Binding of the human T-cell leukemia virus Tax protein to the coactivator CBP interferes with CBP-mediated transcriptional control

Novel Interactions between the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Antisense Protein HBZ and the SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Family: Implications for Viral Life Cycle

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) regulatory proteins Tax and HBZ play indispensable roles in regulating viral and cellular gene expression. BRG1, the ATPase subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, has been demonstrated to be essential not only for Tax transactivation but also for viral replication. We sought to investigate the physical interaction between HBZ and BRG1 and to determine the effect of these interactions on Tax-mediated long terminal repeat (LTR) activation. We reveal that HTLV-1 cell lines and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells harbor high levels of BRG1. Using glutathione S-transferase (GST) pulldown and coimmunoprecipitation assays, we have demonstrated physical interactions between BRG1 and HBZ and characterized the protein domains involved. Moreover, we have identified the PBAF signature subunits BAF200 and BAF180 as novel interaction partners of HBZ, suggesting that the PBAF complex may be required for HTLV-1 transcriptional repression by HBZ. Additionally, we found that BRG1 expression translocates HBZ into distinct nuclear foci. We show that HBZ substantially represses HTLV-1 LTR activation by Tax/BRG1. Interestingly, we found that Tax stabilizes the expression of exogenous and endogenous BRG1 and that HBZ reverses this effect. Finally, using a chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) assay, we illustrate that HBZ facilitates the downregulation of HTLV-1 transcription by deregulating the recruitment of SWI/SNF complexes to the promoter. Overall, we conclude that SWI/SNF complexes, in addition to other cellular transcription factors, are involved in HBZ-mediated suppression of HTLV-1 viral gene expression.IMPORTANCE The pathogenic potential of HTLV-1 is linked to the indispensable multifaceted functions of the viral regulatory proteins Tax and HBZ, encoded by the sense and antisense viral transcripts, respectively. The interaction between Tax and the SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodeling complexes has been associated with HTLV-1 transcriptional activation. To date, the relationship between the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling family and HBZ, the only viral protein that is consistently expressed in infected cells and ATL cells, has not been elucidated. Here, we have characterized the biological significance of the SWI/SNF family in regard to viral transcriptional repression by HBZ. This is important because it provides a better understanding of the function and role of HBZ in downregulating viral transcription and, hence, its contribution to viral latency and persistence in vivo, a process that may ultimately lead to the development of ATL.

Hijacking of the AP-1 Signaling Pathway during Development of ATL

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of a fatal malignancy known as adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). One way to address the pathology of the disease lies on conducting research with a molecular approach. In addition to the analysis of ATL-relevant signaling pathways, understanding the regulation of important and relevant transcription factors allows researchers to reach this fundamental objective. HTLV-1 encodes for two oncoproteins, Tax and HTLV-1 basic leucine-zipper factor, which play significant roles in the cellular transformation and the activation of the host's immune responses. Activating protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor has been linked to cancer and neoplastic transformation ever since the first representative members of the Jun and Fos gene family were cloned and shown to be cellular homologs of viral oncogenes. AP-1 is a dimeric transcription factor composed of proteins belonging to the Jun (c-Jun, JunB, and JunD), Fos (c-Fos, FosB, Fra1, and Fra2), and activating transcription factor protein families. Activation of AP-1 transcription factor family by different stimuli, such as inflammatory cytokines, stress inducers, or pathogens, results in innate and adaptive immunity. AP-1 is also involved in various cellular events including differentiation, proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. Deregulated expression of AP-1 transcription factors is implicated in various lymphomas such as classical Hodgkin lymphomas, anaplastic large cell lymphomas, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and adult T-cell leukemia. Here, we review the current thinking behind deregulation of the AP-1 pathway and its contribution to HTLV-induced cellular transformation.

Differential effects of HTLV-1 Tax oncoprotein on the different estrogen-induced-ER α-mediated transcriptional activities

The activated estrogen (E2) receptor α (ERα) is a potent transcription factor that is involved in the activation of various genes by 2 different pathways; a classical and non-classical. In classical pathway, ERα binds directly to E2-responsive elements (EREs) located in the appropriate genes promoters and stimulates their transcription. However, in non-classical pathway, the ERα can indirectly bind with promoters and enhance their activity. For instance, ERα activates BRCA1 expression by interacting with jun/fos complex bound to the AP-1 site in BRCA1 promoter. Interference with the expression and/or functions of BRCA1, leads to high risk of breast or/and ovarian cancer. HTLV-1Tax was found to strongly inhibit BRCA1 expression by preventing the binding of E2-ERα complex to BRCA1 promoter. Here we examined Tax effect on ERα induced activation of genes by the classical pathway by testing its influence on E2-induced expression of ERE promoter-driven luciferase reporter (ERE-Luc). Our findings showed that E2 profoundly stimulated this reporter expression and that HTLV-1Tax significantly induced this stimulation. This result is highly interesting because in our previous study Tax was found to strongly block the E2-ERα-mediated activation of BRCA1 expression. ERα was found to produce a big complex by recruiting various cofactors in the nucleus before binding to the ERE region. We also found that only part of the reqruited cofactors are required for the transcriptional activity of ERα complex. Chip assay revealed that the binding of Tax to the ERα complex, did not interfere with its link to ERE region.

Experimental and molecular dynamics studies showed that CBP KIX mutation affects the stability of CBP:c-Myb complex

The coactivators CBP (CREBBP) and its paralog p300 (EP300), two conserved multi-domain proteins in eukaryotic organisms, regulate gene expression in part by binding DNA-binding transcription factors. It was previously reported that the CBP/p300 KIX domain mutant (Y650A, A654Q, and Y658A) altered both c-Myb-dependent gene activation and repression, and that mice with these three point mutations had reduced numbers of platelets, B cells, T cells, and red blood cells. Here, our transient transfection assays demonstrated that mouse embryonic fibroblast cells containing the same mutations in the KIX domain and without a wild-type allele of either CBP or p300, showed decreased c-Myb-mediated transcription. Dr. Wright's group solved a 3-D structure of the mouse CBP:c-Myb complex using NMR. To take advantage of the experimental structure and function data and improved theoretical calculation methods, we performed MD simulations of CBP KIX, CBP KIX with the mutations, and c-Myb, as well as binding energy analysis for both the wild-type and mutant complexes. The binding between CBP and c-Myb is mainly mediated by a shallow hydrophobic groove in the center where the side-chain of Leu302 of c-Myb plays an essential role and two salt bridges at the two ends. We found that the KIX mutations slightly decreased stability of the CBP:c-Myb complex as demonstrated by higher binding energy calculated using either MM/PBSA or MM/GBSA methods. More specifically, the KIX mutations affected the two salt bridges between CBP and c-Myb (CBP-R646 and c-Myb-E306; CBP-E665 and c-Myb-R294). Our studies also revealed differing dynamics of the hydrogen bonds between CBP-R646 and c-Myb-E306 and between CBP-E665 and c-Myb-R294 caused by the CBP KIX mutations. In the wild-type CBP:c-Myb complex, both of the hydrogen bonds stayed relatively stable. In contrast, in the mutant CBP:c-Myb complex, hydrogen bonds between R646 and E306 showed an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend, and hydrogen bonds of the E665:R294 pair exhibited a fast decreasing trend over time during MD simulations. In addition, our data showed that the KIX mutations attenuate CBP's hydrophobic interaction with Leu302 of c-Myb. Furthermore, our 500-ns MD simulations showed that CBP KIX with the mutations has a slightly lower potential energy than wild-type CBP. The CBP KIX structures with or without its interacting protein c-Myb are different for both wild-type and mutant CBP KIX, and this is likewise the case for c-Myb with or without CBP, suggesting that the presence of an interacting protein influences the structure of a protein. Taken together, these analyses will improve our understanding of the exact functions of CBP and its interaction with c-Myb.

