E2F-responsive Genes Research Articles

Cdk2-dependent Phosphorylation and Functional Inactivation of the pRB-related p130 Protein in pRB(−), p16INK4A(+) Tumor Cells

The retinoblastoma family proteins pRB, p107, and p130 are phosphorylated and released from E2Fs in the late G(1) phase of the cell cycle. This phosphorylation is thought to contribute to the derepression of E2F-responsive genes and to be mediated, in part, by Cdk4 and Cdk6. Evidence that Cdk4/6 activity is inhibited by p16(INK4A) in most pRB(-) cells suggests that p107 and p130 may be underphosphorylated and remain associated with E2Fs during G(1)-S progression in cells that lack pRB. To examine this, we evaluated the cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation and E2F binding abilities of p107 and p130 in pRB(-), p16(+) Saos-2 osteosarcoma cells. p130, but not p107, was phosphorylated and released from E2F-4 in late G(1) and S phase cells, although p130 phosphorylation differed qualitatively in these and other pRB(-), p16(+) cells as compared with pRB(+), p16(-) cell types. p130 phosphorylation occurred in the absence of cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complexes, coincided with cyclin E- and Cdk2-associated kinase activity, and was prevented by expression of dominant negative Cdk2. Moreover, dominant negative Cdk2 prevented the dissociation of endogenous p130-E2F-4 complexes and inhibited E2F-4-dependent transcription. These findings show that p130 can be phosphorylated and functionally inactivated in a Cdk2-dependent process, and they highlight the involvement of distinct Cdks in the regulation of different pRB family proteins.

DcE2F, a Functional Plant E2F-like Transcriptional Activator from Daucus carota

In animal cells the progression of the cell cycle through G(1)/S transition and S phase is under the control of the pRB/E2F regulatory pathway. The E2F transcription factors are key activators of genes coding for several regulatory proteins and for enzymes involved in nucleotide and DNA synthesis. In this report we have detected the presence of E2F-like DNA binding activities in carrot nuclear extracts, and we have isolated a carrot cDNA (DcE2F) encoding a plant E2F homologue. The DcE2F gene is expressed in proliferating cells and is induced during the G(1)/S transition of the cell cycle. Supershift experiments using anti-DcE2F antiserum have confirmed that the DcE2F protein is a component of the carrot E2F-like nuclear activities. DNA binding assays have demonstrated that the DcE2F protein can recognize a canonical E2F cis-element in association with a mammalian DP protein. Furthermore, transactivation assays have revealed that DcE2F is a functional transcription factor that can transactivate, together with a DP partner, an E2F-responsive reporter gene in both plant and mammalian cells.

Analysis of promoter binding by the E2F and pRB families in vivo: distinct E2F proteins mediate activation and repression

The E2F transcription factor plays a pivotal role in the timely activation of gene expression during mammalian cell cycle progression, whereas pRB and related proteins control cell growth in part through the ability to block the action of E2F. To identify physiologically important E2F-responsive promoters and to study their occupancy and histone acetylation state in vivo, we have taken advantage of a cross-linking approach in synchronized, living cells. We find that the pattern of E2F and pRB-related polypeptides recruited to these promoters changes in a strikingly dynamic fashion as cells progress from quiescence into G(1) and S phase: Repression of each promoter in quiescent cells is associated with recruitment of E2F-4 and p130 and low levels of histone acetylation, but by late G(1), these proteins are replaced largely by E2F-1 and E2F-3, in concert with acetylation of histones H3 and H4 and gene activation. These findings suggest that repression and activation of E2F-responsive genes may occur through distinct E2F heterodimers that direct the sequential recruitment of enzymes able to deacetylate and then acetylate core histones.

