scholarly journals Opposing Roles for ATF2 and c-Fos in c-Jun-Mediated Neuronal Apoptosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 2431-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongmin Yuan ◽  
Shoufang Gong ◽  
Jingyan Luo ◽  
Zhihao Zheng ◽  
Bin Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Neuronal Apoptosis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation ◽  
Activator Protein 1 ◽  
Fos Expression ◽  
Activating Transcription Factor ◽  
Living Neurons ◽  
Factor C

ABSTRACT The activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor c-Jun is crucial for neuronal apoptosis. However, c-Jun dimerization partners and the regulation of these proteins in neuronal apoptosis remain unknown. Here we report that c-Jun-mediated neuronal apoptosis requires the concomitant activation of activating transcription factor-2 (ATF2) and downregulation of c-Fos. Furthermore, we have observed that c-Jun predominantly heterodimerizes with ATF2 and that the c-Jun/ATF2 complex promotes apoptosis by triggering ATF activity. Inhibition of c-Jun/ATF2 heterodimerization using dominant negative mutants, small hairpin RNAs, or decoy oligonucleotides was able to rescue neurons from apoptosis, whereas constitutively active ATF2 and c-Jun mutants were found to synergistically stimulate apoptosis. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis confirmed that, in living neurons, c-Fos downregulation facilitates c-Jun/ATF2 heterodimerization. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay also revealed that c-Fos expression prevents the binding of c-Jun/ATF2 heterodimers to conserved ATF sites. Moreover, the presence of c-Fos is able to suppress the expression of c-Jun/ATF2-mediated target genes and, therefore, apoptosis. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that potassium deprivation-induced neuronal apoptosis is mediated by concurrent upregulation of c-Jun/ATF2 heterodimerization and downregulation of c-Fos expression. This paradigm demonstrates opposing roles for ATF2 and c-Fos in c-Jun-mediated neuronal apoptosis.

Regulation and composition of activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factors controlling collagenase and c-Jun promoter activities

2001 ◽  
Vol 360 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars STEINMÜLLER ◽  
Giuseppe CIBELLI ◽  
Jonathan R. MOLL ◽  
Charles VINSON ◽  
Gerald THIEL
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Activator Protein 1 ◽  
Activator Protein ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Enhancer Binding Protein ◽  
Activating Transcription Factor

The activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor is composed of heterodimers of the Fos/activating transcription factor (ATF) and Jun subfamilies of basic-region leucine-zipper (B-ZIP) proteins. In order to determine the identities of individual B-ZIP proteins in various AP-1 complexes we tested the effect of dominant-negative mutants to the B-ZIP proteins c-Fos, ATF2, ATF4 and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) on the activities of the collagenase and c-Jun promoters. These dominant-negative mutants inhibit DNA binding of wild-type B-ZIP proteins in a leucine-zipper-dependent fashion. Transcription of a collagenase promoter/reporter gene was induced in HepG2 hepatoma cells by expression of c-Fos and c-Jun, administration of PMA (‘TPA’) or by expression of a truncated form of MEK (mitogen-activated/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase kinase) kinase-1, MEKK1Δ. In all cases, the dominant-negative mutants A-Fos and A-ATF2 decreased collagenase promoter activity. However, A-ATF4 and A-C/EBP had no effect. A-Fos and A-ATF2 also reduced MEKK1Δ-induced stimulation of the c-Jun promoter. In contrast, constitutive c-Jun promoter activity was blocked solely by A-ATF2, strongly suggesting that ATF2 and/or an ATF2-dimerizing protein are of major importance for c-Jun transcription in unstimulated cells. These results demonstrate that AP-1 transcription factors of different compositions control c-jun gene transcription in resting or stimulated cells.

scholarly journals CHOP Enhancement of Gene Transcription by Interactions with Jun/Fos AP-1 Complex Proteins

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 7589-7599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano Ubeda ◽  
Mario Vallejo ◽  
Joel F. Habener
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cellular Stress ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Dimerization Domain ◽  
Mobility Shift