Role of Intrinsic Protein Disorder in the Function and Interactions of the Transcriptional Coactivators CREB-binding Protein (CBP) and p300

The transcriptional coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300 undergo a particularly rich set of interactions with disordered and partly ordered partners, as a part of their ubiquitous role in facilitating transcription of genes. CBP and p300 contain a number of small structured domains that provide scaffolds for the interaction of disordered transactivation domains from a wide variety of partners, including p53, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), NF-κB, and STAT proteins, and are the targets for the interactions of disordered viral proteins that compete with cellular factors to disrupt signaling and subvert the cell cycle. The functional diversity of the CBP/p300 interactome provides an excellent example of the power of intrinsic disorder to facilitate the complexity of living systems.

Development of ultra-super sensitive immunohistochemistry and its application to the etiological study of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

Antigen retrieval (AR) and ultra-super sensitive immunohistochemistry (ultra-IHC) have been established for application to archival human pathology specimens. The original ultra-IHC was the ImmunoMax method or the catalyzed signal amplification system (ImmunoMax/CSA method), comprising the streptavidin-biotin complex (sABC) method and catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD) reaction with visualization of its deposition. By introducing procedures to diminish non-specific staining in the original ultra-IHC method, we developed the modified ImmunoMax/CSA method with AR heating sections in an AR solution (heating-AR). The heating-AR and modified ImmunoMax/CSA method visualized expression of the predominantly simple present form of HTLV-1 proviral DNA pX region p40Tax protein (Tax) in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) cells in archival pathology specimens in approximately 75% of cases. The simple present form of Tax detected exhibited a close relation with ATLL cell proliferation. We also established a new simplified CSA (nsCSA) system by replacing the sABC method with the secondary antibody- and horse radish peroxidase-labeled polymer reagent method, introducing the pretreatments blocking non-specific binding of secondary antibody reagent, and diminishing the diffusion of deposition in the CARD reaction. Combined with AR treating sections with proteinase K solution (enzymatic-AR), the nsCSA system visualized granular immunostaining of the complex present form of Tax in a small number of ATLL cells in most cases, presenting the possibility of etiological pathological diagnosis of ATLL and suggesting that the complex present form of Tax-positive ATLL cells were young cells derived from ATLL stem cells. The heating-AR and ultra-IHC detected physiological expression of the p53 protein and its probable phosphorylation by Tax in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of peripheral blood tissue specimens from HTLV-1 carriers, as well as physiological and pathological expression of the molecules involved with G1 phase progression and G1–S phase transition (E2F-1, E2F-4, DP-1, and cyclin E) in ATLL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma cells. The ultra-IHC with AR is useful for etiological pathological diagnosis of ATLL since HTLV-1 pathogenicity depends on that of Tax, and can be a useful tool for studies translating advanced molecular biology and pathology to human pathology.

The HTLV-1-encoded protein HBZ directly inhibits the acetyl transferase activity of p300/CBP

The homologous cellular coactivators p300 and CBP contain intrinsic lysine acetyl transferase (termed HAT) activity. This activity is responsible for acetylation of several sites on the histones as well as modification of transcription factors. In a previous study, we found that HBZ, encoded by the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1), binds to multiple domains of p300/CBP, including the HAT domain. In this study, we found that HBZ inhibits the HAT activity of p300/CBP through the bZIP domain of the viral protein. This effect correlated with a reduction of H3K18 acetylation, a specific target of p300/CBP, in cells expressing HBZ. Interestingly, lower levels of H3K18 acetylation were detected in HTLV-1 infected cells compared to non-infected cells. The inhibitory effect of HBZ was not limited to histones, as HBZ also inhibited acetylation of the NF-κB subunit, p65, and the tumor suppressor, p53. Recent studies reported that mutations in the HAT domain of p300/CBP that cause a defect in acetylation are found in certain types of leukemia. These observations suggest that inhibition of the HAT activity by HBZ is important for the development of adult T-cell leukemia associated with HTLV-1 infection.

HTLV-1 HBZ protein deregulates interactions between cellular factors and the KIX domain of p300/CBP

The complex retrovirus human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia. Deregulation of cellular transcription is thought to be an important step for T-cell transformation caused by viral infection. HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) is one of the viral proteins believed to be involved in this process, as it deregulates the expression of numerous cellular genes. In the context of the provirus, HBZ represses HTLV-1 transcription, in part, by binding to the homologous cellular coactivators p300 and CBP. These coactivators play a central role in transcriptional regulation. In this study, we determined that HBZ binds with high affinity to the KIX domain of p300/CBP. This domain contains two binding surfaces that are differentially targeted by multiple cellular factors. We show that two φXXφφ motifs in the activation domain of HBZ mediate binding to a single surface of the KIX domain, the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) binding surface. Formation of this interaction inhibits binding of MLL to the KIX domain while enhancing the binding of the transcription factor c-Myb to the opposite surface of KIX. Consequently, HBZ inhibits transcriptional activation mediated by MLL and enhances activation mediated by c-Myb. CREB, which binds the same surface of KIX as c-Myb, also exhibited an increase in activity through HBZ. These results indicate that HBZ is able to alter gene expression by competing with transcription factors for the occupancy of one surface of KIX while enhancing the binding of factors to the other surface.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells induces cell cycle arrest by modulation of p21(cip1/waf1) and survivin

