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Zhang Z, Xu J, Liu J, Wang J, Lei L. SEC: A core hub during cell fate alteration. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23680. [PMID: 38758186 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400514r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Pol II pause release is a rate-limiting step in gene transcription, influencing various cell fate alterations. Numerous proteins orchestrate Pol II pause release, thereby playing pivotal roles in the intricate process of cellular fate modulation. Super elongation complex (SEC), a large assembly comprising diverse protein components, has garnered attention due to its emerging significance in orchestrating physiological and pathological cellular identity changes by regulating the transcription of crucial genes. Consequently, SEC emerges as a noteworthy functional complex capable of modulating cell fate alterations. Therefore, a comprehensive review is warranted to systematically summarize the core roles of SEC in different types of cell fate alterations. This review focuses on elucidating the current understanding of the structural and functional basis of SEC. Additionally, we discuss the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing SEC in various models of cell fate alteration, encompassing both physiological and pathological contexts. Furthermore, leveraging the existing knowledge of SEC, we propose some insightful directions for future research, aiming to enhance our mechanistic and functional comprehension of SEC within the diverse landscape of cell fate alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijing Zhang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jingyi Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jiqiang Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jiaqiang Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
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Chen Y, Cramer P. RNA polymerase II elongation factors use conserved regulatory mechanisms. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2024; 84:102766. [PMID: 38181687 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription is regulated by many elongation factors. Among these factors, TFIIF, PAF-RTF1, ELL and Elongin stimulate mRNA chain elongation by Pol II. Cryo-EM structures of Pol II complexes with these elongation factors now reveal some general principles on how elongation factors bind Pol II and how they stimulate transcription. All four elongation factors contact Pol II at domains external 2 and protrusion, whereas TFIIF and ELL additionally bind the Pol II lobe. All factors apparently stabilize cleft-flanking elements, whereas RTF1 and Elongin additionally approach the active site with a latch element and may influence catalysis or translocation. Due to the shared binding sites on Pol II, factor binding is mutually exclusive, and thus it remains to be studied what determines which elongation factors bind at a certain gene and under which condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Patrick Cramer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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Ghosh A, Chakraborty P, Biswas D. Fine tuning of the transcription juggernaut: A sweet and sour saga of acetylation and ubiquitination. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194944. [PMID: 37236503 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Among post-translational modifications of proteins, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination are most extensively studied over the last several decades. Owing to their different target residues for modifications, cross-talk between phosphorylation with that of acetylation and ubiquitination is relatively less pronounced. However, since canonical acetylation and ubiquitination happen only on the lysine residues, an overlap of the same lysine residue being targeted for both acetylation and ubiquitination happens quite frequently and thus plays key roles in overall functional regulation predominantly through modulation of protein stability. In this review, we discuss the cross-talk of acetylation and ubiquitination in the regulation of protein stability for the functional regulation of cellular processes with an emphasis on transcriptional regulation. Further, we emphasize our understanding of the functional regulation of Super Elongation Complex (SEC)-mediated transcription, through regulation of stabilization by acetylation, deacetylation and ubiquitination and associated enzymes and its implication in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avik Ghosh
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India
| | - Poushali Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India.
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4
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Jiang W, Wang X, Tao D, Zhao X. Identification of common genetic characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis and major depressive disorder by bioinformatics analysis and machine learning. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1183115. [PMID: 37415981 PMCID: PMC10320004 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1183115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Depression is the most common comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, major depressive disorder (MDD) and rheumatoid arthritis share highly overlapping mental and physical manifestations, such as depressed mood, sleep disturbance, fatigue, pain, and worthlessness. This overlap and indistinguishability often lead to the misattribution of physical and mental symptoms of RA patients to depression, and even, the depressive symptoms of MDD patients are ignored when receiving RA treatment. This has serious consequences, since the development of objective diagnostic tools to distinguish psychiatric symptoms from similar symptoms caused by physical diseases is urgent. Methods Bioinformatics analysis and machine learning. Results The common genetic characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis and major depressive disorder are EAF1, SDCBP and RNF19B. Discussion We discovered a connection between RA and MDD through immune infiltration studies: monocyte infiltration. Futhermore, we explored the correlation between the expression of the 3 marker genes and immune cell infiltration using the TIMER 2.0 database. This may help to explain the potential molecular mechanism by which RA and MDD increase the morbidity of each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dongxia Tao
- Nurse Department, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Operation Room, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Wu X, Xie Y, Zhao K, Lu J. Targeting the super elongation complex for oncogenic transcription driven tumor malignancies: Progress in structure, mechanisms and small molecular inhibitor discovery. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 158:387-421. [PMID: 36990537 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic transcription activation is associated with tumor development and resistance derived from chemotherapy or target therapy. The super elongation complex (SEC) is an important complex regulating gene transcription and expression in metazoans closely related to physiological activities. In normal transcriptional regulation, SEC can trigger promoter escape, limit proteolytic degradation of transcription elongation factors and increase the synthesis of RNA polymerase II (POL II), and regulate many normal human genes to stimulate RNA elongation. Dysregulation of SEC accompanied by multiple transcription factors in cancer promotes rapid transcription of oncogenes and induce cancer development. In this review, we summarized recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of SEC in regulating normal transcription, and importantly its roles in cancer development. We also highlighted the discovery of SEC complex target related inhibitors and their potential applications in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanqiu Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, China; Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kehao Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, China.
| | - Jing Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, China.
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Pal S, Yadav D, Biswas D. ATM-mediated ELL phosphorylation enhances its self-association through increased EAF1 interaction and inhibits global transcription during genotoxic stress. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10995-11012. [PMID: 36305813 PMCID: PMC9638944 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian cells immediately inhibit transcription upon exposure to genotoxic stress to avoid fatal collision between ongoing transcription and newly recruited DNA repair machineries to protect genomic integrity. However, mechanisms of this early transcriptional inhibition are poorly understood. In this study, we decipher a novel role of human EAF1, a positive regulator of ELL-dependent RNA Polymerase II-mediated transcription in vitro, in regulation of temporal inhibition of transcription during genotoxic stress. Our results show that, besides Super Elongation Complex (SEC) and Little Elongation Complex (LEC), human ELL (aka ELL1) also forms a complex with EAF1 alone. Interestingly, contrary to the in vitro studies, EAF1 inhibits ELL-dependent RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription of diverse target genes. Mechanistically, we show that intrinsic self-association property of ELL leads to its reduced interaction with other SEC components. EAF1 enhances ELL self-association and thus reduces its interaction with other SEC components leading to transcriptional inhibition. Physiologically, we show that upon exposure to genotoxic stress, ATM-mediated ELL phosphorylation-dependent enhanced EAF1 association results in reduced ELL interaction with other SEC components that lead to global transcriptional inhibition. Thus, we describe an important mechanism of dynamic transcriptional regulation during genotoxic stress involving post-translational modification of a key elongation factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujay Pal
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology , 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata - 32, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) , Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Dipika Yadav
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology , 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata - 32, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology , 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road , Kolkata - 32, India
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Negative Feedback Loop Mechanism between EAF1/2 and DBC1 in Regulating ELL Stability and Functions. Mol Cell Biol 2022; 42:e0015122. [PMID: 36036574 PMCID: PMC9590304 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00151-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although ELL-associated factors 1 and 2 (EAF1/2) have been shown to enhance RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription in vitro, their functional roles in vivo are poorly known. In this report, we show functions of these proteins in regulating ELL stability through their competitive binding with HDAC3 at the N terminus of ELL. Reduced HDAC3 binding to ELL causes increased acetylation leading to reduced ubiquitylation-mediated degradation. Similar functional roles played by DBC1 in regulating ELL stability further prompted in-depth analyses that demonstrated presence of negative feedback loop mechanisms between DBC1 and EAF1/2 in maintaining overall ELL level. Mechanistically, increased DBC1 reduces EAF1/2 level through increased ubiquitylation involving E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM28, whereas increased EAF1/2 reduces DBC1 level through reduced transcription. Physiologically, after a few passages, ELL levels in either DBC1 or EAF1 knockdown cells are restored through enhanced expression of EAF1 and DBC1, respectively. Interestingly, for maintenance of ELL level, mammalian cells prefer the EAF1-dependent pathway during exposure to genotoxic stress, and the DBC1-dependent pathway during exposure to growth factors. Thus, we describe coordinated functions of multiple factors, including EAF1/2, HDAC3, DBC1, and TRIM28 in regulating ELL protein level for optimal target gene expression in a context-dependent manner within mammalian cells.