E2f3 is critical for normal cellular proliferation

E2F is a family of transcription factors that regulate both cellular proliferation and differentiation. To establish the role of E2F3 in vivo, we generated an E2f3 mutant mouse strain. E2F3-deficient mice arise at one-quarter of the expected frequency, demonstrating that E2F3 is important for normal development. To determine the molecular consequences of E2F3 deficiency, we analyzed the properties of embryonic fibroblasts derived from E2f3 mutant mice. Mutation of E2f3 dramatically impairs the mitogen-induced, transcriptional activation of numerous E2F-responsive genes. We have been able to identify a number of genes, including B-myb, cyclin A, cdc2, cdc6, and DHFR, whose expression is dependent on the presence of E2F3 but not E2F1. We further show that a critical threshold level of one or more of the E2F3-regulated genes determines the timing of the G(1)/S transition, the rate of DNA synthesis, and thereby the rate of cellular proliferation. Finally, we show that E2F3 is not required for cellular immortalization but is rate limiting for the proliferation of the resulting tumor cell lines. We conclude that E2F3 is critical for the transcriptional activation of genes that control the rate of proliferation of both primary and tumor cells.

Regulation of E2F transcription by cyclin E-Cdk2 kinase mediated through p300/CBP co-activators.

The E2F proteins form a family of transcription factors that regulate the transition from the G1 to the S phase in the cell cycle. E2F activity is regulated by members of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) family, ensuring the tight control of E2F-responsive genes. During the G1 phase, phosphorylation of pRb by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), most notably cyclin D-CDK complexes, releases pRb from E2F, facilitating cell-cycle progression by the timely induction of E2F-targeted genes such as cyclin E. However, it is not known whether E2F proteins are directly targeted by CDKs. Here we show that E2F-5 is phosphorylated by the cyclin E-Cdk2 complex, which functions in the late G1 phase, but not by the early-G1-phase-acting cyclin D-CDK complex. A phosphorylation site in the trans-activation domain of E2F-5 stimulates transcription and cell-cycle progression by the recruitment of the p300/CBP family of co-activators, whose binding to E2F-5 is stabilized upon phosphorylation by cyclin E-Cdk2. These results indicate that E2F activity may be directly regulated by cyclin E-Cdk2, and imply an autoregulatory mechanism for cell-cycle-dependent transcription through the CDK-stimulated interaction of E2F with p300/CBP co-activators.

RbAp48 Belongs to the Histone Deacetylase Complex That Associates with the Retinoblastoma Protein

The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product, the Rb protein, is a key regulator of mammalian cell proliferation. One of the major targets of Rb is the S phase inducing E2F transcription factor. Once bound to E2F, Rb represses the expression of E2F-regulated genes. Transcriptional repression by Rb is believed to be crucial for the proper control of cell growth. Recently, we and others showed that Rb represses transcription through the recruitment of a histone deacetylase. Interestingly, we show here that the Rb-associated histone deacetylase complex could deacetylate polynucleosomal substrates, indicating that other proteins could be present within this complex. The Rb-associated protein RbAp48 belongs to many histone deacetylase complexes. We show here that the histone deacetylase HDAC1 is able to mediate the formation of a ternary complex containing Rb and RbAp48. Moreover, less deacetylase activity was found associated with Rb in cell extracts depleted for RbAp48 containing complexes, demonstrating that Rb, histone deacetylase, and RbAp48 are physically associated in live cells. Taken together, these data indicate that RbAp48 is a component of the histone deacetylase complex recruited by Rb. Finally, we found that E2F1 and RbAp48 are physically associated in the presence of Rb and HDAC1, suggesting that RbAp48 could be involved in transcriptional repression of E2F-responsive genes.