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic retrovirus and the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), an aggressive CD4(+) malignancy. HTLV-2 is highly homologous to HTLV-1; however, infection with HTLV-2 has not been associated with lymphoproliferative diseases. Although HTLV-1 infection of CD4(+) lymphocytes induces cellular replication and transformation, infection of CD34(+) human hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) strikingly results in G(0)/G(1) cell cycle arrest and suppression of in vitro clonogenic colony formation by induction of expression of the cdk inhibitor p21(cip1/waf1) (p21) and concurrent repression of survivin. Immature CD34(+)/CD38(-) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were more susceptible to alterations of p21 and survivin expression as a result of HTLV-1 infection, in contrast to more mature CD34(+)/CD38(+) HPCs. Knockdown of p21 expression in HTLV-1-infected CD34(+) HPCs partially abrogated cell cycle arrest. Notably, HTLV-2, an HTLV strain that is not associated with leukemogenesis, does not significantly modulate p21 and survivin expression and does not suppress hematopoiesis from CD34(+) HPCs in vitro. We speculate that the remarkable differences in the activities displayed by CD34(+) HPCs following infection with HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 suggest that HTLV-1 uniquely exploits cell cycle arrest mechanisms to establish a latent infection in hematopoietic progenitor/hematopoietic stem cells and initiates preleukemic events in these cells, which eventually results in the manifestation of ATL.

Molecular characterization of HTLV-1 Tax interaction with the KIX domain of CBP/p300

The viral oncoprotein Tax mediates transcriptional activation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). Both Tax and the cellular transcription factor CREB bind to viral cyclic AMP response elements (vCREs) located in the viral promoter. Tax and serine 133 phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) bound to the HTLV-1 promoter facilitate viral transcription via the recruitment of the large cellular coactivators CBP/p300. While the interaction between the phosphorylated kinase inducible domain (pKID) of pCREB and the KIX domain of CBP/p300 has been well characterized, the molecular interactions between KIX, full-length Tax, and pCREB have not been examined. Here we biochemically characterized the interaction between Tax and KIX in a physiologically relevant complex containing pCREB and vCRE DNA. Our data show that Tax and pCREB simultaneously and independently bind two distinct surfaces on the KIX domain: Tax binds KIX at the previously characterized mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) protein interaction surface while pCREB binds KIX at the pKID-KIX interface. These results provide evidence for a model in which Tax and pCREB bind distinct surfaces of KIX for effective CBP/p300 recruitment to the HTLV-1 promoter. We also show that MLL competes with Tax for KIX binding, suggesting a novel mechanism of Tax oncogenesis in which normal MLL function is disrupted by Tax.

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.

CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins modulate human T cell leukemia virus type 1 long terminal repeat activation

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have been shown to form heterodimers with cAMP-responsive element binding protein 2 (CREB-2), a transcription factor involved in regulating basal and Tax-mediated transactivation of the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR). In cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage (proposed to play a role in HTLV-1 pathogenesis as an accessory target cell), several members of the C/EBP family are expressed at high levels and may have functional impact on both basal and Tax-mediated transactivation of the HTLV-1 LTR. Basal activation of the HTLV-1 LTR was enhanced by overexpression of C/EBPbeta, C/EBPdelta, or C/EBPepsilon, whereas transactivation of the LTR by Tax was inhibited by overexpression of C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta. Inhibition of Tax-mediated transactivation of the HTLV-1 LTR was co-activator-independent, did not require C/EBP binding to the Tax-responsive elements, and may involve heterodimerization with CREB factors.

Functional inactivation of p53 by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax protein: mechanisms and clinical implications

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-I) has been implicated with the etiology of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and certain other clinical disorders. Although the leukemogenic mechanism of HTLV-1 is not fully understood yet, the viral Tax protein is widely regarded as a key factor in this mechanism. Tax can modulate the synthesis or function of many regulatory factors which control a wide range of normal and oncogenic cellular processes and therefore, it acts as a potent oncoprotein. In the last few years, special attention has been attracted to Tax interference with the transactivation function of p53, a tumor-suppressor protein that is involved in regulation of the cell-cycle and apoptosis and in maintaining the cellular genome integrity. p53 is mutated in approximately 60% of all human tumors. In contrast, mutant p53 is found in only small percentage of ATL patients. Nevertheless, p53 is inactive in the leukemic cells of most ATL patients and in most HTLV-1 transformed cells. By inactivating p53, Tax can immortalize the HTLV-1-infected cells and destabilize their genome. Consequently, such cells can progress toward the ultimate leukemic state by a stepwise accumulation of oncogenic mutations and other types of chromosomal aberrations. Furthermore, since p53 exists in most ATL patients in its wild-type form, its reactivation by therapeutic drugs might be an effective approach for ATL therapy. Several mechanisms have been proposed so far for Tax-induced p53 inactivation. Understanding the exact mechanism of this Tax effect is essential for designing effective means for this therapeutic approach. In this review article, we discuss the various mechanisms proposed for Tax interference with p53 functions and their clinical and therapeutic implications.

Molecular mechanisms of cellular transformation by HTLV-1 Tax

The HTLV Tax protein is crucial for viral replication and for initiating malignant transformation leading to the development of adult T-cell leukemia. Tax has been shown to be oncogenic, since it transforms and immortalizes rodent fibroblasts and human T-lymphocytes. Through CREB, NF-kappaB and SRF pathways Tax transactivates cellular promoters including those of cytokines (IL-13, IL-15), cytokine receptors (IL-2Ralpha) and costimulatory surface receptors (OX40/OX40L) leading to upregulated protein expression and activated signaling cascades (e.g. Jak/STAT, PI3Kinase, JNK). Tax also stimulates cell growth by direct binding to cyclin-dependent kinase holenzymes and/or inactivating tumor suppressors (e.g. p53, DLG). Moreover, Tax silences cellular checkpoints, which guard against DNA structural damage and chromosomal missegregation, thereby favoring the manifestation of a mutator phenotype in cells.

A human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 enhancer of Myc transforming potential stabilizes Myc-TIP60 transcriptional interactions

The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects and transforms CD4+ lymphocytes and causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), an aggressive lymphoproliferative disease that is often fatal. Here, we demonstrate that the HTLV-1 pX splice-variant p30II markedly enhances the transforming potential of Myc and transcriptionally activates the human cyclin D2 promoter, dependent upon its conserved Myc-responsive E-box enhancer elements, which are associated with increased S-phase entry and multinucleation. Enhancement of c-Myc transforming activity by HTLV-1 p30II is dependent upon the transcriptional coactivators, transforming transcriptional activator protein/p434 and TIP60, and it requires TIP60 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity and correlates with the stabilization of HTLV-1 p30II/Myc-TIP60 chromatin-remodeling complexes. The p30II oncoprotein colocalizes and coimmunoprecipitates with Myc-TIP60 complexes in cultured HTLV-1-infected ATLL patient lymphocytes. Amino acid residues 99 to 154 within HTLV-1 p30II interact with the TIP60 HAT, and p30II transcriptionally activates numerous cellular genes in a TIP60-dependent or TIP60-independent manner, as determined by microarray gene expression analyses. Importantly, these results suggest that p30II functions as a novel retroviral modulator of Myc-TIP60-transforming interactions that may contribute to adult T-cell leukemogenesis.

