title: Transcriptional antagonist cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) down-regulates c-fos cAMP-induced expression.
abstract: Protooncogene c-fos is induced by activation of adenylate cyclase through the major cAMP-responsive element (CRE) centered at position -60 of the promoter. cAMP induction is followed by a rapid decrease in transcriptional rate, reminiscent of down-regulation after serum stimulation. Fos protein is known to negatively autoregulate serum-induced transcription of c-fos promoter, but whether Fos is responsible for down-regulation of cAMP-induced transcription is unclear. Here we show that Fos is unable to down-regulate CRE-mediated activation. We present evidence that the transcriptional antagonist CRE modulator (CREM) can bind to c-fos CRE and heterodimerize with activator CRE-binding protein, thereby blocking cAMP induction. Furthermore, expression of antisense CREM enhances c-fos basal and cAMP-induced transcription. CREM does not antagonize serum-induced transcription; therefore, we conclude that down-regulation of c-fos is exerted by different effectors, depending upon which signal transduction pathway is activated. We speculate that, by its c-fos down-regulatory function, CREM may act as an antioncogene.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire des Eucaryotes du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité 184, de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Foulkes
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Laoide
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schlotter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sassone-Corsi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase