ABSTRACT
Transcription factor LSF is required for progression from quiescence through the cell cycle, regulating thymidylate synthase (Tyms) expression at the G1/S boundary. Given the constant level of LSF protein from G0 through S, we investigated whether LSF is regulated by phosphorylation in G1. In vitro, LSF is phosphorylated by cyclin E/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), cyclin C/CDK2, and cyclin C/CDK3, predominantly on S309. Phosphorylation of LSF on S309 is maximal 1 to 2 h after mitogenic stimulation of quiescent mouse fibroblasts. This phosphorylation is mediated by cyclin C-dependent kinases, as shown by coimmunoprecipitation of LSF and cyclin C in early G1 and by abrogation of LSF S309 phosphorylation upon suppression of cyclin C with short interfering RNA. Although mouse fibroblasts lack functional CDK3 (the partner of cyclin C in early G1 in human cells), CDK2 compensates for this absence. By transient transfection assays, phosphorylation at S309, mediated by cyclin C overexpression, inhibits LSF transactivation. Moreover, overexpression of cyclin C and CDK3 inhibits induction of endogenous Tyms expression at the G1/S transition. These results identify LSF as only the second known target (in addition to pRb) of cyclin C/CDK activity during progression from quiescence to early G1. Unexpectedly, this phosphorylation prevents induction of LSF target genes until late G1.
Membrane potential changes during mitogenic stimulation of mouse spleen lymphocytes