A Novel DNA Damage Checkpoint Involving Post-transcriptional Regulation of Cyclin A Expression

The intracellular metabolism of many carcinogenic polycyclic aryl hydrocarbons (PAHs, typified by the ubiquitous pollutant benzo[a]pyrene or B[a]P) generates electrophilic products that react covalently with genomic DNA. Cells that acquire PAH-induced DNA damage undergo growth arrest in a p53-independent manner (Vaziri, C., and Faller, D. V. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 2762-2769). In this report we have investigated the molecular basis of PAH-induced cell cycle arrest. Mitogenic signaling events involving cyclins D and E, Rb phosphorylation, and transcriptional activation of E2F-responsive genes (including cyclin E and cyclin A) were unaffected in cells containing PAH-damaged DNA. However, PAH-induced growth arrest was associated with post-transcriptional decreases in cyclin A expression. Mitogen-induced expression of cyclin B, an event that is temporally distal to cyclin A expression, was also inhibited in PAH-treated cells. The PAH-induced cell cycle block was transient, and arrested cells resumed DNA synthesis after a prolonged ( approximately 20 h) delay. Resumption of DNA synthesis in PAH-treated cells occurred concomitant with elevated expression of cyclins A and B. PAH-induced cell cycle arrest was overcome by ectopically expressed cyclin A (encoded by a recombinant adenovirus in transiently infected cells). Overall, our results suggest the existence of a DNA damage checkpoint pathway that arrests cell cycle progression via post-transcriptional control of cyclin A expression.

Functions of the retinoblastoma protein

The retinoblastoma protein (pRB) can both positively and negatively regulate transcription. The former correlates with its ability to promote differentiation and the latter with its ability to regulate entry into S-phase. pRB negatively regulates transcription by forming complexes with members of the E2F transcription factor family. These complexes, when bound to E2F sites within certain target genes, actively repress transcription through a variety of mechanisms including physical interaction with adjacent transcriptional activation domains and recruitment of proteins that directly, or indirectly, lead to histone deacetylation. pRB function is, in turn, modulated by phosphorylation mediated by cyclin-dependent kinases. Emerging data suggest that combinatorial control of pRB function may be achieved through the use of different phosphoacceptor sites, different cyclin/cdk docking sites, and different cyclin/cdk complexes. The untimely activation of E2F responsive genes can induce apoptosis. This comes about at least partly through the induction of ARF, which leads to the stabilization and activation of p53. BioEssays 1999;21:950-958.

Inhibition of mammalian cell proliferation by genetically selected peptide aptamers that functionally antagonize E2F activity.

The p16-cyclin D-pRB-E2F pathway is frequently deregulated in human tumors. This critical regulatory pathway controls the G1/S transition of the mammalian cell cycle by positive and negative regulation of E2F-responsive genes required for DNA replication. To assess the value of the transcription factors E2Fs as targets for antiproliferative strategies, we have initiated a program aiming to develop inhibitors targeting specifically these proteins in vitro and in vivo. The cellular activity of E2F is the result of the heterodimeric association of two families of proteins, E2Fs and DPs, which then bind DNA. Here, we use a two hybrid approach to isolate from combinatorial libraries peptide aptamers that specifically interact with E2Fs DNA binding and dimerization domains. One of these is a potent inhibitor of E2F binding activity in vitro and in mammalian fibroblasts, blocks cells in G1, and the free variable region from this aptamer has the same effect. Our experiments argue that the variable region of this aptamer is structured, and that it functions by binding E2F with a motif that resembles a DP heterodimerization region, and blocking E2F's association with DP. These results show that cell proliferation can be inhibited using genetically-selected synthetic peptides that specifically target protein-protein interaction motifs within cell cycle regulators. These results also emphasize the critical role of the E2F pathway for cell proliferation and might allow the design of novel antiproliferative agents targeting the cyclin/CDK-pRB-E2F pathway.

E2F mediates developmental and cell cycle regulation of ORC1 in Drosophila.

Throughout the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the level of origin recognition complex (ORC) is constant and ORCs are bound constitutively to replication origins. Replication is regulated by the recruitment of additional factors such as CDC6. ORC components are widely conserved, and it generally has been assumed that they are also stable factors bound to origins throughout the cell cycle. In this report, we show that the level of the ORC1 subunit changes dramatically throughout Drosophila development. The accumulation of ORC1 is regulated by E2F-dependent transcription. In embryos, ORC1 accumulates preferentially in proliferating cells. In the eye imaginal disc, ORC1 accumulation is cell cycle regulated, with high levels in late G1 and S phase. In the ovary, the sub-nuclear distribution of ORC1 shifts during a developmentally regulated switch from endoreplication of the entire genome to amplification of the chorion gene clusters. Furthermore, we find that overexpression of ORC1 alters the pattern of DNA synthesis in the eye disc and the ovary. Thus, replication origin activity appears to be governed in part by the level of ORC1 in Drosophila.