ABSTRACT The transcription factor CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein 10) is a bZIP protein induced by a variety of stimuli that evoke cellular stress responses and has been shown to arrest cell growth and to promote programmed cell death. CHOP cannot form homodimers but forms stable heterodimers with the C/EBP family of activating transcription factors. Although initially characterized as a dominant negative inhibitor of C/EBPs in the activation of gene transcription, CHOP-C/EBP can activate certain target genes. Here we show that CHOP interacts with members of the immediate-early response, growth-promoting AP-1 transcription factor family, JunD, c-Jun, and c-Fos, to activate promoter elements in the somatostatin, JunD, and collagenase genes. The leucine zipper dimerization domain is required for interactions with AP-1 proteins and transactivation of transcription. Analyses by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and by an in vivo mammalian two-hybrid system for protein-protein interactions indicate that CHOP interacts with AP-1 proteins inside cells and suggest that it is recruited to the AP-1 complex by a tethering mechanism rather than by direct binding of DNA. Thus, CHOP not only is a negative or a positive regulator of C/EBP target genes but also, when tethered to AP-1 factors, can activate AP-1 target genes. These findings establish the existence of a new mechanism by which CHOP regulates gene expression when cells are exposed to cellular stress.

scholarly journals Unification of Opposites between Two Antioxidant Transcription Factors Nrf1 and Nrf2 in Mediating Distinct Cellular Responses to the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stressor Tunicamycin

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-ping Zhu ◽  
Ze Zheng ◽  
Shaofan Hu ◽  
Xufang Ru ◽  
Zhuo Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cellular Responses ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Heme Oxygenase 1 ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Activating Transcription Factor

The water-soluble Nrf2 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2, also called Nfe2l2) is accepted as a master regulator of antioxidant responses to cellular stress, and it was also identified as a direct target of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-anchored PERK (protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase). However, the membrane-bound Nrf1 (nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 1, also called Nfe2l1) response to ER stress remains elusive. Herein, we report a unity of opposites between these two antioxidant transcription factors, Nrf1 and Nrf2, in coordinating distinct cellular responses to the ER stressor tunicamycin (TU). The TU-inducible transcription of Nrf1 and Nrf2, as well as GCLM (glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit) and HO-1 (heme oxygenase 1), was accompanied by activation of ER stress signaling networks. Notably, the unfolded protein response (UPR) mediated by ATF6 (activating transcription factor 6), IRE1 (inositol requiring enzyme 1) and PERK was significantly suppressed by Nrf1α-specific knockout, but hyper-expression of Nrf2 and its target genes GCLM and HO-1 has retained in Nrf1α−/− cells. By contrast, Nrf2−/−ΔTA cells with genomic deletion of its transactivation (TA) domain resulted in significant decreases of GCLM, HO-1 and Nrf1; this was accompanied by partial decreases of IRE1 and ATF6, rather than PERK, but with an increase of ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4). Interestingly, Nrf1 glycosylation and its trans-activity to mediate the transcriptional expression of the 26S proteasomal subunits, were repressed by TU. This inhibitory effect was enhanced by Nrf1α−/− and Nrf2−/−ΔTA, but not by a constitutive activator caNrf2ΔN (that increased abundances of the non-glycosylated and processed Nrf1). Furthermore, caNrf2ΔN also enhanced induction of PERK and IRE1 by TU, but reduced expression of ATF4 and HO-1. Thus, it is inferred that such distinct roles of Nrf1 and Nrf2 are unified to maintain cell homeostasis by a series of coordinated ER-to-nuclear signaling responses to TU. Nrf1α (i.e., a full-length form) acts in a cell-autonomous manner to determine the transcription of most of UPR-target genes, albeit Nrf2 is also partially involved in this process. Consistently, transactivation of ARE (antioxidant response element)-driven BIP (binding immunoglobulin protein)-, PERK- and XBP1 (X-box binding protein 1)-Luc reporter genes was mediated directly by Nrf1 and/or Nrf2. Interestingly, Nrf1α is more potent than Nrf2 at mediating the cytoprotective responses against the cytotoxicity of TU alone or plus tBHQ (tert-butylhydroquinone). This is also further supported by the evidence that the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are increased in Nrf1α−/− cells, but rather are, to our surprise, decreased in Nrf2−/−ΔTA cells.

