenous DAPK2 paralleled by cell death. Inhibition of DAPK2 expression resulted in significantly reduced cell death upon E2F1 activation. Similarly, KLF6 expression in H1299 cells increased DAPK2 levels accompanied by cell death that is markedly decreased upon DAPK2 knockdown. Moreover, E2F1 and KLF6 show cooperation in activating the DAPK2 promoter. In summary, our findings establish DAPK2 as a novel Sp1-dependent target gene for E2F1 and KLF6 in cell death response.Oncogene (2008) 27, 5706–5716; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.179; published online 2 June 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genome instability syndrome that is characterized by progressive bone marrow failure and a high risk of cancer. FA patients are particularly susceptible to leukemia as well as squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck, anogenital region and skin. Thirteen complementation groups and the corresponding FA genes have been identified, and their protein products assemble into nuclear core complexes during DNA-damage responses. Much progress has been made in our understanding of post-translational FA protein modifications and physical interactions. By contrast, little is known about the control of protein availability at the level of transcription. We report here that multiple FA proteins were downregulated during the proliferative arrest of primary human keratinocytes and HeLa cells, and that the observed regulation was at a transcriptional level. Proliferative stimuli such as expression of HPV16 E7 as well as E2F1 overexpression in primary cells resulted in coordinate FA upregulation. To define the underlying mechanism, we examined the endogenous FANCD2 promoter, and detected regulated binding of members of the E2F/Rb family in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Finally, a 1 kb promoter fragment was sufficient to confer E2F/Rb regulation in reporter assays. Taken together, our data demonstrate FA gene co-regulation in synchrony with the cell cycle and suggest that deregulated expression of individual FA genes—in addition to FA gene mutation—may promote FA-related human cancer.Oncogene (2008) 27, 4798–4808; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.121; published online 28 April 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a dynamic transcription factor that regulates important biological processes involved in cancer initiation and progression. Identifying regulators that control the half-life of NF-κB is important to understanding molecular processes that control the duration of transcriptional responses. In this study we identify copine-I, a calcium phospholipid-binding protein, as a novel repressor that physically interacts with p65 to inhibit NF-κB transcription. Knockdown of copine-I by siRNA increases tumor necrosis factor α-stimulated NF-κB transcription, while copine-I expression blocks endogenous transcription. Copine-I abolishes NF-κB transcription by inducing endoprotease processing of the N-terminus of p65, a process antagonized by IκBα. Copine-I stimulates endoproteolysis of p65 within a conserved region that is required for base-specific contact with DNA. p65 proteins lacking the N-terminus fail to bind to DNA and act as dominant-negative molecules that inhibit NF-κB transcription. Our work provides evidence that copine-I regulates the half-life of NF-κB transcriptional responses through a novel mechanism that involves endoproteolysis of the p65 protein.Oncogene (2008) 27, 3516–3526; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1211030; published online 21 January 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both RBP1 and the highly related protein BCAA play a role in the induction of growth arrest and cellular senescence via mechanisms involving transcriptional repression. While investigating the transcriptional repression activities of RBP1, we observed a genetic link between RBP1 and SIR2. Further work uncovered an interaction between RBP1 family proteins and the mammalian homologue of SIR2, SIRT1. Interestingly, the HDAC-dependent transcriptional repression domain of RBP1 proteins, termed R2, is necessary and sufficient for the interaction with SIRT1. In vitro and in vivo binding studies indicated that the p33ING1b and p33ING2 subunits of the mSIN3A/HDAC1 complex are responsible for the recruitment of SIRT1 to the R2 domain. To investigate the biological relevance of this interaction, we used the sirtuin activator resveratrol and the sirtuin inhibitor sirtinol in transcriptional repression assays and demonstrated that SIRT1 activity negatively regulates R2-mediated transcriptional repression activity. We therefore propose a novel mechanism of class I HDAC regulation by a class III HDAC. Explicitly, SIRT1 is recruited by ING proteins and inhibits R2-associated mSIN3A/HDAC1 transcriptional repression activity.Oncogene (2008) 27, 3384–3392; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1211014; published