Implication of transcription factor E2F in regulation of DNA replication.

The transcription factor E2F plays crucial roles in induction of S phase in mammalian cells by regulating the expression of genes that encode molecules involved in cell cycle progression. E2F exerts a repressive effect on E2F-responsive genes in G0/G1 phase by associating with the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene product pRb and the related protein p130. This repression is relieved by phosphorylation of the pRb family proteins by G1 cyclin (cyclin D and cyclin E) -dependent kinases, resulting in expression of E2F-responsive genes in late G1 with a peak at the G1/S boundary. One group of genes influenced by E2F encode cell cycle regulatory molecules, including members of the E2F family and cyclin E, demonstrating a loop-type regulation of activities of E2F and cyclin E-dependent kinase at this stage in the cell cycle. Another group is involved in DNA replication, including genes for molecules regulating initiation of DNA replication. Overexpression of E2F is sufficient to induce DNA synthesis in serum starved fibroblasts. In addition, overexpression of cyclin E, which is essential for entry into S phase, overcomes G1 arrest caused by inhibition of E2F activity without resuming E2F mediated transcription, suggesting the mergence of the two pathways. Thus, E2F target-gene products and cyclin E-dependent kinase activity apparently co-operate to initiate replication of DNA.

The p130 pocket protein: keeping order at cell cycle exit/re-entrance transitions.

Pocket proteins, including the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (pRB) and the related proteins p107 and p130, function at cell cycle regulatory steps that link cyclin/CDK-integrated positive and negative growth signals with E2F transcription factor activity on genes required for cell cycle progression. Protein complex formation between pocket proteins and members of the E2F family of transcription factors determines whether E2F complexes act as transcriptional activators or repressors. Experimental work over the last few years indicates that individual pocket proteins interact with specific E2F members to regulate the transcription of certain genes under diverse cell growth conditions. Among these protein associations, p130-containing E2F complexes seem to be of particular importance in controlling gene transcription in quiescent and differentiating cells by repressing the transcription of a set of E2F-responsive genes. Once the cells are progressing through the G1 phase of the cell cycle, pocket protein-mediated regulation of E2F activity is assumed by pRB and p107. p130-mediated transcriptional regulation thus seems to prevent a gene expression program characteristic of dividing cells at the cell cycle exit and re-entrance transitions and in quiescent cells.

E2F activity is regulated by cell cycle-dependent changes in subcellular localization.

E2F directs the cell cycle-dependent expression of genes that induce or regulate the cell division process. In mammalian cells, this transcriptional activity arises from the combined properties of multiple E2F-DP heterodimers. In this study, we show that the transcriptional potential of individual E2F species is dependent upon their nuclear localization. This is a constitutive property of E2F-1, -2, and -3, whereas the nuclear localization of E2F-4 is dependent upon its association with other nuclear factors. We previously showed that E2F-4 accounts for the majority of endogenous E2F species. We now show that the subcellular localization of E2F-4 is regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner that results in the differential compartmentalization of the various E2F complexes. Consequently, in cycling cells, the majority of the p107-E2F, p130-E2F, and free E2F complexes remain in the cytoplasm. In contrast, almost all of the nuclear E2F activity is generated by pRB-E2F. This complex is present at high levels during G1 but disappears once the cells have passed the restriction point. Surprisingly, dissociation of this complex causes little increase in the levels of nuclear free E2F activity. This observation suggests that the repressive properties of the pRB-E2F complex play a critical role in establishing the temporal regulation of E2F-responsive genes. How the differential subcellular localization of pRB, p107, and p130 contributes to their different biological properties is also discussed.