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8
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Sequence, structural and functional conservation among the human and fission yeast ELL and EAF transcription elongation factors. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 49:1303-1320. [PMID: 34807377 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06958-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcription elongation is a dynamic and tightly regulated step of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Eleven nineteen Lysine rich Leukemia (ELL) and ELL Associated Factors (EAF) family of conserved proteins are required for efficient RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription elongation. Orthologs of these proteins have been identified in different organisms, including fission yeast and humans. METHODS AND RESULTS In the present study, we have examined the sequence, structural and functional conservation between the fission yeast and human ELL and EAF orthologs. Our computational analysis revealed that these proteins share some sequence characteristics, and were predominantly disordered in both organisms. Our functional complementation assays revealed that both human ELL and EAF proteins could complement the lack of ell1+ or eaf1+ in Schizosaccharomyces pombe respectively. Furthermore, our domain mapping experiments demonstrated that both the amino and carboxyl terminal domains of human EAF proteins could functionally complement the S. pombe eaf1 deletion phenotypes. However, only the carboxyl-terminus domain of human ELL was able to partially rescue the phenotypes associated with lack of ell1+ in S. pombe. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our work adds ELL-EAF to the increasing list of human-yeast complementation gene pairs, wherein the simpler fission yeast can be used to further enhance our understanding of the role of these proteins in transcription elongation and human disease.
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Dabas P, Dhingra Y, Sweta K, Chakrabarty M, Singhal R, Tyagi P, Behera PM, Dixit A, Bhattacharjee S, Sharma N. Arabidopsis thaliana possesses two novel ELL associated factor homologs. IUBMB Life 2021; 73:1115-1130. [PMID: 34089218 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Transcription elongation is one of the key steps at which RNA polymerase II-directed expression of protein-coding genes is regulated in eukaryotic cells. Different proteins have been shown to control this process, including the ELL/EAF family. ELL Associated Factors (EAFs) were first discovered in a yeast two-hybrid screen as interaction partners of the human ELL (Eleven nineteen Lysine-rich Leukemia) transcription elongation factor. Subsequently, they have been identified in different organisms, including Schizosaccharomyces pombe. However, no homolog(s) of EAF has as yet been characterized from plants. In the present work, we identified EAF orthologous sequences in different plants and have characterized two novel Arabidopsis thaliana EAF homologs, AtEAF-1 (At1g71080) and AtEAF-2 (At5g38050). Sequence analysis showed that both AtEAF-1 and AtEAF-2 exhibit similarity with its S. pombe EAF counterpart. Moreover, both Arabidopsis thaliana and S. pombe EAF orthologs share conserved sequence characteristic features. Computational tools also predicted a high degree of disorder in regions towards the carboxyl terminus of these EAF proteins. We demonstrate that AtEAF-2, but not AtEAF-1 functionally complements growth deficiencies of Schizosaccharomyces pombe eaf mutant. We also show that only AtEAF-1 displays transactivation potential resembling the S. pombe EAF ortholog. Subsequent expression analysis in A. thaliana showed that both homologs were expressed at varying levels during different developmental stages and in different tissues tested in the study. Individual null-mutants of either AtEAF-1 or AtEAF-2 are developmentally normal implying their functional redundancy. Taken together, our results provide first evidence that A. thaliana also possesses functional EAF proteins, suggesting an evolutionary conservation of these proteins across organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Dabas
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - Yukti Dhingra
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - Kumari Sweta
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohima Chakrabarty
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - Ritwik Singhal
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - Prasidhi Tyagi
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Saikat Bhattacharjee
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction and plant resistance, Regional Center of Biotechnology, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Nimisha Sharma
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
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Takahashi S, Kanai A, Okuda H, Miyamoto R, Komata Y, Kawamura T, Matsui H, Inaba T, Takaori-Kondo A, Yokoyama A. HBO1-MLL interaction promotes AF4/ENL/P-TEFb-mediated leukemogenesis. eLife 2021; 10:e65872. [PMID: 34431785 PMCID: PMC8387021 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemic oncoproteins cause uncontrolled self-renewal of hematopoietic progenitors by aberrant gene activation, eventually causing leukemia. However, the molecular mechanism underlying aberrant gene activation remains elusive. Here, we showed that leukemic MLL fusion proteins associate with the HBO1 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex through their trithorax homology domain 2 (THD2) in various human cell lines. MLL proteins associated with the HBO1 complex through multiple contacts mediated mainly by the ING4/5 and PHF16 subunits in a chromatin-bound context where histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation marks were present. Of the many MLL fusions, MLL-ELL particularly depended on the THD2-mediated association with the HBO1 complex for leukemic transformation. The C-terminal portion of ELL provided a binding platform for multiple factors including AF4, EAF1, and p53. MLL-ELL activated gene expression in murine hematopoietic progenitors by loading an AF4/ENL/P-TEFb (AEP) complex onto the target promoters wherein the HBO1 complex promoted the association with AEP complex over EAF1 and p53. Moreover, the NUP98-HBO1 fusion protein exerted its oncogenic properties via interaction with MLL but not its intrinsic HAT activity. Thus, the interaction between the HBO1 complex and MLL is an important nexus in leukemic transformation, which may serve as a therapeutic target for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Takahashi
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer CenterTsuruokaJapan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Akinori Kanai
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Leukemia Program Project, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima UniversityHiroshimaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Okuda
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer CenterTsuruokaJapan
| | - Ryo Miyamoto
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer CenterTsuruokaJapan
| | - Yosuke Komata
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer CenterTsuruokaJapan
| | | | - Hirotaka Matsui
- Department of Molecular Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
| | - Toshiya Inaba
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Leukemia Program Project, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima UniversityHiroshimaJapan
| | - Akifumi Takaori-Kondo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Akihiko Yokoyama
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer CenterTsuruokaJapan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of MedicineKyotoJapan
- Division of Hematological Malignancy, National Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
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Chen Y, Vos SM, Dienemann C, Ninov M, Urlaub H, Cramer P. Allosteric transcription stimulation by RNA polymerase II super elongation complex. Mol Cell 2021; 81:3386-3399.e10. [PMID: 34265249 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The super elongation complex (SEC) contains the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and the subcomplex ELL2-EAF1, which stimulates RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) elongation. Here, we report the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of ELL2-EAF1 bound to a RNA Pol II elongation complex at 2.8 Å resolution. The ELL2-EAF1 dimerization module directly binds the RNA Pol II lobe domain, explaining how SEC delivers P-TEFb to RNA Pol II. The same site on the lobe also binds the initiation factor TFIIF, consistent with SEC binding only after the transition from transcription initiation to elongation. Structure-guided functional analysis shows that the stimulation of RNA elongation requires the dimerization module and the ELL2 linker that tethers the module to the RNA Pol II protrusion. Our results show that SEC stimulates elongation allosterically and indicate that this stimulation involves stabilization of a closed conformation of the RNA Pol II active center cleft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Seychelle M Vos
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dienemann
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Momchil Ninov
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bioanalytics Group, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Bioanalytics Group, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Cramer
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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Panagopoulos I, Andersen K, Eilert-Olsen M, Rognlien AG, Munthe-Kaas MC, Micci F, Heim S. Rare KMT2A-ELL and Novel ZNF56-KMT2A Fusion Genes in Pediatric T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 18:121-131. [PMID: 33608309 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Previous reports have associated the KMT2A-ELL fusion gene, generated by t(11;19)(q23;p13.1), with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We herein report a KMT2A-ELL and a novel ZNF56-KMT2A fusion genes in a pediatric T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). MATERIALS AND METHODS Genetic investigations were performed on bone marrow of a 13-year-old boy diagnosed with T-ALL. RESULTS A KMT2A-ELL and a novel ZNF56-KMT2A fusion genes were generated on der(11)t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) and der(19)t(11;19)(q23;p13.1), respectively. Exon 20 of KMT2A fused to exon 2 of ELL in KMT2A-ELL chimeric transcript whereas exon 1 of ZNF56 fused to exon 21 of KMT2A in ZNF56-KMT2A transcript. A literature search revealed four more T-ALL patients carrying a KMT2A-ELL fusion. All of them were males aged 11, 11, 17, and 20 years. CONCLUSION KMT2A-ELL fusion is a rare recurrent genetic event in T-ALL with uncertain prognostic implications. The frequency and impact of ZNF56-KMT2A in T-ALL are unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Panagopoulos
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway;
| | - Kristin Andersen
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martine Eilert-Olsen
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Gro Rognlien
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Monica Cheng Munthe-Kaas
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesca Micci
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sverre Heim
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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13
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Basu S, Nandy A, Biswas D. Keeping RNA polymerase II on the run: Functions of MLL fusion partners in transcriptional regulation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2020; 1863:194563. [PMID: 32348849 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Since the identification of key MLL fusion partners as transcription elongation factors regulating expression of HOX cluster genes during hematopoiesis, extensive work from the last decade has resulted in significant progress in our overall mechanistic understanding of role of MLL fusion partner proteins in transcriptional regulation of diverse set of genes beyond just the HOX cluster. In this review, we are going to detail overall understanding of role of MLL fusion partner proteins in transcriptional regulation and thus provide mechanistic insights into possible MLL fusion protein-mediated transcriptional misregulation leading to aberrant hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subham Basu
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India
| | - Arijit Nandy
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Debabrata Biswas
- Laboratory of Transcription Biology, Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India.
