RESUMEN
Bright/ARID3A is a nuclear matrix-associated transcription factor that stimulates immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) expression and Cyclin E1/E2F-dependent cell cycle progression. Bright positively activates IgH transcriptional initiation by binding to ATC-rich P sites within nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) flanking the IgH intronic enhancer (Emu). Over-expression of Bright in cultured B cells was shown to correlate with DNase hypersensitivity of Emu. We report here further efforts to analyze Bright-mediated Emu enhancer activation within the physiological constraints of chromatin. A system was established in which VH promoter-driven in vitro transcription on chromatin- reconstituted templates was responsive to Emu. Bright assisted in blocking the general repression caused by nucleosome assembly but was incapable of stimulating transcription from prebound nucleosome arrays. In vitro transcriptional derepression by Bright was enhanced on templates in which Emu is flanked by MARs and was inhibited by competition with high affinity Bright binding (P2) sites. DNase hypersensitivity of chromatin-reconstituted Emu was increased when prepackaged with B cell nuclear extract supplemented with Bright. These results identify Bright as a contributor to accessibility of the IgH enhancer.
Asunto(s)
Cromatina/genética , Cromatina/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , Elementos de Facilitación Genéticos/genética , Cadenas Pesadas de Inmunoglobulina/genética , Transactivadores/metabolismo , Línea Celular , Desoxirribonucleasas/metabolismo , Humanos , Oncogenes , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , Unión Proteica , Factores de Transcripción , Transcripción Genética/genéticaRESUMEN
The Foxp subfamily of forkhead/HNF3 transcription factors has recently been recognized because of its involvement in autoimmune disease, speech and language disorders, and lung development. Domains unique to this subfamily include a divergent DNA-binding winged helix, a leucine zipper, a zinc finger, and a polyglutamine tract. Little is known about the properties of these proteins that are fundamental to their function as transcription factors nor how the Foxp sequence motifs regulate their transcriptional regulatory properties. We report here a structure/function analysis of the Foxp1 protein. We have analyzed the alternative splice isoforms 1A and 1C and also report the cloning and characterization of a novel isoform Foxp1D that lacks the polyglutamine domain. We have isolated the preferred DNA-binding sites for Foxp1 transcription factors. Foxp1A, C, and D isoforms and the related Foxp2 protein repress gene transcription via binding to this consensus site or to a naturally occurring site within the SV40 and the interleukin-2 promoters. In some cases the strength of Foxp1 repression is mediated by the polyglutamine domain. Unlike previously characterized forkhead factors, Foxp1 proteins can form homodimers or heterodimers with subfamily members. The dimerization domain was localized to an evolutionarily conserved C2H2 zinc finger and leucine zipper motif. Finally, we demonstrate that Foxp1, although broadly expressed, is further regulated by tissue-specific alternative splicing of these functionally important sequence domains. These results suggest that Foxp1 proteins have diverse functional roles in different cell and tissue types.