Transcriptional regulation by the Wilms' tumour suppressor protein WT1

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 932-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Wagner ◽  
S.G.E. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Solid Tumour ◽  
Small Region ◽  
Tumour Suppressor ◽  
Wilms Tumour ◽  
Transcriptional Activation Domain ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Protein ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Specific Control

Wilms' tumour is a paediatric malignancy of the kidneys and is the most common solid tumour found in children. The Wilms' tumour suppressor protein WT1 is mutated in approx. 15% of Wilms' tumours, and is aberrantly expressed in many others. WT1 can manifest both tumour suppressor and oncogenic activities, but the reasons for this are not yet clear. The Wilms' tumour suppressor protein WT1 is a transcriptional activator, the function of which is under cell-context-specific control. We have previously described a small region at the N-terminus of WT1 (suppression domain) that inhibits the transcriptional activation domain by contacting a co-suppressor protein. We recently identified BASP1 as one of the components of the co-suppressor. Here, we analyse the mechanism of action of the WT1 suppression domain, and discuss its function in the context of the role of WT1 as a regulator of development.

The role of the Wilms' tumour-suppressor protein WT1 in apoptosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Hartkamp ◽  
Stefan G.E. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Suppressor Gene ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Gene ◽  
Tumour Suppressor ◽  
Wilms Tumour ◽  
Zinc Finger Transcription Factor ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Protein ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis

The Wilms' tumour-suppressor gene (WT1), encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor that is critical for the development of several organs, including the kidneys, gonads and spleen. Despite its identification as a tumour suppressor that plays a crucial role in the formation of a paediatric malignancy of the kidneys (Wilms' tumour), it has also emerged as an oncogenic factor influencing proliferation and apoptosis in a large variety of adult cancers. This review focuses on new insights into WT1's role in early development and its potential oncogenic role in adult cancer.

Frazzled/Dcc acts independently of Netrin to promote germline survival during Drosophila oogenesis

Development ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 148 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha A. Russell ◽  
Kaitlin M. Laws ◽  
Greg J. Bashaw
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Nutrient Sensing ◽  
Activation Domain ◽  
Transcriptional Activation Domain ◽  
Egg Chambers ◽  
Death Effector ◽  
Female Germline

ABSTRACT The Netrin receptor Frazzled/Dcc (Fra in Drosophila) functions in diverse tissue contexts to regulate cell migration, axon guidance and cell survival. Fra signals in response to Netrin to regulate the cytoskeleton and also acts independently of Netrin to directly regulate transcription during axon guidance in Drosophila. In other contexts, Dcc acts as a tumor suppressor by directly promoting apoptosis. In this study, we report that Fra is required in the Drosophila female germline for the progression of egg chambers through mid-oogenesis. Loss of Fra in the germline, but not the somatic cells of the ovary, results in the degeneration of egg chambers. Although a failure in nutrient sensing and disruptions in egg chamber polarity can result in degeneration at mid-oogenesis, these factors do not appear to be affected in fra germline mutants. However, similar to the degeneration that occurs in those contexts, the cell death effector Dcp-1 is activated in fra germline mutants. The function of Fra in the female germline is independent of Netrin and requires the transcriptional activation domain of Fra. In contrast to the role of Dcc in promoting cell death, our observations reveal a role for Fra in regulating germline survival by inhibiting apoptosis.