Evidence for NF-kappaB- and CBP-independent repression of p53's transcriptional activity by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax in mouse embryo and primary human fibroblasts

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax oncoprotein can repress the transcriptional activity of the tumor suppressor protein p53. However, it remains controversial whether Tax requires NF-kappaB factors/activity and/or p300/CBP in order to inactivate p53 function. To address this issue, we have investigated Tax's effect on p53's transcriptional activation in IkappaB-kinase-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs); some of which are entirely silent for Tax-induced NF-kappaB activity. We found that, in IKKalpha-/-, IKKbeta-/-, and IKKgamma-/- MEFs, p53 activation of a prototypic responsive plasmid (pG13-luciferase) was repressed by wild-type Tax. Curiously, p53's activity in MEFs was also repressed by a p300/CBP-binding deficient Tax protein. Our results highlight the complex nature of Tax-mediated repression of p53- activity, which requires further investigation.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infection and the onset of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL)

The clinical entity of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) was established around 1977, and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-I) was subsequently identified in 1980. In the 25 years since the discovery of HTLV-I, HTLV-I infection and its associated diseases have been extensively studied, and many of their aspects have been clarified. However, the detailed mechanism of leukemogenesis remains unsolved yet, and the prognosis of ATL patients still poor because of its resistance to chemotherapy and immunodeficiency. In this review, I highlight the recent progress and remaining enigmas in HTLV-I infection and its associated diseases, especially ATL.

High levels of cytoplasmic HTLV-1 Tax mutant proteins retain a Tax-NF-κB-CBP ternary complex in the cytoplasm

The oncogenic potential of HTLV-1 Tax protein is partially ascribed to its capacity to activate NF-kappaB. The current view is that Tax acts first in the cytoplasm to dissociate NF-kappaB factors from the IkappaB proteins and enable their nuclear translocation, then Tax links p65(RelA), within the nucleus, to CBP/p300 and P/CAF, which are essential for its optimal transcriptional activity. Our present study challenges the paradigm that Tax-p65(RelA)-CBP/p300 assembly occurs in the nucleus. Using Tax mutants defective for nuclear localization we show that at low levels these mutants induce the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB factors but not their transcriptional activity, whereas at high levels they trap CBP and free p65(RelA) in the cytoplasm and block, thereby, their transcriptional function. In contrast, wild-type (w.t.) Tax strongly stimulated NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression in all tested experimental settings. These data suggest that the Tax-p65(RelA)-CBP ternary complex is established in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus. When this complex is formed with w.t. Tax, the entire moiety translocates into the nucleus and exerts high transcriptional activity. However, if the complex is formed with the cytoplasmic Tax mutants, the resulting moiety is retained in the cytoplasm and is, therefore, devoid of transcriptional activity.

Impact of transforming viruses on cellular mutagenesis, genome stability, and cellular transformation

It is estimated that 15% of all cancers are etiologically linked to viral infection. Specific cancers including adult T-cell leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, and uterine cervical cancer are associated with infection by human T-cell leukemia virus type I, hepatitis B virus, and high-risk human papilloma virus, respectively. In these cancers, genomic instability, a hallmark of multistep cancers, has been explicitly linked to the expression of oncoproteins encoded by these viruses. This review discusses mechanisms utilized by these viral oncoproteins, Tax, HBx, and E6/E7, to mediate genomic instability and cellular transformation.

Altered pharmacology and distinct coactivator usage for estrogen receptor-dependent transcription through activating protein-1

Estrogen signaling occurs through at least two distinct molecular pathways: (i) direct binding of liganded estrogen receptors (ERs) to estrogen-responsive DNA elements (EREs) (the "ER/ERE pathway") and (ii) indirect recruitment of liganded ERs to activating protein-1 (AP-1)-responsive DNA elements via heterodimers of Fos and Jun (the "ER/AP-1 pathway"). We have developed a biochemical assay for examining ligand-regulated transcription by ERs in the ER/AP-1 pathway. This assay recapitulates the altered (i.e., agonistic) pharmacology of selective estrogen receptor modulator drugs in this pathway reported previously by using various cell-based assays. We used our biochemical assay to examine the detailed mechanisms of ER/AP-1-dependent transcription. Our studies indicate that (i) ERalpha/AP-1 complexes play a critical role in promoting the formation of stable RNA polymerase II preinitiation complexes leading to transcription initiation, (ii) chromatin is a key determinant of estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulator signaling in the ERalpha/AP-1 pathway, (iii) distinct domains of ERalpha are required for recruitment to DNA-bound Fos/Jun heterodimers and transcriptional activation at AP-1 sites, and (iv) different enhancer/activator combinations in the ERalpha and AP-1 pathways use coactivators in distinct ways. These studies have increased our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand-dependent signaling in the ER/AP-1 pathway and demonstrate the usefulness of this biochemical approach.

Class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene expression

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of structurally related proteins with the collective capability to degrade all components of the extracellular matrix. Although MMP-mediated degradation of the extracellular matrix occurs physiologically, numerous pathological conditions exhibit increased MMP levels and excessive matrix degradation. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that interferon-gamma inhibits MMP-9 expression in a manner dependent upon STAT-1alpha. Here we extend our previous observations and show that the class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA), a transcriptional target of STAT-1alpha, is also capable of inhibiting MMP-9 expression. By using stable cell lines that inducibly express CIITA or various mutant forms of CIITA, we show that CIITA requires the ability to bind the CREB-binding protein (CBP) to effectively inhibit MMP-9 expression. Furthermore, we show that CIITA-mediated inhibition of the MMP-9 gene does not rely on the transcriptional capability of CIITA. These findings support a model wherein CIITA inhibits MMP-9 expression by binding to and sequestering CBP, which reduces the levels of CBP at the MMP-9 promoter, inhibits levels of acetylated histone 3 at the MMP-9 promoter, and subsequently inhibits MMP-9 expression.