Alterations in G1/S cell-cycle control contributing to carcinogenesis.

Mutations involving the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene (RB-1) have been described in a variety of human neoplasms. In addition, many tumors that retain a wild-type RB-1 allele harbor mutations that indirectly impair the function of the RB-1 gene product (pRB). pRB is a nuclear protein that regulates cell-cycle progression and, in at least certain tissues, differentiation. The former has been linked to its ability to form complexes with members of the E2F transcription factor family. E2F DNA-binding sites have been identified in the regulatory regions of a number of genes involved in cell-cycle progression. pRB-E2F complexes actively repress transcription when bound to these sites. All tumor-derived pRB mutants have lost the ability to bind to E2F. Conversely, activation of E2F-responsive genes is sufficient to overcome a pRB-induced cell-cycle block and, in certain cell types, can lead to transformation. Thus, E2F appears to be a physiologically relevant target of pRB action, and deregulation of E2F-responsive genes is a common, and possibly universal, step in human carcinogenesis.

PRB and p107/p130 are required for the regulated expression of different sets of E2F responsive genes.

The activity of the E2F transcription factor is controlled by physical association with the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and two related proteins, p107 and p130. The pRB family members are thought to control different aspects of E2F activity, but it has been unclear what the respective functions of these proteins might be. To dissect the specific functions of pRB, p107, and p130 we have investigated how the expression of E2F-regulated genes is changed in cultures of primary cells lacking each of these family members. Whereas no changes were found in the expression of E2F-target genes in cells lacking either p107 or p130, deregulated expression of E2F targets was seen in cells lacking pRB and in cells lacking both p107 and p130. Surprisingly, the genes that were disregulated in these two settings were completely different. These findings show that pRB and p107/p130 indeed provide different functions in E2F regulation and identify target genes that are dependent on pRB family proteins for their normal expression.

Deficiency of retinoblastoma protein leads to inappropriate S-phase entry, activation of E2F-responsive genes, and apoptosis.

The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (Rb) participates in controlling the G1/S-phase transition, presumably by binding and inactivating E2F transcription activator family members. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with no, one, or two inactivated Rb genes were used to determine the specific contributions of Rb protein to cell cycle progression and gene expression. MEFs lacking both Rb alleles (Rb-/-) entered S phase in the presence of the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor methotrexate. Two E2F target genes, dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase, displayed elevated mRNA and protein levels in Rb- MEFs. Since absence of functional Rb protein in MEFs is sufficient for S-phase entry under growth-limiting conditions, these data indicate that the E2F complexes containing Rb protein, and not the Rb-related proteins p107 and p130, may be rate limiting for the G1/S transition. Antineoplastic drugs caused accumulation of p53 in the nuclei of both Rb+/+ and Rb-/- MEFs. While p53 induction led to apoptosis in Rb-/- MEFs, Rb+/- and Rb+/+ MEFs underwent cell cycle arrest without apoptosis. These results reveal that diverse growth signals work through Rb to regulate entry into S phase, and they indicate that absence of Rb protein produces a constitutive DNA replication signal capable of activating a p53-associated apoptotic response.

Regulation of the retinoblastoma protein-related p107 by G1 cyclin complexes.

The orderly progression through the cell cycle is mediated by the sequential activation of several cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) complexes. These kinases phosphorylate a number of cellular substrates, among which is the product of the retinoblastoma gene, pRb. Phosphorylation of pRb in late G1 causes the release of the transcription factor E2F from pRb, resulting in the transcriptional activation of E2F-responsive genes. We show here that phosphorylation of the pRb-related p107 is also cell cycle regulated. p107 is first phosphorylated at 8 hr following serum stimulation of quiescent fibroblasts, which coincides with an increase in cyclin D1 protein levels. Consistent with this, we show that a cyclin D1/cdk4 complex, but not a cyclin E/cdk2 complex, can phosphorylate p107 in vivo. Furthermore, phosphorylation of p107 can be abolished by the overexpression of a dominant-negative form of cdk4. Phosphorylation of p107 results in the loss of the ability to associate with E2F-4, a transcription factor with growth-promoting and oncogenic activity. A p107-induced cell cycle block can be released by cyclin D1/cdk4 but not by cyclin E/cdk2. These data indicate that the activity of p107 is regulated by phosphorylation through D-type cyclins.