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14
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Takahashi S, Yokoyama A. The molecular functions of common and atypical MLL fusion protein complexes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2020; 1863:194548. [PMID: 32320750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) fuses with a variety of partners to produce a functionally altered MLL complex that is not expressed in normal cells, which transforms normal hematopoietic progenitors into leukemia cells. Because more than 80 fusion partners have been identified to date, the molecular functions of MLL fusion protein complexes appear diverse. However, over the past decade, the common functions utilized for leukemic transformation have begun to be elucidated. It appears that most (if not all) MLL fusion protein complexes utilize the AF4/ENL/P-TEFb and DOT1L complexes to some extent. Based on an understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, several molecular targeting drugs are being developed, opening paths to novel therapies. Here, we review the recent progress made in identifying the molecular functions of various MLL fusions and categorize the numerous fusion partners into several functionally-distinct groups to help discern commonalities and differences among various MLL fusion protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Takahashi
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer Center, Tsuruoka, Japan; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yokoyama
- Tsuruoka Metabolomics Laboratory, National Cancer Center, Tsuruoka, Japan; National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
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15
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DBC1, p300, HDAC3, and Siah1 coordinately regulate ELL stability and function for expression of its target genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:6509-6520. [PMID: 32152128 PMCID: PMC7104407 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1912375117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Among all of the Super Elongation Complex (SEC) components, ELL1 (also known as ELL) is the only bona fide elongation factor that directly stimulates transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II. However, the mechanism(s) of functional regulation of ELL1 (referred to as ELL hereafter), through its stabilization, is completely unknown. Here, we report a function of human DBC1 in regulating ELL stability involving HDAC3, p300, and Siah1. Mechanistically, we show that p300-mediated site-specific acetylation increases, whereas HDAC3-mediated deacetylation decreases, ELL stability through polyubiquitylation by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Siah1. DBC1 competes with HDAC3 for the same binding sites on ELL and thus increases its acetylation and stability. Knockdown of DBC1 reduces ELL levels and expression of a significant number of genes, including those involved in glucose metabolism. Consistently, Type 2 diabetes patient-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells show reduced expression of DBC1 and ELL and associated key target genes required for glucose homeostasis. Thus, we describe a pathway of regulating stability and functions of key elongation factor ELL for expression of diverse sets of genes, including ones that are linked to Type 2 diabetes pathogenesis.
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16
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ELL-associated factors EAF1/2 negatively regulate HIV-1 transcription through inhibition of Super Elongation Complex formation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2020; 1863:194508. [PMID: 32087315 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The ELL (ELL1 and ELL2)-containing Super Elongation Complex (SEC) is required for efficient HIV-1 transactivation by the viral-encoded Tat protein. EAF1 and EAF2 are ELL-associated factors and considered as positive regulators of ELL. However, their role in HIV-1 transcriptional control is unknown. In this study, we show that EAF1/2 inhibit the SEC-dependent and Tat-activated HIV-1 transcription. EAF1/2 are found to interact with the SEC components in an ELL1/2-dependent manner. Surprisingly, the depletion of EAF1/2 increases the SEC formation and occupancy on the HIV-1 proviral DNA, thereby stimulating Tat transactivation of HIV-1. Although EAF1/2 interact with members of the SEC in a ELL-dependent manner, this interaction competes with the binding of the scaffolding subunit AFF1 with ELL, thus reducing the SEC formation. Together, these data reveal how EAF1/2 regulate the SEC formation to control HIV-1 transcription.
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17
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The hunt for RNA polymerase II elongation factors: a historical perspective. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2019; 26:771-776. [PMID: 31439940 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0283-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of the three eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases paved the way for serious biochemical investigations of eukaryotic transcription and the identification of eukaryotic transcription factors. Here we describe this adventure from our vantage point, with a focus on the hunt for factors that regulate elongation by RNA polymerase II.
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18
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Pascal LE, Su F, Wang D, Ai J, Song Q, Wang Y, O'Malley KJ, Cross B, Rigatti LH, Green A, Dhir R, Wang Z. Conditional Deletion of Eaf1 Induces Murine Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Mice. Neoplasia 2019; 21:752-764. [PMID: 31229879 PMCID: PMC6593215 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
ELL-associated factor 1 is a transcription elongation factor that shares significant homology and functional similarity to the androgen-responsive prostate tumor suppressor ELL-associated factor 2. EAF2 is frequently down-regulated in advanced prostate cancer and Eaf2 deletion in the mouse induced the development of murine prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Here we show that similar to EAF2, EAF1 is frequently down-regulated in advanced prostate cancer. Co-downregulation of EAF1 and EAF2 occurred in 40% of clinical specimens with Gleason score >7. We developed and characterized a murine model of prostate-epithelial specific deletion of Eaf1 in the prostate and crossed it with our previously generated mouse with conventional deletion of Eaf2. The prostates of Eaf1 deletion mice displayed murine prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions with increased proliferation and inflammation. Combined deletion of Eaf1 and Eaf2 in the murine model induced an increased incidence in mPIN lesions characterized by increased proliferation and CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells infiltration compared to individual deletion of either Eaf1 or Eaf2 in the murine prostate. These results suggest that EAF1 may play a tumor suppressive role in the prostate. Cooperation between EAF1 and EAF2 may be important for prostate maintaining prostate epithelial homeostasis, and concurrent loss of these two tumor suppressors may promote prostate tumorigenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Pascal
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Fei Su
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; The Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Junkui Ai
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Qiong Song
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Center for Translational Medicine & School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yujuan Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Katherine J O'Malley
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Brian Cross
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Lora H Rigatti
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Anthony Green
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rajiv Dhir
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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19
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Gopalan S, Gibbon DM, Banks CA, Zhang Y, Florens LA, Washburn MP, Dabas P, Sharma N, Seidel CW, Conaway RC, Conaway JW. Schizosaccharomyces pombe Pol II transcription elongation factor ELL functions as part of a rudimentary super elongation complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10095-10105. [PMID: 30102332 PMCID: PMC6212713 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ELL family transcription factors activate the overall rate of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription elongation by binding directly to Pol II and suppressing its tendency to pause. In metazoa, ELL regulates Pol II transcription elongation as part of a large multisubunit complex referred to as the Super Elongation Complex (SEC), which includes P-TEFb and EAF, AF9 or ENL, and an AFF family protein. Although orthologs of ELL and EAF have been identified in lower eukaryotes including Schizosaccharomyces pombe, it has been unclear whether SEC-like complexes function in lower eukaryotes. In this report, we describe isolation from S. pombe of an ELL-containing complex with features of a rudimentary SEC. This complex includes S. pombe Ell1, Eaf1, and a previously uncharacterized protein we designate Ell1 binding protein 1 (Ebp1), which is distantly related to metazoan AFF family members. Like the metazoan SEC, this S. pombe ELL complex appears to function broadly in Pol II transcription. Interestingly, it appears to have a particularly important role in regulating genes involved in cell separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Gopalan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.,The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Dana M Gibbon
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Charles As Banks
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | | | - Michael P Washburn
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Med icine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Preeti Dabas
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S.Indraprastha University, New Delhi 110078, India
| | - Nimisha Sharma
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S.Indraprastha University, New Delhi 110078, India
| | | | - Ronald C Conaway
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Joan W Conaway