Treatment of cultured myotubes with the proteasome inhibitor β-lactone increases the expression of the transcription factor C/EBPβ

2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. C216-C226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wei ◽  
Hongmei Yang ◽  
Michael Menconi ◽  
Peirang Cao ◽  
Chester E. Chamberlain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Proteasome Inhibitor ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Dna Binding Activity ◽  
Cultured Myotubes ◽  
Nuclear Levels ◽  
Factor C

The role of the proteasome in the regulation of cellular levels of the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that C/EBPβ levels in cultured myotubes are regulated, at least in part, by proteasome activity. Treatment of cultured L6 myotubes, a rat skeletal muscle cell line, with the specific proteasome inhibitor β-lactone resulted in increased nuclear levels of C/EBPβ as determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescent detection. This effect of β-lactone reflected inhibited degradation of C/EBPβ. Surprisingly, the increased C/EBPβ levels in β-lactone-treated myotubes did not result in increased DNA-binding activity. In additional experiments, treatment of the myotubes with β-lactone resulted in increased nuclear levels of growth arrest DNA damage/C/EBP homologous protein (Gadd153/CHOP), a dominant-negative member of the C/EBP family that can form heterodimers with other members of the C/EBP family and block DNA binding. Coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescent detection provided evidence that C/EBPβ and Gadd153/CHOP interacted and colocalized in the nuclei of the β-lactone-treated myotubes. When Gadd153/CHOP expression was downregulated by transfection of myotubes with siRNA targeting Gadd153/CHOP, C/EBPβ DNA-binding activity was restored in β-lactone-treated myotubes. The results suggest that C/EBPβ is degraded by a proteasome-dependent mechanism in skeletal muscle cells and that Gadd153/CHOP can interact with C/EBPβ and block its DNA-binding activity. The observations are important because they increase the understanding of the complex regulation of the expression and activity of C/EBPβ in skeletal muscle.

scholarly journals A Dominant Negative Form of the Transcription Factor c-Jun Affects Genes That Have Opposing Effects on Lipid Homeostasis in Mice

2007 ◽  
Vol 282 (27) ◽  
pp. 19556-19564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Drosatos ◽  
Despina Sanoudou ◽  
Kyriakos E. Kypreos ◽  
Dimitris Kardassis ◽  
Vassilis I. Zannis
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Lipid Homeostasis ◽  
Dominant Negative Form ◽  
Factor C ◽  
Opposing Effects ◽  
Negative Form

scholarly journals Glucocorticoids suppress β-cell development and induce hepatic metaplasia in embryonic pancreas

2003 ◽  
Vol 375 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Ning SHEN ◽  
Jonathan R. SECKL ◽  
Jonathan M. W. SLACK ◽  
David TOSH
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Fetal Programming ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Organ Cultures ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Embryonic Pancreas ◽  
Factor C

Elevated glucocorticoids are associated with low birth weight and fetal ‘programming’ of hypertension and glucose intolerance. In the present paper, we show that treatment of fetal rats with dexamethasone during the last week of gestation reduces the insulin content of their pancreatic β-cells. We reproduce this effect of dexamethasone in vitro using organ cultures of mouse embryonic pancreas, and show that it is associated with an elevation of expression of the transcription factor C/EBPβ (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β) and a reduction of the transcription factor Pdx-1 (pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1). Dexamethasone also induces the appearance of hepatocyte-like cells in organ cultures of pancreas, based on the expression of liver markers, albumin, α1-antitrypsin and transthyretin. Evidence that C/EBPβ is responsible for compromising the differentiation and later function of β-cells is obtained from its effects on the β-cell-like cell line RIN-5F. Transfection with a constitutive form of C/EBPβ suppresses insulin formation, whereas introduction of a dominant-negative inhibitor of C/EBPβ has no effect. We conclude that dexamethasone inhibits insulin expression in pancreatic β-cells via a mechanism involving down-regulation of Pdx-1 and induction of C/EBPβ. This mechanism may operate in combination with other changes during fetal programming, leading to type 2 diabetes in later life.