online 14 January 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The B-MYB proto-oncogene is a transcription factor belonging to the MYB family that is frequently overexpressed or amplified in different types of human malignancies. While it is suspected that B-MYB plays a role in human cancer, there is still no direct evidence of its causative role. Looking for mutations of the B-MYB gene in human cell lines and primary cancer samples, we frequently isolated two nonsynonymous B-MYB polymorphic variants (rs2070235 and rs11556379). Compared to the wild-type protein, the B-MYB isoforms display altered conformation, impaired regulation of target genes and decreased antiapoptotic activity, suggesting that they are hypomorphic variants of the major allele. Importantly, the B-MYB polymorphisms are common; rs2070235 and rs11556379 are found, depending on the ethnic background, in 10–50% of human subjects. We postulated that, if B-MYB activity is important for transformation, the presence of common, hypomorphic variants might modify cancer risk. Indeed, the B-MYB polymorphisms are underrepresented in 419 cancer patients compared to 230 controls (odds ratio 0.53; (95%) confidence interval 0.385–0.755; P=0.001). This data imply that a large fraction of the human population is carrier of B-MYB alleles that might be associated with a reduced risk of developing neoplastic disease.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2929–2933; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210947; published online 19 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

p63 shares considerable sequence identity with p53, especially in its DNA-binding, activation and tetramerization domains. When the upstream promoter is used for p63 expression, three major transactivation p63 (TAp63) isoforms (α, β and γ) are produced. p63 is also expressed from an alternate promoter located in intron 3, producing three major ΔNp63 isoforms. Recent studies demonstrated that p63 has the potential to function as a tumor suppressor or an oncoprotein. To further address this, we generated cell lines that inducibly express each TAp63 isoform. We showed that TAp63 isoforms are capable of inducing p53-responsive genes, inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Interestingly, we discovered that both the activation domain (residues 1–59) and the proline-rich domain (residues 67–127) are required for TAp63 transcriptional activity. Likewise, TAp63β(ΔPRD), deleted of residues 60–133, possessed a greatly attenuated ability to induce endogenous target genes and promote apoptosis, but retained the ability to inhibit cell proliferation when expressed in stable, inducible cell lines. TAp63β(ΔPRD) also functioned as a dominant negative to wild-type p63β in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the loss of function seen with deletion of the proline-rich domain was not due to a DNA-binding defect, as TAp63β(ΔPRD) was found to strongly bind endogenous promoters using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Finally, mutational analysis revealed that a PXXP motif at residues 124–127 contributes to the transcriptional activity of TAp63. Altogether, our findings suggest that TAp63 transcriptional activity can be regulated by modification(s) of, or protein interactions with, the p63 proline-rich domain.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2843–2850; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210948; published online 26 November 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COP1 is an evolutionarily conserved RING-finger ubiquitin ligase acting within a Cullin-RING ligase (CRL) complex that promotes polyubiquitination of c-Jun and p53. Stability of the above substrates is affected by post-translational changes priming the proteins for polyubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation. However, degradation of both substrates is controlled indirectly by signaling pathways affecting the E3 ligases involved in their polyubiquitination. Here, we report the identification of COP1D, a ubiquitously expressed splice variant of COP1 lacking a portion of a coiled-coil region involved in intermolecular associations. While being unable to associate with other components of the CRL complex, COP1D exerts a dominant-negative function over the full-length protein, due to its ability to heterodimerize with COP1 and sequester it from the enzymatically active complex. Ectopic expression of COP1D antagonizes the function of COP1, while its selective downregulation by RNA interference promotes more efficient degradation of c-Jun and p53 by the full-length protein. The COP1/COP1D mRNA ratio is modulated by UV stress and a decreased COP1/COP1D ratio correlates with elevated c-Jun, but not p53 protein levels in invasive ductal breast cancer. Thus, dynamic changes of the COP1/COP1D ratio provide an additional level of regulation of the half-life of the substrates of this E3 ligase under homeostatic or pathological conditions.