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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20
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Liu JX, Xu QH, Yu X, Zhang T, Xie X, Ouyang G. Eaf1 and Eaf2 mediate zebrafish dorsal-ventral axis patterning via suppressing Wnt/β-Catenin activity. Int J Biol Sci 2018; 14:705-716. [PMID: 29910681 PMCID: PMC6001683 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.18997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During early vertebrate embryogenesis, maternal Wnt/β-catenin signaling is thought to locally initiate expression of dorsal-specific genes. Here, eaf1 and eaf2 were identified as important maternal and zygotic modulators of Wnt signaling to initiate and specify ventral genes. Expression of ventral ved, vent, and vox was all obviously enhanced in either maternal or zygotic eaf1/2 morphants, and in both eaf1 heterozygous and homozygous mutants, but their expression was suppressed in embryos with over-expression of eaf1/2. Additionally, eaf1/2 were revealed to suppress ventral fates in embryos via Wnt/β-catenin1/Tcf signaling, complimentary to their roles in suppressing dorsal fates via Wnt/β-catenin2 signaling. Moreover, eaf1/2 were also revealed to obviously suppress the expression of axin2 induced by β-catenin2 rather than by β-catenin1, and the dorsal expression of axin2 in embryos was obviously suppressed by ectopic expression of eaf1/2. This study uncovers a novel dorsal-ventral patterning pathway, with eaf1 and eaf2 inhibiting ventral cells via suppressing Wnt/β-catenin1/Tcf signaling and inducing dorsal cells indirectly via suppressing β-catenin2-induced-axin2 on the dorsal side of embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Xia Liu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.,Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Qin-Han Xu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - XueDong Yu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - Ting Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China
| | - XunWei Xie
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Gang Ouyang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
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21
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Malek E, Gupta V, Creger R, Caimi P, Vatsayan A, Covut F, Bashir Q, Champlin R, Delgado R, Rondon G, Cooper B, de Lima M, Lazarus HM, Qazilbash M. Amifostine reduces gastro-intestinal toxicity after autologous transplantation for multiple myeloma. Leuk Lymphoma 2018; 59:1905-1912. [DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2017.1408086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Malek
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Vinita Gupta
- North Shore University-Long Island Jewish Cancer Institute, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
| | - Richard Creger
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Paolo Caimi
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anant Vatsayan
- Pediatrics and Angie Fowler AYA Cancer Institute, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Fahrettin Covut
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Qaiser Bashir
- MD Anderson Cancer Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Ruby Delgado
- MD Anderson Cancer Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Brenda Cooper
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Marcos de Lima
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Hillard M. Lazarus
- Stem Cell Transplant Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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22
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Sweta K, Dabas P, Jain K, Sharma N. The amino-terminal domain of ELL transcription elongation factor is essential for ELL function in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2017; 163:1641-1653. [PMID: 29043956 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional elongation is a critical step for regulating expression of protein-coding genes. Multiple transcription elongation factors have been identified in vitro, but the physiological roles of many of them are still not clearly understood. The ELL (Eleven nineteen Lysine rich Leukemia) family of transcription elongation factors are conserved from fission yeast to humans. Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains a single ELL homolog (SpELL) that is not essential for its survival. Therefore to gain insights into the in vivo cellular functions of SpELL, we identified phenotypes associated with deletion of ell1 in S. pombe. Our results demonstrate that SpELL is required for normal growth of S. pombe cells. Furthermore, cells lacking ell1+ exhibit a decrease in survival when exposed to DNA-damaging conditions, but their growth is not affected under environmental stress conditions. ELL orthologs in different organisms contain three conserved domains, an amino-terminal domain, a middle domain and a carboxyl-terminal domain. We also carried out an in vivo functional mapping of these conserved domains within S. pombe ELL and uncovered a critical role for its amino-terminus in regulating all its cellular functions, including growth under different conditions, transcriptional elongation potential and interaction with S. pombe EAF. Taken together our results suggest that the domain organization of ELL proteins is conserved across species, but the in vivo functions as well as the relationship between the various domains and roles of ELL show species-specific differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumari Sweta
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, India
| | - Preeti Dabas
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, India
| | - Kamal Jain
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, India
| | - Nimisha Sharma
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, India
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23
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Dabas P, Sweta K, Ekka M, Sharma N. Structure function characterization of the ELL Associated Factor (EAF) from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Gene 2017; 641:117-128. [PMID: 29032152 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
EAF (ELL Associated Factor) proteins interact with the transcription elongation factor, ELL (Eleven nineteen Lysine rich Leukemia) and enhance its ability to stimulate RNA polymerase II-mediated transcriptional elongation in vitro. Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains a single homolog of EAF (SpEAF), which is not essential for survival of S. pombe in contrast to its essential higher eukaryotic homologs. The physiological role of SpEAF is not well understood. In this study, we show that S. pombe EAF is important in regulating growth of S. pombe cells during normal growth conditions. Moreover, SpEAF is also essential for survival under conditions of DNA damage, while its deletion does not affect growth under environmental stress conditions. Our in vivo structure-function studies further demonstrate that while both the amino and carboxyl terminal domains of SpEAF possess the potential to activate transcription, only the amino terminal domain of SpEAF is involved in interaction with the S. pombe ELL protein. The carboxyl-terminus of SpEAF is required for rescue of the growth defect under normal and DNA damaging conditions that is associated with the absence of SpEAF. Using bioinformatics and circular dichroism spectroscopy, we show that the carboxyl-terminus of SpEAF has a disordered conformation. Furthermore, addition of trifluoroethanol triggered its transition from a disordered to α-helical conformation. Taken together, the results presented here identify novel structural and functional features of SpEAF protein, providing insights into how EAF proteins may enforce transcriptional control of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Dabas
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India
| | - Kumari Sweta
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India
| | - Mary Ekka
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mathura Road, Opp. Sukhdev Vihar Bus Depot, New Delhi, Delhi 110025, India
| | - Nimisha Sharma
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University, Sector16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India.
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24
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Liu JX, Xu QH, Li S, Yu X, Liu W, Ouyang G, Zhang T, Chen LL. Transcriptional factors Eaf1/2 inhibit endoderm and mesoderm formation via suppressing TGF-β signaling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2017; 1860:1103-1116. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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25
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Sharma N. Regulation of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcriptional elongation: Implications in human disease. IUBMB Life 2016; 68:709-16. [DOI: 10.1002/iub.1538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nimisha Sharma
- University School of Biotechnology, G.G.S. Indraprastha University; Dwarka New Delhi 110078 India
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26
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EAF2 mediates germinal centre B-cell apoptosis to suppress excessive immune responses and prevent autoimmunity. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10836. [PMID: 26935903 PMCID: PMC4782062 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulated apoptosis of germinal centre (GC) B cells is critical for normal humoral immune responses. ELL-associated factor 2 (EAF2) regulates transcription elongation and has been shown to be an androgen-responsive potential tumour suppressor in prostate by inducing apoptosis. Here we show that EAF2 is selectively upregulated in GC B cells among various immune cell types and promotes apoptosis of GC B cells both in vitro and in vivo. EAF2 deficiency results in enlarged GCs and elevated antibody production during a T-dependent immune response. After immunization with type II collagen, mice lacking EAF2 produce high levels of collagen-specific autoantibodies and rapidly develop severe arthritis. Moreover, the mutant mice spontaneously produce anti-dsDNA, rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies as they age. These results demonstrate that EAF2-mediated apoptosis in GC B cells limits excessive humoral immune responses and is important for maintaining self-tolerance.
