RESUMEN
The Notch signaling pathway governs many distinct cellular processes by regulating transcriptional programs. The transcriptional response initiated by Notch is highly cell context dependent, indicating that multiple factors influence Notch target gene selection and activity. However, the mechanism by which Notch drives target gene transcription is not well understood. Herein, we identify and characterize a novel Notch-interacting protein, Notch activation complex kinase (NACK), which acts as a Notch transcriptional coactivator. We show that NACK associates with the Notch transcriptional activation complex on DNA, mediates Notch transcriptional activity, and is required for Notch-mediated tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that Notch1 and NACK are coexpressed during mouse development and that homozygous loss of NACK is embryonic lethal. Finally, we show that NACK is also a Notch target gene, establishing a feed-forward loop. Thus, our data indicate that NACK is a key component of the Notch transcriptional complex and is an essential regulator of Notch-mediated tumorigenesis and development.
Asunto(s)
Carcinogénesis/genética , Receptores Notch/genética , Activación Transcripcional/genética , Animales , Línea Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/genética , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , Ratones Desnudos , Receptor Notch1/genética , Transducción de Señal/genética , Transcripción Genética/genéticaRESUMEN
Ykt6 proteins are the most versatile fusogens in eukaryotic cells, and the only SNAREs that can be both prenylated and acylated at a C-terminal CAAX motif. Unlike yeast and mammalian cells where a single Ykt6 gene is expressed, the Plasmodium falciparum genome encodes two Ykt6 proteins. We have investigated the expression and prenylation of the Ykt6 orthologue, PfYkt6.1 in intra-erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum. PfYkt6.1 localized to the parasite Golgi and other unidentified cytoplasmic compartments, and was partly cytosolic (â¼50% in early trophozoites). The membrane-association of PfYkt6.1 was dependent on the presence of a conserved C-terminal CAAX motif (CCSIM). By expressing full-length and mutant proteins in Escherichia coli, we have shown that PfYkt6.1 indeed serves as substrate for prenylation by P. falciparum farnesyltransferases. Surprisingly, PfYkt6.1 could also be geranylgeranylated by parasite extracts independent of the C-terminal amino acid residue. Deletion of the CAAX motif inhibited both farnesylation and geranylgeranylation activities. Additionally, the PfYkt6.1 heptapeptide KQCCSIM, corresponding to the C-terminal CAAX sequence, inhibited the parasite farnesyltransferase activity with an IC(50) of 1 µM. Our findings underscore the importance of CAAX motif-derived peptidomimetics for antimalarial drug development.