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2401–2411; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210892; published online 29 October 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation FOXO transcription factor activities can lead to a variety of cellular outputs resulting in changes in proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and metabolic responses. Although FOXO proteins all contain an identical DNA-binding domain their cellular functions appear to be distinct, as exemplified by differences in the phenotype of Foxo1, Foxo3 and Foxo4 null mutant mice. While some of these differences may be attributable to the differential expression patterns of these transcription factors, many cells and tissues express several FOXO isoforms. Recently it has become clear that FOXO proteins can regulate transcriptional responses independently of direct DNA-binding. It has been demonstrated that FOXOs can associate with a variety of unrelated transcription factors, regulating activation or repression of diverse target genes. The complement of transcription factors expressed in a particular cell type is thus critical in determining the functional end point of FOXO activity. These interactions greatly expand the possibilities for FOXO-mediated regulation of transcriptional programmes. This review details currently described FOXO-binding partners and examines the role of these interactions in regulating cell fate decisions.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2289–2299; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.22 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the Forkhead box O (FOXO) class of transcription factors are key players in the regulation of cell-fate decisions, such as cell death, cell proliferation and cell metabolism. Furthermore, in model organisms, it has by now been demonstrated that FOXO function affects the life span of these organisms. Multiple signal transduction pathways regulate FOXO function, but most importantly, they are negatively regulated by protein kinase B (PKB/AKT)-mediated phosphorylation and constitute, therefore, an important downstream component of insulin signalling. This review issue provides a timely overview of our understanding of FOXO function and how signalling affects FOXO function. Taken together, the reviewed studies on FOXO function and regulation provide compelling evidence that FOXOs act at the crossroad between aging and age-related diseases including diabetes and cancer. With this perspective, further studies on FOXO function and regulation may shed light on how age impacts on the onset and progression of disease.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2258–2262; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.29 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protooncogene c-met encodes the tyrosine kinase receptor for the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). While overexpression of c-met is documented in many types of tumors, the mechanism of c-met regulation remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate Daxx as a repressor of c-met transcription. The expression of c-met is elevated in Daxx knockout mouse cells and is reversed by Daxx reconstitution. C-met promoter analysis of Daxx−/− cells reveled changes in chromatin acetylation, but not in DNA methylation. Daxx binds to the mouse c-met promoter and Daxx-binding region is sufficient for transcription repression, while HDAC2 is associated with c-met promoter mostly in Daxx+/+ cells, pointing to Daxx-dependent HDAC2 recruitment as a potential mechanism of c-met repression. HGF-induced cell mobility and invasion confirmed augmented activity of c-Met/HGF pathway in Daxx−/− cells. Finally, inverse correlation between Daxx and c-Met in cancer cell lines and in metastatic breast cancer specimens suggests potential function of Daxx as a c-met repressor during cancer progression.Oncogene (2008) 27, 2177–2186; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210865; published online 22 October 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retinoblastoma protein (pRB) has the dual capability to negatively regulate both E2F-induced cell cycle entry and E2F1-induced apoptosis. In this report, we characterize a unique pRB–E2F1 interaction. Using mutagenesis to disrupt E2F1 binding, we find that the ability of pRB to regulate E2F1-induced apoptosis is diminished when this interaction is lost. Strikingly, this mutant form of pRB retains the ability to control E2F responsive cell cycle genes and blocks cell proliferation. These functional properties are the reciprocal of a previously described E2F binding mutant of pRB that interacts with E2F1, but lacks the ability to interact with other E2Fs. Our work shows that these distinct interactions allow pRB to separately regulate E2F-induced cell proliferation and apoptosis. This suggests a novel form of