Dichotomous transactivation domains contribute to growth inhibitory and promotion functions of TAp73
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ABSTRACT: The transcription factor p73, a member of the p53 tumor-suppressor family, regulates cell death and also supports tumorigenesis, though the mechanistic basis for the dichotomous functions is poorly understood. We report here the identification of an alternate transactivation domain (TAD) located at the extreme carboxyl (C)-terminus of TAp73β, a commonly expressed p73 isoform. Mutational disruption of this TAD significantly reduced TAp73β’s transactivation activity, to a level observed when the amino (N)-TAD that is similar to p53’s TAD is mutated. Mutation of both TADs almost completely abolished TAp73β’s transactivation activity. Expression profiling highlighted a unique set of targets involved in extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and focal adhesion to be regulated by the C-TAD, resulting in FAK phosphorylation, distinct from the N-TAD targets that are common to p53 and involved in growth inhibition. Interestingly, the C-TAD targets are also regulated by the oncogenic, amino-terminal deficient DNp73β isoform. Consistently, mutation of C-TAD reduces cellular migration and proliferation. Mechanistically, selective binding of TAp73β to DNAJA1 is required for the transactivation of C-TAD target genes, and silencing DNAJA1 expression abrogated all C-TAD-mediated effects. Taken together, our results provide a mechanistic basis for the dichotomous functions of TAp73 in the regulation cellular growth through its distinct TADs.
Project description:Transcriptional coactivators of YAP/TAZ play key roles in cancers through transcriptional outputs. However, the mechanisms of their transactivation remain unclear, and effective and safe targeting solutions are lacking. Here, we discovered that YAP/ TAZ possess a hydrophobic transactivation domain (TAD). Knockout of TADs prevents tumor establishment due to growth defects and enhanced immune attack. TADs facilitate preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly by promoting TFIID recruitment in a TAF4-dependent manner and enhance RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation through MED15-dependent mediator complex recruitment. The bindings of TAD to the surface hydrophobic groove of MED15 induce its folding of the helix and hydrophobic interactions of TAD-MED15 boosts YAP-MED15 co-condensations thereby enhancing transcriptional hub formation and the expression of an oncogenic and immune suppressive transcriptional program. Synthesized small peptide TJ-M11 selectively disrupts the interactions of TADs with MED15 and TAF4, thereby suppressing tumor growth and sensitizing immunotherapy. This study indicates TADs of YAP/TAZ exhibit dual functions in PIC assembly and Pol II elongation, relying on hydrophobic interactions.
Project description:As a critical cellular stress sensor, p53 mediates a variety of defensive processes including cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and senescence to prevent propagation of hyperproliferative cells or cells with a damaged genome, hence the formation of neoplasia. Transactivation of downstream genes plays an important while sometimes controversial role in regulating these cellular processes. To evaluate the dependence on transcriptional activation in p53’s activities, we generated genetically-modified mouse lines carrying mutations in the transactivation domains (TADs) of p53. These transactivatio-deficient mutants serve as unique reagents to probe the dependence on robust transactivation in p53-mediated cellular functions, as well as the underneath mechanisms. To identify genes differentially regulated by these p53 mutants, we performed gene expression profiling analysis on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (MEFs) from these mice in the context of oncogenic Ras-induced premature cellular senescence. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with different p53 genotypes were infected with retroviral H-Ras V12, which induces premature cellular senescence in p53 wild-type MEFs but not in p53 null MEFs. 5 genotypic groups of MEFs were used in the study: (i) p53L25Q/W26S, or "25,26", in which the first TAD (transactivation domain) of p53 is disrupted by the mutation, 5 biological samples; (ii) p53W53Q/F54S, or "53,54", in which the second TAD of p53 is disrupted by the mutation, 3 biological samples; (iii) p53L25Q/W26S/W53Q/F54S, or "QM", in which both TADs or p53 are disrupted, 3 biological samples; (iv) p53 wild-type, or "WT", 6 biological samples; (v) p53 null, or "Null", 6 biological samples.
Project description:The goal of this study is to use H3K4me3 signal to mark the promoter regions of the p73 gene. The p73 gene expresses TAp73 and DNp73 isoforms, which use two different promoters. H3K4me3 is generally associated with the promoter of a gene and, therefore, can be used to mark the promoters for TAp73 and DNp73.