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27
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Liu X, Chen Z, Ouyang G, Song T, Liang H, Liu W, Xiao W. ELL Protein-associated Factor 2 (EAF2) Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor β Signaling through a Direct Interaction with Smad3. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:25933-45. [PMID: 26370086 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.663542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of in vitro and in vivo studies has shown that EAF2 can affect multiple signaling pathways involved in cellular processes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects have remained elusive. Here we report the discovery of a new functional link between EAF2 and TGF-β signaling. Promoter reporter assays indicated that EAF2 suppresses Smad3 transcriptional activity, resulting in inhibition of TGF-β signaling. Coimmunoprecipitation assays showed that EAF2 specifically interacts with Smad3 in vitro and in vivo but not with other Smad proteins. In addition, we observed that EAF2 binding does not alter Smad3 phosphorylation but causes Smad3 cytoplasmic retention, competes with Smad4 for binding to Smad3, and prevents p300-Smad3 complex formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that EAF2 suppresses both TGF-β-induced G1 cell cycle arrest and TGF-β-induced cell migration. This study identifies and characterizes a novel repressor of TGF-β signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Liu
- From the Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhu Chen
- From the Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China, Department of Reproduction, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Gang Ouyang
- From the Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Tieshan Song
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, China, and
| | - Huageng Liang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Liu
- From the Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- From the Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China,
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28
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Zebrafish eaf1 suppresses foxo3b expression to modulate transcriptional activity of gata1 and spi1 in primitive hematopoiesis. Dev Biol 2014; 388:81-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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29
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Qiao Z, Wang D, Hahn J, Ai J, Wang Z. Pirin down-regulates the EAF2/U19 protein and alleviates its growth inhibition in prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2014; 74:113-20. [PMID: 24272884 PMCID: PMC4827099 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tumor suppressor ELL associated factor 2 (EAF2/U19) has been reported to induce apoptosis of LNCaP cells and suppress AT6.1 xenograft prostate tumor growth. EAF2/U19 expression level is down-regulated in advanced human prostate cancer. EAF2/U19 is also a putative transcription factor with a transactivation domain and capability of sequence-specific DNA binding. Identification of binding partners and regulators of EAF2/U19 is essential to understand its function in regulating apoptosis/survival of prostate cancer cells. METHODS Through a yeast two-hybrid screening system, we identified Pirin as a binding partner of EAF2. We further determined the interaction between epitope-tagged EAF2/U19 and Pirin by co-immunoprecipitation in mammalian cells. The effect of Pirin on EAF2/U19 inhibition of LNCaP growth was assayed by colony formation. RESULTS Pirin co-immunoprecipitated with EAF2/U19 and the overexpressed Pirin decreased the expression level of EAF2/U19 protein in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC3. Furthermore, overexpression of EAF2/U19 suppressed LNCaP colony formation, and co-expression of Pirin significantly blocked the growth inhibition induced by EAF2/U19 overexpression. CONCLUSION Pirin is a newly identified binding partner of EAF2/U19 capable of down-regulating EAF2/U19 protein and alleviating its inhibition of prostate cancer cell survival/proliferation. Pirin may play an important role involved in EAF2/U19 function as an androgen-responsive gene and tumor repressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Qiao
- Department of Urology, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Junghyun Hahn
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Junkui Ai
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Correspondence to: Zhou Wang, PhD, Department of Urology, Shadyside Medical Center, Suite G40, 5200 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.
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ELL inhibits E2F1 transcriptional activity by enhancing E2F1 deacetylation via recruitment of histone deacetylase 1. Mol Cell Biol 2013; 34:765-75. [PMID: 24344198 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00878-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ELL (eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia protein) was first identified as a translocation partner of MLL in acute myeloid leukemia; however, the exact mechanism of its action has remained elusive. In this study, we identified ELL as a direct downstream target gene of E2F1. Coimmunoprecipitation assays showed that ELL interacted with E2F1 in vitro and in vivo, leading to inhibition of E2F1 transcriptional activity. In addition, ELL enhanced E2F1 deacetylation via recruitment of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1). Notably, the MLL-ELL fusion protein lost the inhibitory role of ELL in E2F1 transcriptional activity. Furthermore, DNA damage induced ELL in an E2F1-dependent manner and ELL protected cells against E2F1-dependent apoptosis. Our findings not only connect ELL to E2F1 function and uncover a novel role of ELL in response to DNA damage but also provide an insight into the mechanism for MLL-ELL-associated leukemogenesis.
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Ma X, Liu JX. Eafs control erythroid cell fate by regulating c-myb expression through Wnt signaling. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64576. [PMID: 23717633 PMCID: PMC3661582 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
ELL associated factor 1 and ELL associated factor 2 (EAF1/2 factors) are reported to play important roles in tumor suppression and embryogenesis. Our previous studies showed that eaf factors mediated effective convergence and extension (C&E) movements and modulated mesoderm and neural patterning by regulating both non-canonical and canonical Wnt signaling in the early embryonic process. In this study, through knockdown of both eaf1 and eaf2 in embryos, we found that differentiation of primary erythroid cells was blocked, but hematopoietic precursor cells maintained in eafs morphants. Co-injection of c-myb-MO rescued the erythroid differentiation in eafs morphants, as indicated by the restored expression of the erythroid-specific gene, βe3 globin. In addition, low dosage of c-myb effectively blocked the βe3 globin expression in embryos, and did not affect the expression of markers of hematopoietic progenitor cells and other mesoderm, which was similar to the phenotypes we observed in eafs morphants. We also revealed that knockdown Wnt signaling by transiently inducing dn-Tcf in embryos at the bud stage down-regulated the increased c-myb to normal level and also restored βe3 globin expression in eafs morphants. Our evidence points to a novel role for eaf factors in controlling erythroid cell fate by regulating c-Myb expression through canonic Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xufa Ma
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Xia Liu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
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Liu JX, Zhang D, Xie X, Ouyang G, Liu X, Sun Y, Xiao W. Eaf1 and Eaf2 negatively regulate canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Development 2013; 140:1067-78. [PMID: 23364330 DOI: 10.1242/dev.086157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Eaf factors play a crucial role in tumor suppression and embryogenesis. To investigate the potential mechanism of Eaf activity, we performed loss- and gain-of-function assays in zebrafish using morpholino and mRNA injections, respectively. We found that eaf1 and eaf2 inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thereby modulating mesodermal and neural patterning in the embryo. Moreover, ectopic expression of eaf1 and eaf2 in embryos and cultured cells blocked β-catenin reporter activity. By immunoprecipitation, we also observed that Eaf1 and Eaf2 bound to the Armadillo repeat region and C-terminus of β-catenin, as well as to other β-catenin transcription complex proteins, such as c-Jun, Tcf and Axin, suggesting the formation of a novel complex. In addition, the N-terminus of Eaf1 and Eaf2 bound to β-catenin and exhibited dominant-negative activity, whereas the C-terminus appeared to either harbor a suppression domain or to recruit a repressor. Both the N- and C-terminus must be intact for Eaf1 and Eaf2 suppressive activity. Lastly, we demonstrate a conservation of biological activities for Eaf family proteins across species. In summary, our evidence points to a novel role for Eaf1 and Eaf2 in inhibiting canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which might form the mechanistic basis for Eaf1 and Eaf2 tumor suppressor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Xia Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
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Protein network study of human AF4 reveals its central role in RNA Pol II-mediated transcription and in phosphorylation-dependent regulatory mechanisms. Biochem J 2011; 438:121-31. [PMID: 21574958 PMCID: PMC3174057 DOI: 10.1042/bj20101633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AF4 belongs to a family of proteins implicated in childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia, FRAXE (Fragile X E site) mental retardation and ataxia. AF4 is a transcriptional activator that is involved in transcriptional elongation. Although AF4 has been implicated in MLL (mixed-lineage leukaemia)-related leukaemogenesis, AF4-dependent physiological mechanisms have not been clearly defined. Proteins that interact with AF4 may also play important roles in mediating oncogenesis, and are potential targets for novel therapies. Using a functional proteomic approach involving tandem MS and bioinformatics, we identified 51 AF4-interacting proteins of various Gene Ontology categories. Approximately 60% participate in transcription regulatory mechanisms, including the Mediator complex in eukaryotic cells. In the present paper we report one of the first extensive proteomic studies aimed at elucidating AF4 protein cross-talk. Moreover, we found that the AF4 residues Thr220 and Ser212 are phosphorylated, which suggests that AF4 function depends on phosphorylation mechanisms. We also mapped the AF4-interaction site with CDK9 (cyclin-dependent kinase 9), which is a direct interactor crucial for the function and regulation of the protein. The findings of the present study significantly expand the number of putative members of the multiprotein complex formed by AF4, which is instrumental in promoting the transcription/elongation of specific genes in human cells.