regulation whereby separate types of binding contacts between the same types of molecules can confer distinct functional outcomes.Oncogene (2008) 27, 1572–1579; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210803; published online 24 September 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SAG (sensitive to apoptosis gene) or ROC2/RBX2 is the second family member of ROC1/RBX1, a component of SCF (Skp1, Cullin, F-box protein) and VCB (von Hippel–Lindau (VHL), Cullin and Elongin B/C) E3 ubiquitin ligases. SAG protected cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis when overexpressed. We report here that SAG was subjected to hypoxia induction at the levels of mRNA and protein. Hypoxia induction of SAG was largely HIF-1α dependent. A consensus HIF-1-binding site, GCGTG was identified in the first intron of the SAG gene. In response to hypoxia, HIF-1 bound to this site and transactivated SAG expression. SAG transactivation required both the intact binding site in cis and HIF-1α in trans. On the other hand, like its family member, ROC1, SAG promoted VHL-mediated HIF-1α ubiquitination and degradation, which was significantly inhibited upon small interfering RNA silencing of SAG or ROC1. Furthermore, the endogenous HIF-1α at both basal and hypoxia-induced levels was significantly increased upon SAG silencing. Finally, SAG forms in vivo complex with Cul-5 and VHL under hypoxia condition. These results suggest an HIF-1-SAG feedback loop in response to hypoxia, as follows: hypoxia induces HIF-1 to transactivate SAG. Induced SAG then promotes HIF-1α ubiquitination and degradation. This feedback loop may serve as a cellular defensive mechanism to reduce potential cytotoxic effects of prolonged HIF-1 activation under hypoxia.Oncogene (2008) 27, 1404–1411; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210780; published online 10 September 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forkhead transcription factor FOXO1, a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signalling pathway, regulates cyclic differentiation and apoptosis in normal endometrium, but its role in endometrial carcinogenesis is unknown. Screening of endometrial cancer cell lines demonstrated that FOXO1 is expressed in HEC-1B cells, but not in Ishikawa cells, which in turn highly express the FOXO1 targeting E3-ubiquitin ligase Skp2. FOXO1 transcript levels were also lower in Ishikawa cells and treatment with the proteasomal inhibitor was insufficient to restore expression. Lack of FOXO1 expression in Ishikawa cells was not accounted for by differential promoter methylation or activity, but correlated with increased messenger RNA (mRNA) turnover. Comparative analysis demonstrated that HEC-1B cells proliferate slower, but are more resistant to paclitaxel-mediated cell death than Ishikawa cells, which were partially reversed upon silencing of FOXO1 in HEC-1B cells or its re-expression in Ishikawa cells. We further show that FOXO1 is required for the expression of the growth arrest- and DNA-damage-inducible gene GADD45α. Analysis of biopsy samples demonstrated a marked loss of FOXO1 and GADD45α mRNA and protein expression in endometrioid endometrial cancer compared to normal endometrium. Together, these observations suggest that loss of FOXO1 perturbs endometrial homeostasis, promotes uncontrolled cell proliferation and increases susceptibility to genotoxic insults.Oncogene (2008) 27, 9–19; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210626; published online 25 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic instabilities are believed to be one of the major causes of developing a cancer phenotype in humans. During the progression of cancer, aberrant expression of proteins, either owing to genetic (amplification, mutation and deletion) or epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation and histone deacetylation), contributes in different ways to the development of cancer. By differential screening analysis, an amplification of the 19q13 locus containing a novel pancreatic differentiation 2 (PD2) gene was identified. PD2 is the human homolog of the yeast RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 (yPaf1) and is part of the human RNA polymerase II-associated factor (hPAF) complex. hPAF is comprised of five subunits that include PD2/hPaf1, parafibromin, hLeo1, hCtr9 and hSki8. This multifaceted complex was first identified in yeast (yPAF) and subsequently in Drosophila and human. Recent advances in the study on PAF have revealed various functions of the complex in human, which are similar to yPAF, including efficient transcription elongation, mRNA quality control and cell-cycle regulation. Although the precise function of this complex in cancer is not clearly known, some of its subunits have been linked to a malignant phenotype. Its core subunit, PD2/hPaf1, is amplified and overexpressed in many cancers. Further, an overexpression of PD2/hPaf1 results in the induction of a