Activation of simian virus 40 promoter by HTLV-I Tax protein: role of NF-κB and CBP

HTLV-I is implicated with adult T-cell leukemia and certain other clinical disorders. The viral Tax protein is regarded as a key element in HTLV-I pathogenicity due to its ability to activate a wide variety of cellular regulatory factors. As such, Tax may likely activate also latent infection of certain other pathogenic viruses whose expression is modulated by cellular transcription factors. Therefore, investigation of Tax effect on the expression of these viruses is of particular clinical importance, since HTLV-I infection of carriers harboring such latent viruses may trigger their related diseases. In this study we focused on simian virus 40 and demonstrated that Tax activates the promoter of this virus through NF-kappaB-associated pathway. Furthermore, we show that this activation requires an interaction of the NF-kappaB factor p65(RelA) with CBP, which depends on PKA-mediated phosphorylation of p65(RelA). Finally, the present study proves that the nuclear Tax plays a critical role in Tax-induced NF-kappaB-mediated SV40 activation.

Interaction between C/EBPbeta and Tax down-regulates human T-cell leukemia virus type I transcription

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) Tax protein trans-activates viral transcription through three imperfect tandem repeats of a 21-bp sequence called Tax-responsive element (TxRE). Tax regulates transcription via direct interaction with some members of the activating transcription factor/CRE-binding protein (ATF/CREB) family including CREM, CREB, and CREB-2. By interacting with their ZIP domain, Tax stimulates the binding of these cellular factors to the CRE-like sequence present in the TxREs. Recent observations have shown that CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) forms stable complexes on the CRE site in the presence of CREB-2. Given that C/EBPbeta has also been found to interact with Tax, we analyzed the effects of C/EBPbeta on viral Tax-dependent transcription. We show here that C/EBPbeta represses viral transcription and that Tax is no more able to form a stable complex with CREB-2 on the TxRE site in the presence of C/EBPbeta. We also analyzed the physical interactions between Tax and C/EBPbeta and found that the central region of C/EBPbeta, excluding its ZIP domain, is required for direct interaction with Tax. It is the first time that Tax is described to interact with a basic leucine-zipper (bZIP) factor without recognizing its ZIP domain. Although unexpected, this result explains why C/EBPbeta would be unable to form a stable complex with Tax on the TxRE site and could then down-regulate viral transcription. Lastly, we found that C/EBPbeta was able to inhibit Tax expression in vivo from an infectious HTLV-I molecular clone. In conclusion, we propose that during cell activation events, which stimulate the Tax synthesis, C/EBPbeta may down-regulate the level of HTLV-I expression to escape the cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte response.

Modulation of retinoid signaling by a cytoplasmic viral protein via sequestration of Sp110b, a potent transcriptional corepressor of retinoic acid receptor, from the nucleus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein (core) plays a significant role in the development of chronic liver diseases caused by HCV infection. We have discovered that the core sensitized all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced cell death in MCF-7 cells. Activation of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha)-mediated transcription by the core was also seen in all the cell lines tested. By use of a yeast two-hybrid system, we identified Sp110b as a candidate for a core-interacting cellular factor. Although the function of Sp110b has remained unknown, we observed that Sp110b interacts with RARalpha and suppresses RARalpha-mediated transcription. These data suggest that Sp110b is a transcriptional cofactor negatively regulating RARalpha-mediated transcription. RNA interference-mediated reduction of endogenous Sp110b levels depressed the ability of the core to activate RARalpha-mediated transcription, suggesting an essential role for Sp110b in this pathway. The normal nuclear subcellular localization of Sp110b was altered by molecular interaction with the core to the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. This evidence suggests a model in which the core sequesters Sp110b from the nucleus and inactivates its corepressor function to activate RARalpha-mediated transcription. These findings likely describe a novel system in which a cytoplasmic viral protein regulates host cell transcription.

Cellular transformation by the HTLV-I Tax protein, a jack-of-all-trades

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is an oncogenic retrovirus that is responsible for adult T-cell leukemia and a neurological disease, HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. HTLV-I encodes an oncogenic protein, Tax, which affects a variety of cellular functions prompting it to be referred to as a jack-of-all trades. The ability of Tax to both transcriptionally regulate cellular gene expression and to functionally inactivate proteins involved in cell-cycle progression and DNA repair provide the basis for Tax-mediated transformation and leukemogenesis. This review will concentrate on the effects of Tax on the dysregulation of the G(1)/S and G(2)/M checkpoints as well as the suppression of DNA damage repair leading to cellular transformation.

Cross-regulation of T cell growth factor expression by p53 and the Tax oncogene

In this study, we demonstrate that p53 directly inhibits expression of the T cell growth factor (IL-2) in activated T cells. This repression is independent of the intrinsic transcriptional activity of p53 and is mediated by the Tax-responsive CD28RE-3'-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element (AP1) element of the IL-2 promoter. Coexpression of the Tax oncogene causes full reversal of this repression through coordinate targeting of p300, CREB, and the NF-kappaB pathways. Paradoxically, IL-2 repression by p53 is not reversed by mdm2. Instead, mdm2 represses the IL-2 promoter by a mechanism that is synergistic with p53 and resistant to Tax reversal. The p300 structure-function studies show that these effects are linked to competitive associations among p53, Tax, and mdm2 with multiple domains of p300. The functional outcome of these antagonistic associations is revealed further by the observation that Tax and p53 induce apoptosis in activated T cells through separate and mutually exclusive pathways. Interestingly, both pathways are abrogated by mdm2. These results provide evidence that a dynamic interplay, between Tax and specific elements of the p53 network, mediates growth factor expression and programmed cell death in activated T cells.

Acetylation of nucleosomal histones by p300 facilitates transcription from tax-responsive human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 chromatin template

Expression of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is regulated by the viral transcriptional activator Tax. Tax activates viral transcription through interaction with the cellular transcription factor CREB and the coactivators CBP/p300. One key property of the coactivators is the presence of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity, which enables p300/CBP to modify nucleosome structure. The data presented in this manuscript demonstrate that full-length p300 and CBP facilitate transcription of a reconstituted chromatin template in the presence of Tax and CREB. The ability of p300 and CBP to activate transcription from the chromatin template is dependent upon the HAT activity. Moreover, the coactivator HAT activity must be tethered to the template by Tax and CREB, since a p300 mutant that fails to interact with Tax did not facilitate transcription or acetylate histones. p300 acetylates histones H3 and H4 within nucleosomes located in the promoter and 5' proximal regions of the template. Nucleosome acetylation is accompanied by an increase in the level of binding of RNA polymerase II transcription factor TFIID and RNA polymerase II to the promoter. Interestingly, we found distinct transcriptional activities between CBP and p300. CBP, but not p300, possesses an N-terminal activation domain which directly activates Tax-mediated HTLV-1 transcription from a naked DNA template. Finally, using the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we provide the first direct experimental evidence that p300 and CBP are associated with the HTLV-1 long terminal repeat in vivo.