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Lin C, Garrett AS, De Kumar B, Smith ER, Gogol M, Seidel C, Krumlauf R, Shilatifard A. Dynamic transcriptional events in embryonic stem cells mediated by the super elongation complex (SEC). Genes Dev 2011; 25:1486-98. [PMID: 21764852 DOI: 10.1101/gad.2059211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulation of developmentally controlled genes is at the heart of differentiation and organogenesis. In this study, we performed global genomic analyses in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells and in human cells in response to activation signals. We identified an essential role for the ELL (eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia gene)/P-TEFb (positive transcription elongation factor)-containing super elongation complex (SEC) in the regulation of gene expression, including several genes bearing paused RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Paused Pol II has been proposed to be associated with loci that respond rapidly to environmental stimuli. However, our studies in ES cells also identified a requirement for SEC at genes without paused Pol II, which also respond dynamically to differentiation signals. Our findings suggest that SEC is a major class of active P-TEFb-containing complexes required for transcriptional activation in response to environmental cues such as differentiation signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengqi Lin
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA
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35
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Cai L, Phong BL, Fisher AL, Wang Z. Regulation of fertility, survival, and cuticle collagen function by the Caenorhabditis elegans eaf-1 and ell-1 genes. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:35915-35921. [PMID: 21880729 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.270454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
EAF2, an androgen-regulated protein, interacts with members of the ELL (eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia) transcription factor family and also acts as a tumor suppressor. Although these proteins control transcriptional elongation and perhaps modulate the effects of other transcription factors, the mechanisms of their actions remain largely unknown. To gain new insights into the biology of the EAF2 and ELL family proteins, we used Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to explore the in vivo roles of their worm orthologs. Through the use of transgenic worms, RNAi, and an eaf-1 mutant, we found that both genes are expressed in multiple cell types throughout the worm life cycle and that they play important roles in fertility, survival, and body size regulation. ELL-1 and EAF-1 likely contribute to these activities in part through modulating cuticle synthesis, given that we observed a disrupted cuticle structure in ell-1 RNAi-treated or eaf-1 mutant worms. Consistent with disruption of cuticle structure, loss of either ELL-1 or EAF-1 suppressed the rol phenotype of specific collagen mutants, possibly through the control of dpy-3, dpy-13, and sqt-3 collagen gene expression. Furthermore, we also noted the regulation of collagen expression by ELL overexpression in PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Together, these results reveal important roles for the eaf-1 and ell-1 genes in the regulation of extracellular matrix components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liquan Cai
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232
| | - Binh L Phong
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232
| | - Alfred L Fisher
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260.
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15232.
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Liu L, Ai J, Xiao W, Liu J, Wang Y, Xin D, He Z, Guo Y, Wang Z. ELL is an HIF-1alpha partner that regulates and responds to hypoxia response in PC3 cells. Prostate 2010; 70:797-805. [PMID: 20166137 PMCID: PMC2857586 DOI: 10.1002/pros.21113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia (ELL) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and animal development. HIF-1 is a transcriptional factor that functions as a master regulator of O(2) homeostasis. Our previous studies showed that a binding partner of ELL, U19/Eaf2, can modulate HIF-1alpha activity and hypoxia response, suggesting that ELL may also influence HIF-1alpha pathway and hypoxia response. METHODS Co-localization and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to test the interaction between ELL and HIF-1alpha. PC3 cells with stable ELL knockdown and PC3 cells with stable ELL overexpression, along with their controls, were established using lentiviral expression system. Western blot and real-time PCR were performed to test the effect of ELL on HIF-1alpha protein and its down-stream gene transcription. To elucidate potential effect of hypoxia on ELL, cell growth and colony formation assays were performed using PC3 subline with stable ELL overexpression. RESULTS ELL is associated with HIF-1alpha in transfected cells. In PC3 prostate cancer cells, ELL inhibited HIF-1alpha protein level and down-stream gene expression. As expected, ELL inhibited cell growth and colony formation under normoxia. Interestingly, the inhibition was alleviated under hypoxia. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that ELL and HIF-1alpha are binding partners and can modulate the functions of each other in hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqi Liu
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital and Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Junkui Ai
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - June Liu
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Yujuan Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Dianqi Xin
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital and Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhisong He
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital and Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinglu Guo
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital and Institute of Urology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Requests for reprints: Yinglu Guo, Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital and Institute of Urology, Peking University, No. 8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100034, China. . Zhou Wang, University of Pittsburgh Medical College, Suite G40, 5200 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Phone: 412-623-3903; Fax: 412-623-3904;
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Requests for reprints: Yinglu Guo, Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital and Institute of Urology, Peking University, No. 8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100034, China. . Zhou Wang, University of Pittsburgh Medical College, Suite G40, 5200 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Phone: 412-623-3903; Fax: 412-623-3904;
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37
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Lin C, Smith ER, Takahashi H, Lai KC, Martin-Brown S, Florens L, Washburn MP, Conaway JW, Conaway RC, Shilatifard A. AFF4, a component of the ELL/P-TEFb elongation complex and a shared subunit of MLL chimeras, can link transcription elongation to leukemia. Mol Cell 2010; 37:429-37. [PMID: 20159561 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2010.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 444] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2009] [Revised: 12/29/2009] [Accepted: 01/25/2010] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations involving the MLL gene are associated with infant acute lymphoblastic and mixed lineage leukemia. There are a large number of translocation partners of MLL that share very little sequence or seemingly functional similarities; however, their translocations into MLL result in the pathogenesis of leukemia. To define the molecular reason why these translocations result in the pathogenesis of leukemia, we purified several of the commonly occurring MLL chimeras. We have identified super elongation complex (SEC) associated with all chimeras purified. SEC includes ELL, P-TEFb, AFF4, and several other factors. AFF4 is required for SEC stability and proper transcription by poised RNA polymerase II in metazoans. Knockdown of AFF4 in leukemic cells shows reduction in MLL chimera target gene expression, suggesting that AFF4/SEC could be a key regulator in the pathogenesis of leukemia through many of the MLL partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengqi Lin
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
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Wan X, Ji W, Mei X, Zhou J, Liu JX, Fang C, Xiao W. Negative feedback regulation of Wnt4 signaling by EAF1 and EAF2/U19. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9118. [PMID: 20161747 PMCID: PMC2817739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies indicated that EAF (ELL-associated factor) family members, EAF1 and EAF2/U19, play a role in cancer and embryogenesis. For example, EAF2/U19 may serve as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. At the same time, EAF2/U19 is a downstream factor in the non-canonical Wnt 4 signaling pathway required for eye development in Xenopus laevis, and along with EAF1, contributes to convergence and extension movements in zebrafish embryos through Wnt maintenance. Here, we used zebrafish embryos and mammalian cells to show that both EAF1 and EAF2/U19 were up-regulated by Wnt4 (Wnt4a). Furthermore, we found that EAF1 and EAF2/U19 suppressed Wnt4 expression by directly binding to the Wnt4 promoter as seen in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. These findings indicate that an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop occurs between Wnt4 and the EAF family, which is conserved between zebrafish and mammalian. The rescue experiments in zebrafish embryos showed that early embryonic development required the maintenance of the appropriate levels of Wnt4a through the feedback loop. Others have demonstrated that the tumor suppressors p63, p73 and WT1 positively regulate Wnt4 expression while p21 has the opposite effect, suggesting that maintenance of appropriate Wnt4 expression may also be critical for adult tissue homeostasis and prevention against tumor initiation. Thus, the auto-regulatory negative feedback loop that controls expression of Wnt4 and EAF proteins may play an important role in both embryonic development and tumor suppression. Our findings provide the first convincing line of evidence that EAF and Wnt4 form an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Wan
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