transformed phenotype, suggesting its possible involvement in tumorigenesis. The parafibromin subunit of the hPAF complex is a product of the HRPT-2 (hereditary hyperparathyroidism type 2) tumor suppressor gene, which is mutated in the germ line of hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor patients. This review focuses on the functions of the PAF complex and its individual subunits, the interaction of the subunits with each other and/or with other molecules, and dysregulation of the complex, providing an insight into its potential involvement in the development of cancer.Oncogene (2007) 26, 7499–7507; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210582; published online 18 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumor suppressor p53 is a key modulator of the cellular stress response, inducing cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, senescence and cell differentiation. To evaluate further the molecular mechanism underlying p53 function, the transcriptional profiles of proliferating and senescent WI-38 cells, both wild-type p53 expressers and counterparts with an inactivated p53, were compared by DNA microarray analysis. In particular, the amyloid-β precursor-like protein 1 (APLP1) is induced in senescent cells in a p53-dependent manner. APLP1 was confirmed to be a novel transcriptional target of p53 by in vivo and in vitro characterization of a p53 responsive element found in the first intron of the APLP1 gene locus. APLP1 knockdown experiments demonstrate that APLP1 is required for the proliferation of fibroblastic and epithelial cells. Moreover, depletion of APLP1 expression diminishes stress-induced apoptosis of neural cells, whereas ectopic APLP1 expression augments apoptosis. Based on these data, a mechanism is proposed whereby p53-dependent induction of APLP1 is involved in neural cell death, and which may exacerbate neuronal cell loss in some acute or chronic neurodegenerative disorders.Oncogene (2007) 26, 7302–7312; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210542; published online 28 May 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is implicated in the progression of primary tumours towards metastasis and is likely caused by a pathological activation of transcription factors regulating EMT in embryonic development. To analyse EMT-causing pathways in tumourigenesis, we identified transcriptional targets of the E-cadherin repressor ZEB1 in invasive human cancer cells. We show that ZEB1 repressed multiple key determinants of epithelial differentiation and cell–cell adhesion, including the cell polarity genes Crumbs3, HUGL2 and Pals1-associated tight junction protein. ZEB1 associated with their endogenous promoters in vivo, and strongly repressed promotor activities in reporter assays. ZEB1 downregulation in undifferentiated cancer cells by RNA interference was sufficient to upregulate expression of these cell polarity genes on the RNA and protein level, to re-establish epithelial features and to impair cell motility in vitro. In human colorectal cancer, ZEB1 expression was limited to the tumour–host interface and was accompanied by loss of intercellular adhesion and tumour cell invasion. In invasive ductal and lobular breast cancer, upregulation of ZEB1 was stringently coupled to cancer cell dedifferentiation. Our data show that ZEB1 represents a key player in pathologic EMTs associated with tumour progression.Oncogene (2007) 26, 6979–6988; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210508; published online 7 May 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptional networks orchestrate fundamental biological processes, including hematopoiesis, in which hematopoietic stem cells progressively differentiate into specific progenitors cells, which in turn give rise to the diverse blood cell types. Whereas transcription factors recruit coregulators to chromatin, leading to targeted chromatin modification and recruitment of the transcriptional machinery, many questions remain unanswered regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, how diverse cell type-specific transcription factors function cooperatively or antagonistically in distinct cellular contexts is poorly understood, especially since genes in higher eukaryotes commonly encompass broad chromosomal regions (100 kb and more) and are littered with dispersed regulatory sequences. In this article, we describe an important set of transcription factors and coregulators that control erythropoiesis and highlight emerging transcriptional mechanisms and principles. It is not our intent to comprehensively survey all factors implicated in the transcriptional control of erythropoiesis, but rather to underscore specific mechanisms, which have potential to be broadly relevant to transcriptional control in diverse systems.Oncogene (2007) 26, 6777–6794; doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1210761 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]