Figure 1.
MAGE-KAP1 binding decreases reporter gene repression by ZNF382.
A. Full length MAGE-A3, full length MAGE-C2, or corresponding MAGE homology domain constructs, bind to full length KAP1 and RBCC-KAP1 detected by a Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assay. CHO cells transfected with the indicated plasmids were assayed for SEAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase) activity 48 h after transfection, using a chemiluminescent substrate CSPD. pM3, pM53 and pVP16-T are positive control vectors. pM and pVP16 are negative control vectors. pVP16-KAP1 alone shows minimal light units. MHD = MAGE homology domain. B. MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2 decrease KAP1 repression of a ZNF382 responsive reporter gene. Luciferase activities were measured in CHO-5xGal4-UAS-TK-Luc-2p cells transfected with (+) control vector (Gal4-DBD), with vector expressing full length (FL) MAGE-A3 or C2, or with their corresponding MAGE homology domains (MHDs). Maximum repression occurs in the presence of ZNF382 alone. Addition of MAGE expression plasmids causes dose dependent release of repression with increased luciferase activity. C. MAGE-C2 mutant L152A, L153A and MAGE-A3 mutant L120A, L121A, which cannot bind KAP1, fail to relieve repression mediated by ZNF382. D. MAGE-A3 and C2 mediated KAP1 repression of a ZNF382 responsive reporter gene is reversible. Addition of ZNF382 expression plasmids initiate dose dependent regaining of repression with decreased luciferase activity.
Figure 2.
MAGE I regulates KAP1 gene binding, trimethylation of histone 3 on lysine 9, and gene repression in HEK293T cells.
MAGE I expression decreases binding of KAP1, H3me3K9, and repression of the ID1 tumor suppressor gene (A, B, D). In contrast, MAGE I expression increases binding of KAP1, H3me3K9, and repression of mRNA and protein levels of the Ki67 gene (E, F, H, I, J, L). Note MAGE I binds to Ki67 gene sites but not ID1 gene sites (C, G, K). “M” denotes Mock transfection control. “A3” and “C2” denote MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2, respectively.
Figure 3.
MAGE-C2 mutant fails to regulate KAP1 gene binding, H3me3K9, and gene repression in HEK293T cells.
MAGE-C2L152A L153A expression does not affect binding of KAP1, H3me3K9, and repression of the ID1 tumor suppressor gene (A, B, D). MAGE-C2L152A L153A enrichment is seen at ID1 sites compared to MAGE-C2 and mock negative control (C). MAGE-C2L152A L153A expression dose not increases binding of KAP1, H3me3K9, and repression of mRNA level of the Ki67 gene (E, F, H, I, J). Note MAGE-C2L152A L153A fails to bind to the Ki67 gene sites but ID1 gene sites (C, G, K). “M” denotes Mock transfection control. “C2” denotes MAGE-C2. “MC” represents MAGE-C2L152A L153A.
Figure 4.
MAGE–KAP1 binding induces ZNF382 ubiquitination in HEK293T cells.
HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with His tagged wild-type MAGE-C2 (WT), mutant (non-binding) MAGE-C2L152A L153A , or empty vectors (Mock) and co-transfected with ZNF382, KAP1, and HA tagged ubiquitin. Cells were incubated for 5 hours in the presence of 25 µM MG132 (C2211, SIGMA). Top two panels: ZNF382 (around 55 kDa), MAGE-C2 (around 50 KD) and KAP1 (110 KD) were detected in whole lysates by immunoblotting with anti-KAP1 (upper panel) and anti-FLAG antibodies (lower panel). Third panel: His tagged ubiquitinated proteins were immunoprecipitated with anti-His and detected with anti-HA. High-molecular-weight ubiquitinated species were seen only in blots of cells transfected with both ZNF382 and MAGE-C2. Note that no ubiquitination occurred when wild type MAGE-C2 was replaced with MAGE-C2L152A L153A which does not bind to KAP1, indicating MAGE–KAP1 binding is required for ZNF382 ubiquitination. Also please note an ubiquitinated ZNF382 degradation product of lesser molecular weight in the presence of wild type MAGE-C2 and KAP1. Lowest panel: immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting confirms expression of ZNF382.
Figure 5.
Proposed model of MAGE-KAP1 interactions.
KAP1 performs diverse functions by serving as a molecular scaffold that binds multiple proteins which allow it to regulate chromatin environments. KAP1 has an N terminal RING-B-box coiled-coil (RBCC) domain that binds to the KRAB domains of KZNFs, which target KAP1 to specific DNA sequences through their zinc finger DNA binding motifs. KAP1 mediates localized compaction of euchromatin to heterochromatin that is necessary for suppression of specific gene transcription, and that is associated with chromatin modifications including histone de-acetylation, histone 3 tri-methylation on K9, and HP1 binding to both DNA and histones. In some cases, MAGE expression enhances KAP1 E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, resulting in KZNF ubiquitination and degradation, thereby de-repressing KZNF mediated gene repression, shown as (-). In other cases, MAGE enhances KZNF and KAP1 localization to specific gene loci, shown as (+) (After A. Ivanov [22]).
Table 1.
Real time PCR primers for target gene screening.