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Mueller D, García-Cuéllar MP, Bach C, Buhl S, Maethner E, Slany RK. Misguided transcriptional elongation causes mixed lineage leukemia. PLoS Biol 2009; 7:e1000249. [PMID: 19956800 PMCID: PMC2774266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigation of the activity of a family of fusion proteins that cause aggressive leukemia suggests transcriptional elongation as a new mechanism for oncogenic transformation. Fusion proteins composed of the histone methyltransferase mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) and a variety of unrelated fusion partners are highly leukemogenic. Despite their prevalence, particularly in pediatric acute leukemia, many molecular details of their transforming mechanism are unknown. Here, we provide mechanistic insight into the function of MLL fusions, demonstrating that they capture a transcriptional elongation complex that has been previously found associated with the eleven-nineteen leukemia protein (ENL). We show that this complex consists of a tight core stabilized by recursive protein–protein interactions. This central part integrates histone H3 lysine 79 methylation, RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II) phosphorylation, and MLL fusion partners to stimulate transcriptional elongation as evidenced by RNA tethering assays. Coimmunoprecipitations indicated that MLL fusions are incorporated into this complex, causing a constitutive recruitment of elongation activity to MLL target loci. Chromatin immunoprecipitations (ChIP) of the homeobox gene A cluster confirmed a close relationship between binding of MLL fusions and transcript levels. A time-resolved ChIP utilizing a conditional MLL fusion singled out H3K79 methylation as the primary parameter correlated with target expression. The presence of MLL fusion proteins also kept RNA Pol II in an actively elongating state and prevented accumulation of inhibitory histone methylation on target chromatin. Hox loci remained open and productive in the presence of MLL fusion activity even under conditions of forced differentiation. Finally, MLL-transformed cells were particularly sensitive to pharmacological inhibition of RNA Pol II phosphorylation, pointing to a potential treatment for MLL. In summary, we show aberrant transcriptional elongation as a novel mechanism for oncogenic transformation. The expression level of a gene needs to be precisely adjusted to ensure proper function. Adjustments can be imposed at different stages during the overall process of gene expression, including transcription initiation, transcript elongation, and transcript processing. If control of one of these mechanisms fails, aberrant gene expression can occur, which may have severe consequences such as cellular transformation and the development of cancer. Here, we show that a class of aberrant fusion proteins that are causal in mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) hijacks a transcriptional elongation complex. We analyze the architecture of this transcriptional elongation complex and demonstrate that the complex is targeted by MLL fusion proteins to genes that should normally be silenced to allow maturation of hematopoietic cells. We show that this mistargeting causes constitutive expression of the respective genes, which likely leads to inhibition of blood cell differentiation at a precursor cell stage in which the cells are highly proliferative. Such abnormal precursor cells have been shown previously to be resistant to normal differentiation signals and to form the leukemia-initiating population. We further show here that cells carrying MLL fusion proteins are more sensitive to chemical inhibition of transcriptional elongation than leukemic cells of different etiology. Our results propose transcriptional elongation as a new oncogenic mechanism and point to a potential specific therapy for this hard-to-cure leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christian Bach
- Department of Genetics, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Buhl
- Department of Genetics, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Robert K. Slany
- Department of Genetics, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Mixed lineage leukemia is a very aggressive blood cancer that predominantly occurs in pediatric patients. In contrast to other types of childhood acute leukemias, mixed lineage leukemia presents with a dismal prognosis and despite the availability of advanced treatment methods cure rates have stagnated over the last years. Mixed lineage leukemia is characterized by the presence of MLL fusion proteins that are the result of chromosomal translocations affecting the MLL gene at 11q23. These events juxtapose the amino-terminus of the histone methyltransferase MLL with a variety of different fusion partners that destroy normal histone methyltransferase function of MLL and replace it by heterologous functions contributed by the fusion partner. The resulting chimeras are transcriptional regulators that take control of targets normally controlled by MLL with the clustered HOX homeobox genes as prominent examples. Recent studies suggested that MLL fusion partners activate transcription by two different mechanisms. Some of these proteins are themselves chromatin modifiers that introduce histone acetylation whereas other fusion partners can recruit histone methyltransferases. In particular, histone H3 specific methylation at lysine 79 catalyzed by DOT1L has been recognized as a hallmark of chromatin activated by MLL fusion proteins. Interestingly, several frequent MLL fusion partners seem to coordinate DOT1L activity with a protein complex that stimulates the elongation phase of transcription by phosphorylating the carboxy-terminal repeat domain of RNA polymerase II. The discovery of these novel enzymatic activities that are essentially involved in MLL fusion protein function presents potential new targets for a rational drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K Slany
- Department of Genetics, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
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Zhou J, Feng X, Ban B, Liu J, Wang Z, Xiao W. Elongation factor ELL (Eleven-Nineteen Lysine-rich Leukemia) acts as a transcription factor for direct thrombospondin-1 regulation. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:19142-52. [PMID: 19447890 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.010439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia (ELL) gene undergoes translocation and fuses in-frame to the multiple lineage leukemia gene in a substantial proportion of patients suffering from acute forms of leukemia. Studies show that ELL indirectly modulates transcription by serving as a regulator for transcriptional elongation as well as for p53, U19/Eaf2, and steroid receptor activities. Our in vitro and in vivo data demonstrate that ELL could also serve as a transcriptional factor to directly induce transcription of the thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) gene. Experiments using ELL deletion mutants established that full-length ELL is required for the TSP-1 up-regulation and that the transactivation domain likely resides in the carboxyl terminus. Moreover, the DNA binding domain may localize to the first 45 amino acids of ELL. Not surprisingly, multiple lineage leukemia-ELL, which lacks these amino acids, did not induce expression from the TSP-1 promoter. In addition, the ELL core-response element appears to localize in the -1426 to -1418 region of the TSP-1 promoter. Finally, studies using zebrafish confirmed that ELL regulates TSP-1 mRNA expression in vivo, and ELL could inhibit zebrafish vasculogenesis, at least in part, through up-regulating TSP-1. Given the importance of TSP-1 as an anti-angiogenic protein, our findings may have important ramifications for better understanding cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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Liu JX, Hu B, Wang Y, Gui JF, Xiao W. Zebrafish eaf1 and eaf2/u19 mediate effective convergence and extension movements through the maintenance of wnt11 and wnt5 expression. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:16679-16692. [PMID: 19380582 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.009654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have attributed several functions to the Eaf family, including tumor suppression and eye development. Given the potential association between cancer and development, we set forth to explore Eaf1 and Eaf2/U19 activity in vertebrate embryogenesis, using zebrafish. In situ hybridization revealed similar eaf1 and eaf2/u19 expression patterns. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of either eaf1 or eaf2/u19 expression produced similar morphological changes that could be reversed by ectopic expression of target or reciprocal-target mRNA. However, combination of Eaf1 and Eaf2/U19 (Eafs)-morpholinos increased the severity of defects, suggesting that Eaf1 and Eaf2/U19 only share some functional redundancy. The Eafs knockdown phenotype resembled that of embryos with defects in convergence and extension movements. Indeed, knockdown caused expression pattern changes for convergence and extension movement markers, whereas cell tracing experiments using kaeda mRNA showed a correlation between Eafs knockdown and cell migration defects. Cardiac and pancreatic differentiation markers revealed that Eafs knockdown also disrupted midline convergence of heart and pancreatic organ precursors. Noncanonical Wnt signaling plays a key role in both convergence and extension movements and midline convergence of organ precursors. We found that Eaf1 and Eaf2/U19 maintained expression levels of wnt11 and wnt5. Moreover, wnt11 or wnt5 mRNA partially rescued the convergence and extension movement defects occurring in eafs morphants. Wnt11 and Wnt5 converge on rhoA, so not surprisingly, rhoA mRNA more effectively rescued defects than either wnt11 or wnt5 mRNA alone. However, the ectopic expression of wnt11 and wnt5 did not affect eaf1 and eaf2/u19 expression. These data indicate that eaf1 and eaf2/u19 act upstream of noncanonical Wnt signaling to mediate convergence and extension movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Xia Liu
- From the Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Organisms, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Bo Hu
- From the Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Organisms, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fresh Water Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- State Key Laboratory of Fresh Water Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- From the Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Organisms, Wuhan 430072, China.
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Regulation of the transcriptional activity of poised RNA polymerase II by the elongation factor ELL. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:8575-9. [PMID: 18562276 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0804379105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Many developmentally regulated genes contain a poised RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at their promoters under conditions where full-length transcripts are undetectable. It has been proposed that the transcriptional activity of such promoters is regulated at the elongation stage of Pol II transcription. In Drosophila, the heat-shock loci expressing the Hsp70 genes have been used as a model for the regulation of the transcriptional activity of poised Pol II. Drosophila ELL (dELL) is a Pol II elongation factor capable of stimulating the rate of transcription both in vivo and in vitro. Although ELL and the elongation factor Elongin A have indistinguishable effects on RNA polymerase in vitro, the loss-of-function studies indicate that these proteins are not redundant in vivo. In this article, we use RNAi to investigate the physiological properties of dELL and a dELL-associated factor (dEaf) in a living organism. Both ELL and Eaf are essential for fly development. dELL is recruited to heat shock loci upon induction, and its presence with Pol II at such loci is required for proper heat-shock gene expression. Consistent with a role in elongation, dELL knockdown reduces the levels of phosphorylated Pol II at heat-shock loci. This study implicates dELL in the expression of loci regulated by Pol II elongation.