Project description:Hepatocyte dedifferentiation is a major source of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its mechanisms are unknown. We explored the p73 expression in HCC tumors and studied the effects of transcriptionally active p73 (TAp73) in HCC cells. Expression profiles of p73 and patient clinical data were collected from the Genomic Data Commons (GDC) data portal and the TSVdb database, respectively. Global gene expression profiles were determined by pan-genomic 54K microarrays. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was used to identify TAp73-regulated gene sets. The effects of TAp73 were analyzed in monolayer cell culture, 3D-tumoroid and xenograft models in zebrafish using western blot, flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and morphological examination. TAp73 was significantly upregulated in HCC, and its high expression indicated poor patient survival. The induced expression of TAp73 caused landscape expression changes including genes involved in growth signaling, cell cycle, stress response, immunity, metabolism and development. HCC cells overexpressing TAp73 had lost hepatocyte lineage biomarkers including ALB, CYP3A4, AFP, HNF4α. In contrast, TAp73 upregulated genes promoting cholangiocyte lineage such as YAP, JAG1 and ZO-1, accompanied with an increase in metastatic ability. Our findings strongly suggest that TAp73 is a major promoter of malignant dedifferentiation of HCC cells Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly complex and heterogeneous type of cancer. Hepatocyte dedifferentiation is one of the important steps in the development of HCC. However, its molecular mechanisms are not well known. In this study, we report that TAp73 which is the major transcriptionally active form of p73 is overexpressed in HCC. Mechanically, TAp73 suppresses the expression of the hepatocyte markers including CYP3A4, AFP, ALB, HNF4a, while increasing the expression of several cholangiocyte markers in HCC cell lines. In conclusion, this report reveals a pro-oncogenic role for TAp73 in liver cancer.
Project description:The p53 family consists of three members, p53, p73, and p63. These proteins share a high degree of amino-acid sequence similarity and major functional domains. The p53 gene, the first member of the family to be identified, is the most frequent target gene for genetic alterations in human cancers. In contrast, p73 and p63 are mainly involved in normal development and differentiation. These differences among the p53 family are likely to depend on activation or repression of different sets of target genes. In this study, to identify targets specifically regulated by p73, we performed microarray analysis and compared expression patterns in a human steosarcoma cell line Saos-2 infected separately with p53 and TAp73beta expressing adenovirus. Experiment Overall Design: Saos2 osteosarcoma cells were infected with p53, TAp73beta expressing or control adenovirus for 24 h and then harvested.
Project description:A core evolutionary function of the p53 family is to protect the genomic integrity of gametes. However, the role of p73 in the male germline is unknown. Here we uncover that TAp73 unexpectedly functions as adhesion and maturation factor of the seminiferous epithelium orchestrating spermiogenesis. TAp73KO and p73KO mice, but not M-NM-^TNp73KO mice, display a M-bM-^@M-^Xnear-empty seminiferous tubuleM-bM-^@M-^Y phenotype due to massive premature loss of immature germ cells. Its cellular basis are defective cell-cell adhesions of developing germ cells to Sertoli nurse cells, with secondary degeneration of Sertoli cells including the blood-testis-barrier, thereby disrupting the adhesive integrity and maturation of the germ epithelium. At the molecular level, TAp73, produced in germ cells, controls a coordinated transcriptional program of adhesion- and migration-related proteins including peptidase inhibitors, proteases, receptors and integrins required for germ-Sertoli cell adhesion and dynamic junctional restructuring. Thus, the testis emerges as unique organ with strict division of labor among all family members: p63 and p53 safeguard germline fidelity, while TAp73 ensures fertility by enabling sperm maturation. 3 mice each for control wildtype and TAp73 knockout mice.
Project description:A core evolutionary function of the p53 family is to protect the genomic integrity of gametes. However, the role of p73 in the male germline is unknown. Here we uncover that TAp73 unexpectedly functions as adhesion and maturation factor of the seminiferous epithelium orchestrating spermiogenesis. TAp73KO and p73KO mice, but not M-NM-^TNp73KO mice, display a M-bM-^@M-^Xnear-empty seminiferous tubuleM-bM-^@M-^Y phenotype due to massive premature loss of immature germ cells. Its cellular basis are defective cell-cell adhesions of developing germ cells to Sertoli nurse cells, with secondary degeneration of Sertoli cells including the blood-testis-barrier, thereby disrupting the adhesive integrity and maturation of the germ epithelium. At the molecular level, TAp73, produced in germ cells, controls a coordinated transcriptional program of adhesion- and migration-related proteins including peptidase inhibitors, proteases, receptors and integrins required for germ-Sertoli cell adhesion and dynamic junctional restructuring. Thus, the testis emerges as unique organ with strict division of labor among all family members: p63 and p53 safeguard germline fidelity, while TAp73 ensures fertility by enabling sperm maturation. 3 mice each for control wildtype and TAp73 knockout mice
Project description:The p53 family consists of three members, p53, p73, and p63. These proteins share a high degree of amino-acid sequence similarity and major functional domains. The p53 gene, the first member of the family to be identified, is the most frequent target gene for genetic alterations in human cancers. In contrast, p73 and p63 are mainly involved in normal development and differentiation. These differences among the p53 family are likely to depend on activation or repression of different sets of target genes. In this study, to identify targets specifically regulated by p73, we performed microarray analysis and compared expression patterns in a human steosarcoma cell line Saos-2 infected separately with p53 and TAp73beta expressing adenovirus.
Project description:RNA-sequencing was performed to determine the differences between cells that contain mutant p53 and a transactivation deficient mutant of p53 to determine why the TAD mutant cells don't form tumors.