Human T cell leukemia virus type I and neurologic disease: events in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and central nervous system during normal immune surveillance and neuroinflammation

Human T cell lymphotropic/leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) has been identified as the causative agent of both adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Although the exact sequence of events that occur during the early stages of infection are not known in detail, the initial route of infection may predetermine, along with host, environmental, and viral factors, the subset of target cells and/or the primary immune response encountered by HTLV-I, and whether an HTLV-I-infected individual will remain asymptomatic, develop ATL, or progress to the neuroinflammatory disease, HAM/TSP. Although a large number of studies have indicated that CD4(+) T cells represent an important target for HTLV-I infection in the peripheral blood (PB), additional evidence has accumulated over the past several years demonstrating that HTLV-I can infect several additional cellular compartments in vivo, including CD8(+) T lymphocytes, PB monocytes, dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, and resident central nervous system (CNS) astrocytes. More importantly, extensive latent viral infection of the bone marrow, including cells likely to be hematopoietic progenitor cells, has been observed in individuals with HAM/TSP as well as some asymptomatic carriers, but to a much lesser extent in individuals with ATL. Furthermore, HTLV-I(+) CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells can maintain the intact proviral genome and initiate viral gene expression during the differentiation process. Introduction of HTLV-I-infected bone marrow progenitor cells into the PB, followed by genomic activation and low level viral gene expression may lead to an increase in proviral DNA load in the PB, resulting in a progressive state of immune dysregulation including the generation of a detrimental cytotoxic Tax-specific CD8(+) T cell population, anti-HTLV-I antibodies, and neurotoxic cytokines involved in disruption of myelin-producing cells and neuronal degradation characteristic of HAM/TSP.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 p30(II) regulates gene transcription by binding CREB binding protein/p300

The highly conserved coadapters CREB binding protein (CBP) and p300 form complexes with CREB as well as other DNA binding transcription factors to modulate chromatin remodeling and thus transcription. Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) transcription is controlled, in part, by the CREB/ATF family of transcription factors which bind promoter sequences and function as complexes with the viral oncogenic protein Tax. We have reported that the nuclear localizing protein p30(II) of HTLV-1 functions as a transcription factor, differentially modulates CREB-responsive promoters, and is critical for maintenance of proviral loads in rabbits. In this study, we tested whether p30(II) directly interacts with CBP/p300 to modulate gene transcription. Gal4(BD)-p30(II)-mediated transactivation was enhanced following exogenous expression of p300 and was competitively repressed by the p300 binding protein, adenovirus E1A, and E1ACR2 (mutated for retinoblastoma binding but retaining p300 binding). In contrast, E1ACR1 (mutated for p300 binding) failed to alter Gal4(BD)-p30(II)-mediated transactivation. In addition, Gal4(BD)-p30(II)-mediated transactivation was competitively inhibited by the cotransfection of CMV-p30(II)-HA and CMV-Tax but could be rescued by exogenous p300. Importantly, we demonstrate that p30(II) colocalizes with p300 in cell nuclei and directly binds to CBP/p300 in cells. Deletion mutants of CBP/p300 were used to localize the site critical for binding p30(II) to a highly conserved KIX region. DNA binding assays confirmed the interference of p30(II) with the assembly of CREB-Tax-p300/CBP multiprotein complexes on 21-bp repeat oligonucleotides in vitro. Collectively, our results demonstrate that CBP/p300 is a cellular protein target for HTLV-1 p30(II) and mediates its transcriptional effects in vivo.

Autocrine antiapoptotic stimulation of cultured adult T-cell leukemia cells by overexpression of the chemokine I-309

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive malignancy of CD4(+) T cells caused by the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The viral leukemogenesis is critically dependent on its oncoprotein Tax because the protein as well as the virus can immortalize primary human lymphocytes to permanent growth. As a transcriptional transactivator, Tax can stimulate the expression of distinct cellular genes. Alterations in the expression levels of unknown growth-relevant genes may contribute to the changed growth properties of Tax-immortalized and leukemic cells. To identify genes that are linked to Tax transformation and ATL leukemogenesis, this study systematically compared the gene expression of cultured cells from patients with acute ATL with that of stimulated peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Several overexpressed RNAs that encode signal transduction functions were identified. These include a dual-specific protein phosphatase (PAC1), an interferon-inducible factor (ISG15), a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (DEC-1), and the secreted antiapoptotic chemokine I-309. The ATL cell culture supernatants contained an antiapoptotic activity that could be specifically inhibited by antibodies directed against I-309. Inhibition of I-309 receptor (CCR8) signaling by pertussis toxin increased the apoptosis rate of ATL cell cultures in the presence and absence of external apoptotic stimuli. Both the I-309--specific antiapoptotic activity and the proapoptotic effect of inhibitors of I-309 signaling suggest the existence of an antiapoptotic autocrine loop in ATL cells. Thus, the overexpression of this chemokine may inhibit apoptosis in ATL cells and could substantially contribute to their growth. (Blood. 2001;98:1150-1159)

The oncoprotein Tax binds the SRC-1-interacting domain of CBP/p300 to mediate transcriptional activation

Oncogenesis associated with human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) infection is directly linked to the virally encoded transcription factor Tax. To activate HTLV-1 transcription Tax interacts with the cellular protein CREB and the pleiotropic coactivators CBP and p300. While extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms of Tax transcription function and coactivator utilization are not fully understood. Previous studies have focused on Tax binding to the KIX domain of CBP, as this was believed to be the key step in recruiting the coactivator to the HTLV-1 promoter. In this study, we identify a carboxy-terminal region of CBP (and p300) that strongly interacts with Tax and mediates Tax transcription function. Through deletion mutagenesis, we identify amino acids 2003 to 2212 of CBP, which we call carboxy-terminal region 2 (CR2), as the minimal region for Tax interaction. Interestingly, this domain corresponds to the steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1)-interacting domain of CBP. We show that a double point mutant targeted to one of the putative alpha-helical motifs in this domain significantly compromises the interaction with Tax. We also characterize the region of Tax responsible for interaction with CR2 and show that the previously identified transactivation domain of Tax (amino acids 312 to 319) participates in CR2 binding. This region of Tax corresponds to a consensus amphipathic helix, and single point mutations targeted to amino acids on the face of this helix abolish interaction with CR2 and dramatically reduce Tax transcription function. Finally, we demonstrate that Tax and SRC-1 bind to CR2 in a mutually exclusive fashion. Together, these studies identify a novel Tax-interacting site on CBP/p300 and extend our understanding of the molecular mechanism of Tax transactivation.