PRB, p107 and the regulation of the E2F transcription factor

Small DNA tumor viruses, such as adenovirus, encode proteins that deregulate the cell cycle. These proteins are potent transforming agents when tested in standard oncogenic assays. For adenovirus the best characterized viral oncoproteins are the early region 1A (E1A) products. Mutational studies have shown that E1A's oncogenic ability is determined primarily by its ability to bind to certain cellular proteins and interfere with their function. One of these cellular targets for E1A is the product of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene, pRB. pRB is a negative regulator of cell proliferation, and its inactivation has been shown to be an important oncogenic step in the development of many human cancers. In adenovirusmediated transformation, E1A binds to pRB and inactivates it, thus functionally mimicking the loss of pRB often seen in human tumors. There is now compelling evidence to suggest that pRB regulates transcription at specific phases of the cell cycle by physically associating with key transcription factors. The best characterized target of pRB is the transcription factor E2F. The interaction of pRB and E2F leads to the inhibition of E2F-mediated transactivation. Most of the genes that are known to be controlled by E2F have key roles in the regulation of cell proliferation. During cell cycle progression, phosphorylation of pRB appears to change its conformation and E2F is released. In pathogenic settings E2F transactivation is not regulated by pRB binding. In human tumors with mutations in the retinoblastoma gene, functional pRB is absent and hence can no longer inhibit E2F activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The retinoblastoma protein binds to a family of E2F transcription factors.

E2F is a transcription factor that helps regulate the expression of a number of genes that are important in cell proliferation. Recently, several laboratories have isolated a cDNA clone that encodes an E2F-like protein, known as E2F-1. Subsequent characterization of this protein showed that it had the properties of E2F, but it was difficult to account for all of the suggested E2F activities through the function of this one protein. Using low-stringency hybridization, we have isolated cDNA clones that encode two additional E2F-like proteins, called E2F-2 and E2F-3. The chromosomal locations of the genes for E2F-2 and E2F-3 were mapped to 1p36 and 6q22, respectfully, confirming their independence from E2F-1. However, the E2F-2 and E2F-3 proteins are closely related to E2F-1. Both E2F-2 and E2F-3 bound to wild-type but not mutant E2F recognition sites, and they bound specifically to the retinoblastoma protein in vivo. Finally, E2F-2 and E2F-3 were able to activate transcription of E2F-responsive genes in a manner that was dependent upon the presence of at least one functional E2F binding site. These observations suggest that the E2F activities described previously result from the combined action of a family of proteins.

The retinoblastoma protein binds to a family of E2F transcription factors.

E2F is a transcription factor that helps regulate the expression of a number of genes that are important in cell proliferation. Recently, several laboratories have isolated a cDNA clone that encodes an E2F-like protein, known as E2F-1. Subsequent characterization of this protein showed that it had the properties of E2F, but it was difficult to account for all of the suggested E2F activities through the function of this one protein. Using low-stringency hybridization, we have isolated cDNA clones that encode two additional E2F-like proteins, called E2F-2 and E2F-3. The chromosomal locations of the genes for E2F-2 and E2F-3 were mapped to 1p36 and 6q22, respectfully, confirming their independence from E2F-1. However, the E2F-2 and E2F-3 proteins are closely related to E2F-1. Both E2F-2 and E2F-3 bound to wild-type but not mutant E2F recognition sites, and they bound specifically to the retinoblastoma protein in vivo. Finally, E2F-2 and E2F-3 were able to activate transcription of E2F-responsive genes in a manner that was dependent upon the presence of at least one functional E2F binding site. These observations suggest that the E2F activities described previously result from the combined action of a family of proteins.