Drosophila IRBP bZIP heterodimer binds P-element DNA and affects hybrid dysgenesis.

In Drosophila, P-element transposition causes mutagenesis and genome instability during hybrid dysgenesis. The P-element 31-bp terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) contain sequences essential for transposase cleavage and have been implicated in DNA repair via protein-DNA interactions with cellular proteins. The identity and function of these cellular proteins were unknown. Biochemical characterization of proteins that bind the TIRs identified a heterodimeric basic leucine zipper (bZIP) complex between an uncharacterized protein that we termed "Inverted Repeat Binding Protein (IRBP) 18" and its partner Xrp1. The reconstituted IRBP18/Xrp1 heterodimer binds sequence-specifically to its dsDNA-binding site within the P-element TIRs. Genetic analyses implicate both proteins as critical for repair of DNA breaks following transposase cleavage in vivo. These results identify a cellular protein complex that binds an active mobile element and plays a more general role in maintaining genome stability.

PAPA-1 Is a nuclear binding partner of IGFBP-2 and modulates its growth-promoting actions.

IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) have multiple cellular effects, which occur by both IGF-dependent and -independent mechanisms. IGFBP-2 is involved in the regulation of both normal and carcinogenic cell growth. To further understand the actions of IGFBP-2, we carried out a yeast two-hybrid screen to search for intracellular partner proteins using a human prostate cDNA library. We isolated Pim-1-associated protein-1 (PAP-1)-associated protein-1 (PAPA-1) as an IGFBP-2-binding protein, whose expression and subcellular localization is regulated by both IGFBP-2 and androgens. Coimmunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay confirmed the interaction in vitro, and confocal microscopy showed the colocalization of IGFBP-2 and PAPA-1 in the nucleus. Suppression of PAPA-1 by small interfering RNA treatment enhanced the growth-promoting effect of IGFBP-2. Conversely, IGFBP-2-promoted bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into LNCaP cells was abrogated by the simultaneous overexpression of myc-hPAPA-1. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts from IGFBP-2 knockout mouse showed diminished growth activity compared with wild type, and expression of FLAG-mPAPA-1 decreased cell proliferation in IGFBP-2 knockout, but not control mouse embryonic fibroblasts. These studies suggest that the growth-promoting role of IGFBP-2 in prostate cancer is inhibited by its intracellular interaction with PAPA-1.

Insulin-like growth factor I stimulates telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells.

IGF-I has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human cancer. We sought to establish a role for IGF-I in the regulation of telomerase, an enzyme critically involved in cancer cell immortalization. Telomerase activity was assayed in LAPC-4, PC-3, and DU-145 prostate cancer cell lines treated with and without IGF-I/IGF-I analogs. Relative expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and protein was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western immunoblot, respectively. IGF-I stimulated baseline telomerase activity in all three cell lines, ranging from 2- to 10-fold (P < 0.05). Enhancement was noted at IGF concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml and was maximal at 100 ng/ml. Stimulation was noted by 0.5 h, was maximal by 8 h, and persisted to 48 h. A similar 3-fold enhancement (P < 0.01) was noted in response to Long-R3 IGF-I, but not in response to [Ala(31),Leu(60)]IGF-I. Pretreatment with the Akt kinase inhibitor wortmannin abolished the stimulatory IGF effect, whereas blockade of MAPK activity did not. Lastly, IGF-I provoked a 2-fold increase in hTERT mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01). In summary, IGF-I clearly stimulates telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells through a dual mode of action, including early rapid effects probably involving phosphorylation of hTERT by Akt and later up-regulation of hTERT expression.

Novel stimulatory role for insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 in prostate cancer cells.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is a complex system composed of 2 mitogenic ligands, IGF-I and -II, 2 receptors, IGF-1R and IGF-2R, and 6 binding proteins, IGFBP-1 to -6. The IGFBPs exert their actions through their regulation of IGF bioavailability for IGF receptors. In addition, some IGFBPs have also been found to have direct cellular actions independent of IGFs. IGFBP-2 is a major IGFBP in the prostate and in seminal fluid. IGFBP-2 levels, which are elevated in many malignancies, are markedly increased in prostate cancer, and show a positive correlation with prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate tumor aggressiveness. We investigated the potential role of IGFBP-2 in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer by evaluating its ability to stimulate growth and the expression and activity of the nuclear enzyme, telomerase. We found IGFBP-2 to have a modest suppressive effect on the growth of primary cultures of normal prostate epithelial cells and a potent IGF-antagonistic effect in these cells, similar to previous reports on the inhibitory nature of this molecule. Surprisingly, IGFBP-2 had a potent stimulatory effect on growth of LAPC-4 prostate cancer cells, an effect that was more pronounced in the absence of androgens. IGFBP-2 growth stimulation of LAPC-4 cells was completely blocked by MAP-kinase inhibitors and partially blocked by PI3-kinase inhibitors. IGFBP-2 stimulation of LAPC-4 cell growth seen in serum-free conditions was lost in the presence of 10% FBS. IGFBP-2 also had a growth stimulatory effect on DU 145 prostate cancer cells. IGFBP-2 significantly stimulated telomerase activity in LAPC-4 cells in the absence of androgens. In addition, IGFBP-2 significantly stimulated hTERT expression and telomerase activity in DU 145 cells. Thus, we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of IGFBP-2 on non-malignant prostate cells, but showed it to be stimulatory for prostate cancer cells in a MAP-kinase and androgen-modulated process. In conclusion, IGFBP-2 may play a role in the progression, but not in the initiation of the prostate cancer disease process, suggesting the existence of a molecular switch transitioning IGFBP-2 from a growth inhibitor to a pro-carcinogenic molecule.