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Krivtsov AV, Armstrong SA. MLL translocations, histone modifications and leukaemia stem-cell development. Nat Rev Cancer 2007; 7:823-33. [PMID: 17957188 DOI: 10.1038/nrc2253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 873] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Translocations that involve the mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) gene identify a unique group of acute leukaemias, and often predict a poor prognosis. The MLL gene encodes a DNA-binding protein that methylates histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4), and positively regulates gene expression including multiple Hox genes. Leukaemogenic MLL translocations encode MLL fusion proteins that have lost H3K4 methyltransferase activity. A key feature of MLL fusion proteins is their ability to efficiently transform haematopoietic cells into leukaemia stem cells. The link between a chromatin modulator and leukaemia stem cells provides support for epigenetic landscapes as an important part of leukaemia and normal stem-cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei V Krivtsov
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Oncology, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Xiao W, Zhang Q, Habermacher G, Yang X, Zhang AY, Cai X, Hahn J, Liu J, Pins M, Doglio L, Dhir R, Gingrich J, Wang Z. U19/Eaf2 knockout causes lung adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Oncogene 2007; 27:1536-44. [PMID: 17873910 PMCID: PMC2800355 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Upregulated gene 19 (U19)/ELL-associated factor 2 (Eaf2) is a potential human tumor suppressor that exhibits frequent allelic loss and downregulation in high-grade prostate cancer. U19/Eaf2, along with its homolog Eaf1, has been reported to regulate transcriptional elongation via interaction with the eleven-nineteen lysine-rich leukemia (ELL) family of proteins. To further explore the tumor-suppressive effects of U19/Eaf2, we constructed and characterized a murine U19/Eaf2-knockout model. Homozygous or heterozygous deletion of U19/Eaf2 resulted in high rates of lung adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia. Within the mouse prostate, U19/Eaf2 deficiency enhanced cell proliferation and increased epithelial cell size. The knockout mice also exhibited cardiac cell hypertrophy. These data indicate a role for U19/Eaf2 in growth suppression and cell size control as well as argue for U19/Eaf2 as a novel tumor suppressor in multiple mouse tissues. The U19/Eaf2 knockout mouse also provides a unique animal model for three important cancers: lung adenocarcinoma, B-cell lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Xiao
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Q Zhang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - G Habermacher
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - X Yang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A-y Zhang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - X Cai
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - J Hahn
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - J Liu
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M Pins
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - L Doglio
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - R Dhir
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Gingrich
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Z Wang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Jiang F, Ai J, Xiao W, Wang Z. FB1, an E2A fusion partner in childhood leukemia, interacts with U19/EAF2 and inhibits its transcriptional activity. Cancer Lett 2007; 253:265-72. [PMID: 17395368 PMCID: PMC1989770 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2007.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2006] [Revised: 02/02/2007] [Accepted: 02/05/2007] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND U19/EAF2 is a potential tumor suppressor exhibiting frequent down-regulation and allelic loss in advanced human prostate cancer specimens. U19/EAF2 has also been identified as ELL-associated factor 2 (EAF2) based on its binding to ELL, a fusion partner of MLL in acute myeloid leukemia. U19/EAF2 is a putative transcription factor with a transactivation domain and capability of sequence-specific DNA binding. METHODS Yeast-two-hybrid-screening was used to identify U19/EAF2-binding partners. Co-immunoprecipitation and mammalian 1-hybrid assay were used to characterize a U19/EAF2-binding partner. RESULTS FB1, an E2A fusion partner in childhood leukemia, was identified as a binding-partner of U19/EAF2. FB1 also binds to EAF1, the only homologue of U19/EAF2. FB1 also interacts and co-localizes with ELL in the nucleus. Interestingly, FB1 inhibited the transcriptional activity of U19/EAF2 but not EAF1. CONCLUSIONS FB1 is an important binding partner and a functional regulator of U19/EAF2, EAF1, and/or ELL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Jiang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Junkui Ai
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
- Institute of Hydrobiology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
- The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
- To whom correspondence should be addressed, at Department of Urology, Phone: (412)623-3903; Fax: (412)623-3904; E-mail:
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Banks CAS, Kong SE, Spahr H, Florens L, Martin-Brown S, Washburn MP, Conaway JW, Mushegian A, Conaway RC. Identification and Characterization of a Schizosaccharomyces pombe RNA Polymerase II Elongation Factor with Similarity to the Metazoan Transcription Factor ELL. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:5761-9. [PMID: 17150956 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m610393200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
ELL family transcription factors activate the rate of transcript elongation by suppressing transient pausing by RNA polymerase II at many sites along the DNA. ELL-associated factors 1 and 2 (EAF1 and EAF2) bind stably to ELL family members and act as strong positive regulators of their transcription activities. Orthologs of ELL and EAF have been identified in metazoa, but it has been unclear whether such RNA polymerase II elongation factors are utilized in lower eukaryotes. Using bioinformatic and biochemical approaches, we have identified a new Schizosaccharomyces pombe RNA polymerase II elongation factor that is composed of two subunits designated SpELL and SpEAF, which share weak sequence similarity with members of the metazoan ELL and EAF families. Like mammalian ELL-EAF, SpELL-SpEAF stimulates RNA polymerase II transcription elongation and pyrophosphorolysis. In addition, like many yeast RNA polymerase II elongation factors, deletion of the SpELL gene renders S. pombe sensitive to the drug 6-azauracil. Finally, phylogenetic analyses suggest that the SpELL and SpEAF proteins are evolutionarily conserved in many fungi but not in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A S Banks
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA
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Hahn J, Xiao W, Jiang F, Simone F, Thirman MJ, Wang Z. Apoptosis induction and growth suppression by U19/Eaf2 is mediated through its ELL-binding domain. Prostate 2007; 67:146-53. [PMID: 17044034 PMCID: PMC2801832 DOI: 10.1002/pros.20481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND U19/Eaf2 is an androgen-response gene and its downregulation is frequently observed in advanced human prostate cancer. U19/Eaf2 interacts with ELL, a fusion partner of MLL in the (11;19) (q23;p13.1) translocation in acute myeloid leukemia. U19/Eaf2 overexpression induces apoptosis and suppresses xenograft tumor growth. METHODS Transfection and colony formation were used to assay for apoptosis and growth suppression of various U19/Eaf2 mutants. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to test the interaction between the U19/Eaf2 constructs and ELL. RESULTS The region of U19/Eaf2 essential for apoptosis and growth suppression was mapped to amino acids 68-113. This region was necessary and sufficient for binding ELL. Co-expression of U19/Eaf2 and ELL in 293 cells lead to significant increase in cell death and growth suppression. CONCLUSIONS These observations argue that the interaction with ELL is essential for the induction of apoptosis and growth suppression by U19/Eaf2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghyun Hahn
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Wuhan Xiao
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Feng Jiang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Federico Simone
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Michael J. Thirman
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zhou Wang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Correspondence to: Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.
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49
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Abstract
BACKGROUND U19/Eaf2, an androgen-response gene, is downregulated in advanced human prostate cancer specimens and its overexpression can markedly induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Eleven-nineteen Lysine-rich Leukemia (ELL) is an RNA polymerase II transcription elongation factor, initially identified as a fusion partner gene of MLL in the t(11; 19) (q23; p13.1) chromosomal translocation in acute myeloid leukemia. U19/Eaf2 was previously reported as an ELL-associated factor, a potential transcription factor binds to ELL, forming nuclear speckles in vivo. These findings suggest that ELL-U19/Eaf2 interaction is potentially important in prostate cancer progression and/or acute myeloid leukemia. However, the functional significance of U19/Eaf2 interaction with ELL remains unclear. METHODS Using co-transfection, co-immunoprecipitation, protein stability assay and transactivation assay, we characterized the consequence of ELL binding to U19/Eaf2. RESULTS We provide further evidence for U19/Eaf2 as a transcription factor and show that ELL binding is required for nuclear speckle formation of human U19/Eaf2, stabilizes U19/Eaf2 and enhances its transactivation activity. CONCLUSIONS The above observations indicate ELL may be an important factor required for U19/Eaf2 function because U19/Eaf2 nuclear localization and transactivation activity are essential for its function as a transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuhan Xiao
- Department of Urology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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Wolff L, Ackerman SJ, Nucifora G. Meeting report: Sixth International Workshop on Molecular Aspects of Myeloid Stem Cell Development and Leukemia, Annapolis, May 1-4, 2005. Exp Hematol 2005; 33:1436-42. [PMID: 16338485 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2005.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2005] [Revised: 09/13/2005] [Accepted: 09/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Wolff
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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