The role of iron and 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases in signalling

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Hewitson ◽  
L.A. McNeill ◽  
J.M. Elkins ◽  
C.J. Schofield
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Transactivation Domain ◽  
Von Hippel Lindau ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Hypoxic Conditions ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Protein ◽  
Dependent Modification

Sensing of ambient dioxygen levels and appropriate feedback mechanisms are essential processes for all multicellular organisms. In animals, moderate hypoxia causes an increase in the transcription levels of specific genes, including those encoding vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin. The hypoxic response is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), an αβ heterodimeric transcription factor in which both the HIF subunits are members of the basic helix–loop–helix PAS (PER-ARNT-SIM) domain family. Under hypoxic conditions, levels of HIFα rise, allowing dimerization with HIFβ and initiating transcriptional activation. Two types of dioxygen-dependent modification to HIFα have been identified, both of which inhibit the transcriptional response. Firstly, HIFα undergoes trans-4-hydroxylation at two conserved proline residues that enable its recognition by the von Hippel-Lindau tumour-suppressor protein. Subsequent ubiquitinylation, mediated by an ubiquitin ligase complex, targets HIFα for degradation. Secondly, hydroxylation of an asparagine residue in the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIFα directly prevents its interaction with the co-activator p300. Hydroxylation of HIFα is catalysed by enzymes of the iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase family. In humans, three prolyl hydroxylase isoenzymes (PHD1–3) and an asparagine hydroxylase [factor inhibiting HIF (FIH)] have been identified. The role of 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases in the hypoxic and other signalling pathways is discussed.

scholarly journals Multifaceted roles of SAMHD1 in cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie-May McLaughlin ◽  
Jindrich Cinatl ◽  
Mark N Wass ◽  
Martin Michaelis
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Tumour Suppressor ◽  
Paediatric Cancer ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Tumour Suppressor Protein ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Cancer Outcome

SAMHD1 is discussed as a tumour suppressor protein, but its potential role in cancer has only been investigated in very few cancer types. Here, we performed a systematic analysis of the TCGA (adult cancer) and TARGET (paediatric cancer) databases, the results of which did not suggest that SAMHD1 should be regarded as a bona fide tumour suppressor. SAMHD1 mutations that interfere with SAMHD1 function were not associated with poor outcome, which would be expected for a tumour suppressor. High SAMHD1 tumour levels were associated with increased survival in some cancer entities and reduced survival in others. Moreover, the data suggested differences in the role of SAMHD1 between males and females and between different races. Often, there was no significant relationship between SAMHD1 levels and cancer outcome. Taken together, our results indicate that SAMHD1 may exert pro- or anti-tumourigenic effects and that SAMHD1 is involved in the oncogenic process in a minority of cancer cases. These findings seem to be in disaccord with a perception and narrative forming in the field suggesting that SAMHD1 is a tumour suppressor. A systematic literature review confirmed that most of the available scientific articles focus on a potential role of SAMHD1 as a tumour suppressor. The reasons for this remain unclear but may include confirmation bias and publication bias. Our findings emphasise that hypotheses, perceptions, and assumptions need to be continuously challenged by using all available data and evidence.

Definition of the transcriptional activation domain of recombinant 43-kilodalton USF

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 5094-5101
Author(s):  
B J Kirschbaum ◽  
P Pognonec ◽  
R G Roeder
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Small Region ◽  
Initial Structure ◽  
Transcriptional Activation Domain ◽  
Cellular Transcription Factor ◽  
Helix Loop Helix ◽  
Activation Potential

The cellular transcription factor USF is involved in the regulation of both cellular and viral genes and consists of 43- and 44-kDa polypeptides which independently show site-specific DNA binding. Cloning of the corresponding cDNA revealed that the 43-kDa polypeptide (USF43) is a member of the basic (B)-helix-loop-helix (HLH)-leucine zipper (LZ) family of proteins and provided a means for its functional dissection. Initial structure-function studies revealed that the HLH and LZ regions are both important for USF43 oligomerization and DNA binding. The studies presented here have focused on the determination of domains that contribute to transcriptional activation in vitro and show that (i) both a small region close to the N terminus and a region between residues 93 and 156 contribute strongly to transcriptional activation, (ii) full activation depends on the presence of both domains, (iii) the B-HLH-LZ region has no intrinsic activation potential but DNA binding is absolutely required for transcriptional activation, and (iv) the B-HLH-LZ region can be replaced by the Gal4 DNA binding domain without loss of activation potential.

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