The roles of ATF2 (activating transcription factor 2) in tumorigenesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 230-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Gozdecka ◽  
Wolfgang Breitwieser
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Activator Protein 1 ◽  
Mammalian Development ◽  
Dimeric Complexes ◽  
Tumour Formation ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein ◽  
Cellular Context ◽  
Activating Transcription Factor ◽  
Regulation Of Growth

MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways are among the most frequently deregulated signalling events in cancer. Among the critical targets of MAPK activities are members of the AP-1 (activator protein 1) transcription factor, a dimeric complex consisting of Jun, Fos, Maf and ATF (activating transcription factor) family DNA-binding proteins. Depending on the cellular context, the composition of the dimeric complexes determines the regulation of growth, survival or apoptosis. JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), p38 and a number of Jun and Fos family proteins have been analysed for their involvement in oncogenic transformation and tumour formation. These data are also emerging for the ATF components of the AP-1 factor. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the functions of two ATF family proteins, ATF2 and ATF7, in mammalian development and their potential functions in tumour formation.

scholarly journals Activating Transcription Factor 1 and CREB Are Important for Cell Survival during Early Mouse Development

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1919-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne C. Bleckmann ◽  
Julie A. Blendy ◽  
Dorothea Rudolph ◽  
A. Paula Monaghan ◽  
Wolfgang Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Mouse Development ◽  
Camp Response Element ◽  
Basic Leucine Zipper ◽  
Response Element ◽  
Activating Transcription Factor ◽  
Early Mouse ◽  
Transcription Factor 1

ABSTRACT Activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1), CREB, and the cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element modulatory protein (CREM), which constitute a subfamily of the basic leucine zipper transcription factors, activate gene expression by binding as homo- or heterodimers to the cAMP response element in regulatory regions of target genes. To investigate the function of ATF1 in vivo, we inactivated the corresponding gene by homologous recombination. In contrast to CREB-deficient mice, which suffer from perinatal lethality, mice lacking ATF1 do not exhibit any discernible phenotypic abnormalities. Since ATF1 and CREB but not CREM are strongly coexpressed during early mouse development, we generated mice deficient for both CREB and ATF1. ATF1−/− CREB−/− embryos die before implantation due to developmental arrest. ATF1+/− CREB−/− embryos display a phenotype of embryonic lethality around embryonic day 9.5 due to massive apoptosis. These results indicate that CREB and ATF1 act in concert to mediate signals essential for maintaining cell viability during early embryonic development.

scholarly journals Bag1-L Is a Phosphorylation-Dependent Coactivator of c-Jun during Neuronal Apoptosis

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (15) ◽  
pp. 3842-3852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive R. Da Costa ◽  
Javier Villadiego ◽  
Rocio Sancho ◽  
Xavier Fontana ◽  
Graham Packham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ◽  
Neuronal Apoptosis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Transactivation Domain ◽  
Multifunctional Protein ◽  
System Cell ◽  
Factor C

ABSTRACT In the nervous system, cell death by apoptosis plays a critical role during normal development and pathological neurodegeneration. Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are essential regulators of neuronal apoptosis. The AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun is phosphorylated at multiple sites within its transactivation domain by the JNKs, and c-Jun phosphorylation is required for JNK-induced neurotoxicity. While the importance of c-Jun as a mediator of apoptotic JNK signaling in neurons is firmly established, the molecular mechanism underlying the requirement for c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation is enigmatic. Here we identify the multifunctional protein Bag1-L as a coactivator of phosphorylated c-Jun. Bag1-L preferentially interacts with N-terminally phosphorylated c-Jun, and Bag1-L greatly augments transcriptional activation by phosphorylated c-Jun. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed binding of Bag1-L to the promoters of proapoptotic AP-1 target genes, and overexpression of Bag1-L augmented cell death in primary neurons. Therefore, Bag1-L functions as a coactivator regulating neurotoxicity mediated by phosphorylated c-Jun.

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