Targeting of p300 to the interleukin-2 promoter via CREB-Rel cross-talk during mitogen and oncogenic molecular signaling in activated T-cells

In this report, we explore the mechanisms of targeting of p300 to the interleukin-2 (IL-2) promoter in response to mitogenic and oncogenic molecular signals. Recruitment of p300 by cAMP-responsive element-binding protein-Rel cross-talk at the composite CD28 response element (CD28RE)-TRE element of the IL-2 promoter is essential for promoter inducibility during T-cell activation, and CD28RE-TRE is the exclusive target of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I oncoprotein Tax. The intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity of p300 is dispensable for activation of the IL-2 promoter, and the N-terminal 743 residues contain the minimal structural requirements for synergistic transactivation of the CD28RE-TRE, the IL-2 promoter, and endogenous IL-2 gene expression. Mutational analysis of p300 reveals differential structural requirements for the N-terminal p300 module by individual cis-elements within the IL-2 promoter. These findings provide evidence that p300 assembles at the IL-2 promoter to form an enhanceosome-like signal transduction target that is centrally integrated at the CD28RE-TRE element of the IL-2 promoter through specific protein module-targeted associations in activated T-cells.

Genetic evidence of a role for ATM in functional interaction between human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax and p53

Recent evidence from several investigators suggest that the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax oncoprotein represses the transcriptional activity of the tumor suppressor protein, p53. An examination of published findings reveals serious controversy as to the mechanism(s) utilized by Tax to inhibit p53 activity and whether the same mechanism is used by Tax in adherent and suspension cells. Here, we have investigated Tax-p53 interaction simultaneously in adherent epithelial (HeLa and Saos) and suspension T-lymphocyte (Jurkat) cells. Our results indicate that Tax activity through the CREB/CREB-binding protein (CBP), but not NF-kappaB, pathway is needed to repress the transcriptional activity of p53 in all tested cell lines. However, we did find that while CBP binding by Tax is necessary, it is not sufficient for inhibiting p53 function. Based on knockout cell studies, we correlated a strong genetic requirement for the ATM, but not protein kinase-dependent DNA, protein in conferring a Tax-p53-repressive phenotype.

Immortalization of T lymphocytes by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 is independent of the tax-CBP/p300 interaction

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax oncoprotein is a 40-kDa nuclear phosphoprotein which functions in the viral replication cycle as a transcriptional trans-activator of the viral long terminal repeat. Tax interacts with a variety of different transcription factors, including the CREB binding protein (CBP)/p300 family of transcriptional accessory proteins. We demonstrate that a Tax mutant defective for the CBP/p300 interaction retains the capacity to immortalize primary human T lymphocytes when it is expressed from a functional molecular clone of HTLV-1. Thus, immortalization of HTLV-1-infected cells appears to be independent of Tax-induced alterations in CBP/p300 function.

Distinct p300-responsive mechanisms promote caspase-dependent apoptosis by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax protein

The dysregulation of cellular apoptosis pathways has emerged as a critical early event associated with the development of many types of human cancers. Numerous viral and cellular oncogenes, aside from their inherent transforming properties, are known to induce programmed cell death, consistent with the hypothesis that genetic defects are required to support tumor survival. Here, we report that nuclear expression of the CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300-binding domain of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) transactivator, Tax, triggers an apoptotic death-inducing signal during short-term clonal analyses, as well as in transient cell death assays. Coexpression of the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2 increased serum stimulation; incubation with the chemical caspase inhibitor z-Val-Ala-DL-Asp fluoromethylketone antagonized Tax-induced cell death. The CBP/p300-binding defective Tax mutants K88A and V89A exhibited markedly reduced cytotoxic effects compared to the wild-type Tax protein. Importantly, nuclear expression of the minimal CBP/p300-binding peptide of Tax induced apoptosis in the absence of Tax-dependent transcriptional activities, while its K88A counterpart did not cause cell death. Further, Tax-mediated apoptosis was effectively prevented by ectopic expression of the p300 coactivator. We also report that activation of the NF-kappaB transcription pathway by Tax, under growth arrest conditions, results in apoptosis that occurs independent of direct Tax coactivator effects. Our results allude to a novel pivotal role for the transcriptional coactivator p300 in determining cell fate and raise the possibility that dysregulated coactivator usage may pose an early barrier to transformation that must be selectively overcome as a prerequisite for the initiation of neoplasia.

Insights into the molecular mechanism of p53 inhibition by HTLV type 1 Tax

The p53 protein plays a pivotal role in transmitting signals from many forms of genotoxic stress to genes and factors that control aspects of the cell cycle and death. Although mutated in approximately 60% of all human cancers, only a minority of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-transformed cells carry p53 mutations. Nevertheless, the p53 protein in HTLV-1-transformed cells is functionally inactive. We have previously demonstrated that the HTLV-1 Tax protein can inhibit p53 trans-activation function. Tax does not accomplish this by directly binding to p53, but rather by a unique mechanism that includes constitutive phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and Ser-392. Analysis of Tax mutants in lymphocytes demonstrates that Tax-induced p53 inhibition correlates with the ability of Tax to activate NF-kappaB, but not p300 binding or CREB trans-activation. Consistent with these results, expression of the I-kappaBalpha(S32,36A) mutant that blocks NF-kappaB activation blocks Tax-mediated p53 inhibition. We further demonstrate the importance of Tax activation of NF-kappaB in p53 inhibition, using p65 knockout (KO) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). In the absence of p65 Tax could not inhibit p53. Tax does activate IKKbeta in the p65 KO MEFs, indicating that prenuclear events of NF-kappaB activation are not sufficient for Tax-mediated p53 inhibition, but rather NF-kappaB transcriptional activation is critical. Importantly, using phosphospecific antibodies, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 and Ser-392 correlates with Tax-mediated inhibition. In addition, mutation of p53 at Ser-15 and Ser-392 to alanines renders p53 resistant to Tax inhibition. This report reviews p53 inhibition by Tax and presents our current model.

AMF-1/Gps2 binds p300 and enhances its interaction with papillomavirus E2 proteins

The cellular protein AMF-1 (Gps2) positively modulates gene expression by the papillomavirus E2 protein (D. E. Breiding et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 17:7208-7219, 1997). We show here that AMF-1 also binds the transcriptional coactivator p300 in vitro and in vivo. E2 interacted weakly with p300. These observations led to a model in which AMF-1 recruits p300 into a complex with E2. Cotransfection of AMF-1 or p300 stimulated levels of E2-dependent transcription, while cotransfection of both AMF-1 and p300 showed an additive effect. The functional significance of p300 recruitment for E2 transactivation was evidenced by repression of E2-activated transcription by adenovirus E1A, which inhibits both coactivator and acetylase activities of p300. Antibodies to AMF-1 or E2 immunoprecipitated histone acetylase activity from cell lysates. Western blotting using antibody against acetyl-lysine failed to detect acetylation of AMF-1 or E2 in complex with p300. These results suggest that AMF-1 facilitates the recruitment of p300 and its histone acetylase activity into complexes with E2 and represents a novel mechanism of transcriptional activation.

