Characterization of lacZ complementation deletions using membrane receptor dimerization.

We describe the screening of lacZ deletions in mammalian cells and the discovery of a novel pair of lacZ deletions that can undergo alpha-complementation only when they are fused to peptides that interact with each other. The two lacZ deletions, delta N 11-75 and delta C 82-1023, were first characterized by fusing to two small interacting peptides and were then further analyzed by fusing to three membrane receptors (G protein-coupled receptors alpha 2cAR and D2DRL and receptor tyrosine kinase insulin receptor) that were known to form homodimers in the membrane. Histochemical and quantitative FACS assays demonstrated that the novel deletions have much lower level of association with each other, thus offering a much lower background in monitoring membrane protein interactions compared to previously published lacZ deletions. Furthermore, our method has the exciting potential to monitor simultaneously membrane receptor dimerization and localization to the cell surface of living cells.

Interaction of the corepressor Alien with DAX-1 is abrogated by mutations of DAX-1 involved in adrenal hypoplasia congenita.

DAX-1 is an unusual member of the nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) superfamily. Lack of DAX-1-mediated silencing leads to adrenal hypoplasia congenita and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Gene silencing through NHRs such as the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) is mediated by corepressors. We have previously characterized a novel corepressor, termed Alien, which interacts with TR and the ecdysone receptor but not with the retinoic acid receptors RAR or RXR. Here, we show that DAX-1 interacts with the corepressor Alien but not with the corepressor SMRT. This interaction is mediated by the DAX-1-silencing domain. Naturally occurring mutants of the DAX-1 gene fail to interact with Alien and have lost silencing function. Because the silencing domain of DAX-1 is unusual for NHRs, we mapped the interaction of Alien with DAX-1 and with TR. We show that Alien exhibits different binding characteristics to DAX-1 and TR. Furthermore, Northern experiments demonstrate that Alien is expressed in the adrenal gland and testis in tissues where DAX-1 is specifically expressed. Interestingly, a novel adrenal gland-specific mRNA of Alien was discovered. Thus, the impairment of Alien binding seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis mediated by DAX-1 mutants.

The v-erbA oncogene (review).

The v-erbA oncogene product is a nuclear protein and belongs to the superfamily of nuclear hormone receptors. The v-ErbA oncoprotein is involved in neoplastic transformation leading to acute erythroleukemia and sarcomas. The cellular homolog of v-ErbA oncoprotein is the thyroid hormone receptor alpha (c-erbA alpha or TRalpha). While TR has the dual role to silence gene expression in the absence of hormone and activate genes in the presence of the ligand, triiodothyronine, the v-ErbA oncoprotein has lost the ability to activate genes. The oncoprotein is thought to repress, in a constitutive manner, a certain set of genes which prevent cellular transformation. The mechanism of gene silencing is partly understood and involves the so-called corepressors. Several types of corepressors have been identified so far. Similarly, gene silencing by corepressors also plays a role in myeloid transformation by the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) which is involved in translocations, such as PML-RAR. The v-erbA oncogene was isolated from a retrovirus which contains, in addition to v-erbA, the oncogene v-erbB. The viral erbB gene encodes an EGF-receptor derivative, which is a constitutively active tyrosine kinase. Cellular transformation is enhanced when both oncoproteins are expressed. However, the mechanisms of cellular transformation by v-ErbA alone or in synergy with v-ErbB remain unclear. Novel insights into the mechanism of cellular transformation by v-ErbA, the role of corepressors and the role of the cross talk between the EGF-receptor and v-ErbA will be discussed.

EcR interacts with corepressors and harbours an autonomous silencing domain functional in both Drosophila and vertebrate cells.

The ecdysone receptor (EcR) is a member of the large family of nuclear hormone receptors, which are ligand regulated transcription factors. In general, ligand converts these receptors into a transcriptional activator. Some vertebrate nuclear hormone receptors, such as the thyroid hormone and retinoic acid receptors, silence gene expression in the absence of ligand. EcR is involved in fly metamorphosis and is used in vertebrates as an inducible system for expression of transgenes. Here, we show that a Drosophila receptor, the EcR, harbours an autonomous silencing function in its carboxy-terminus. Interestingly, EcR mediates also silencing in vertebrate cells. In concordance with this EcR interacts with the corepressors SMRT and N-CoR, while addition of ligand reduces this interaction. Conversely, the v-erbA oncogene product, a thyroid hormone receptor derivative, mediates silencing in Drosophila cells. Thus, our data suggest the involvement of an evolutionarily conserved mechanism by which nuclear hormone receptors mediate gene silencing in multicellular organisms.

Alien, a highly conserved protein with characteristics of a corepressor for members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily.

Some members of nuclear hormone receptors, such as the thyroid hormone receptor (TR), silence gene expression in the absence of the hormone. Corepressors, which bind to the receptor's silencing domain, are involved in this repression. Hormone binding leads to dissociation of corepressors and binding of coactivators, which in turn mediate gene activation. Here, we describe the characteristics of Alien, a novel corepressor. Alien interacts with TR only in the absence of hormone. Addition of thyroid hormone leads to dissociation of Alien from the receptor, as shown by the yeast two-hybrid system, glutathione S-transferase pull-down, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Reporter assays indicate that Alien increases receptor-mediated silencing and that it harbors an autonomous silencing function. Immune staining shows that Alien is localized in the cell nucleus. Alien is a highly conserved protein showing 90% identity between human and Drosophila. Drosophila Alien shows similar activities in that it interacts in a hormone-sensitive manner with TR and harbors an autonomous silencing function. Specific interaction of Alien is seen with Drosophila nuclear hormone receptors, such as the ecdysone receptor and Seven-up, the Drosophila homologue of COUP-TF1, but not with retinoic acid receptor, RXR/USP, DHR 3, DHR 38, DHR 78, or DHR 96. These properties, taken together, show that Alien has the characteristics of a corepressor. Thus, Alien represents a member of a novel class of corepressors specific for selected members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily.

tau4/tau c/AF-2 of the thyroid hormone receptor relieves silencing of the retinoic acid receptor silencer core independent of both tau4 activation function and full dissociation of corepressors.

Members of the thyroid hormone (TR)-retinoic acid receptor (RAR) subfamily of nuclear hormone receptors silence gene expression in the absence of hormone. Addition of cognate ligands leads to dissociation of corepressors, association of coactivators, and transcriptional activation. Here, we used the hRAR alpha silencer core, which encompasses the ligand binding domain, including receptor regions D and E of RAR alpha without the activation function called tau4/tau c/AF-2 and without the F region, to analyze the mechanisms by which transcriptional silencing is relieved. Although the RAR silencer core is able to bind ligand, it acts as a constitutive transcriptional silencer. We have fused various small activation domains to the C terminus of the silencer core and analyzed hormone-dependent changes in receptor function. We show that nine amino acids derived from the hTRbeta are sufficient to transform the RAR silencer core into a hormone-dependent activator. Lengthening the linker between the silencer core and these nine amino acids is not critical for mediating ligand-induced relief of silencing and activation. In addition, we show that a transactivation function at the C terminus is not required for relief of silencing by the hormone, but it is required for transcriptional activation. Furthermore, we created functional silencer fusions which lose their repressive function upon addition of hormone, although the corepressors SMRT and N-CoR remain attached to the receptor.