Inactivation of p53 by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax requires activation of the NF-kappaB pathway and is dependent on p53 phosphorylation

p53 plays a key role in guarding cells against DNA damage and transformation. We previously demonstrated that the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax can inactivate p53 transactivation function in lymphocytes. The present study demonstrates that in T cells, Tax-induced p53 inactivation is dependent upon NF-kappaB activation. Analysis of Tax mutants demonstrated that Tax inactivation of p53 function correlates with the ability of Tax to induce NF-kappaB but not p300 binding or CREB transactivation. The Tax-induced p53 inactivation can be overcome by overexpression of a dominant IkappaB mutant. Tax-NF-kappaB-induced p53 inactivation is not due to p300 squelching, since overexpression of p300 does not recover p53 activity in the presence of Tax. Further, using wild-type and p65 knockout mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), we demonstrate that the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB is critical for Tax-induced p53 inactivation. While Tax can inactivate endogenous p53 function in wild-type MEFs, it fails to inactivate p53 function in p65 knockout MEFs. Importantly, Tax-induced p53 inactivation can be restored by expression of p65 in the knockout MEFs. Finally, we present evidence that phosphorylation of serines 15 and 392 correlates with inactivation of p53 by Tax in T cells. This study provides evidence that the divergent NF-kappaB proliferative and p53 cell cycle arrest pathways may be cross-regulated at several levels, including posttranslational modification of p53.

The human T cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax protein represses MyoD-dependent transcription by inhibiting MyoD-binding to the KIX domain of p300. A potential mechanism for Tax-mediated repression of the transcriptional activity of basic helix-loop-helix factors

The human T cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax protein strongly activates viral and cellular gene transcription. It mainly functions by interacting with cellular transcription factors and the KIX domain of the p300/CBP coactivators. Tax can also repress the transcription of cellular genes through the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein family. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of this Tax-mediated inhibition, we analyzed its effect on the transcriptional activity of the myogenic MyoD protein, which was used as a paradigm of bHLH factors. In this study, we show that overexpression of the p300 coactivator in transient transfection assays was sufficient to rescue MyoD repression by Tax. Furthermore, an N-terminal domain of p300 (amino acids 379-654) containing the region of KIX serving as the Tax binding site was found, when overexpressed, to potentiate Tax-mediated transactivation of HTLV-1 proviral as well as MyoD-dependent transcription, and to antagonize the inhibition by Tax of the transcriptional activity of MyoD. These results revealing the presence of an N-terminal MyoD binding site were confirmed by in vitro protein-protein interaction assays that demonstrate that MyoD binds to the KIX domain of p300 and that Tax competes with MyoD binding in a nonreciprocal manner. These observations provide evidence that Tax binding to the KIX domain of p300 prevents bHLH proteins from contacting this N-terminal domain of the coactivator, thus resulting in their transcriptional repression. As bHLH proteins are implicated in many developmental fate decisions, especially during thymopoiesis, Tax-mediated inhibition of their transcriptional activity may contribute to the induction of HTLV-1-linked leukemogenesis.

HTLV-1 tax oncoprotein represses the p53-mediated trans-activation function through coactivator CBP sequestration

The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax oncoprotein repressed the transcriptional activity of wild-type p53 through its N-terminal trans-activation domain. Although Tax did not directly bind to p53, this repression required the activation of CREB pathway by Tax. In contrast to a recent report by Pise-Masison et al. (1998a, b) we found that the phosphorylation of p53 on Ser 15 is not a major cause of the Tax-mediated inactivation of p53. However, Tax with a mutation in the coactivator CBP-binding site (K88A), which activates NF-kappaB but not the CREB pathway, could not repress the p53 trans-activation function. Moreover, Tax inhibited p53 binding to CBP in vitro and inhibited synergistic activation of transcription by CBP and p53. Thus, Tax is likely to compete with p53 in binding with CBP, thereby repressing its trans-activation function.

Insight into the tumor suppressor function of CBP through the viral oncoprotein tax

CREB binding protein (CBP) is a cellular coactivator protein that regulates essentially all known pathways of gene expression. The transcriptional coactivator properties of CBP are utilized by at least 25 different transcription factors representing nearly all known classes of DNA binding proteins. Once bound to their target genes, these transcription factors are believed to tether CBP to the promoter, leading to activated transcription. CBP functions to stimulate transcription through direct recruitment of the general transcription machinery as well as acetylation of both histone and transcription factor substrates. Recent observations indicate that a critical dosage of CBP is required for normal development and tumor suppression, and that perturbations in CBP concentrations may disrupt cellular homeostasis. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that CBP deregulation plays a direct role in hematopoietic malignancies. However, the molecular events linking CBP deregulation and malignant transformation are unclear. Further insight into the function of CBP, and its role as a tumor suppressor, can be gained through recent studies of the human T-cell leukemia virus, type I (HTLV-I) Tax oncoprotein. Tax is known to utilize CBP to stimulate transcription from the viral promoter. However, recent data suggest that as a consequence of the Tax-CBP interaction, many cellular transcription factor pathways may be deregulated. Tax disruption of CBP function may play a key role in transformation of the HTLV-I-infected cell. Thus, Tax derailment of CBP may lend important information about the tumor suppressor properties of CBP and serve as a model for the role of CBP in hematopoietic malignancies.

Binding of p53 to the KIX domain of CREB binding protein. A potential link to human T-cell leukemia virus, type I-associated leukemogenesis

The pleiotropic cellular coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP) plays a critical role in supporting p53-dependent tumor suppressor functions. p53 has been shown to directly interact with a carboxyl-terminal region of CBP for recruitment of the coactivator to p53-responsive genes. In this report, we identify the KIX domain as a new p53 contact point on CBP. We show that both recombinant and endogenous forms of p53 specifically interact with KIX. We demonstrate that the activation domain of p53 participates in KIX binding and provide evidence showing that this interaction is critical for p53 transactivation function. The human T-cell leukemia virus, type-I-encoded oncoprotein Tax is a well established repressor of p53 transcription function. Like p53, Tax also binds to KIX. The finding that both transcription factors bind to a common region of CBP suggests that coactivator competition may account for the observed repression. We demonstrate reciprocal repression between Tax and p53 in transient transfection assays, supporting the idea of intracellular coactivator competition. We biochemically confirm coactivator competition by directly showing that both transcription factors bind to KIX in a mutually exclusive fashion. These data provide molecular evidence for the observed intracellular competition and suggest that Tax inhibits p53 function by abrogating a novel p53-KIX interaction. Thus, Tax competition for the p53-KIX complex may be a pivotal event in the human T-cell leukemia virus, type I transformation pathway.