title: A protein synthesis-dependent increase in E2F1 mRNA correlates with growth regulation of the dihydrofolate reductase promoter.
abstract: Enhanced expression of genes involved in nucleotide biosynthesis, such as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), is a hallmark of entrance into the DNA synthesis (S) phase of the mammalian cell cycle. To investigate the regulated expression of the DHFR gene, we stimulated serum-starved NIH 3T3 cells to synchronously reenter the cell cycle. Our previous results show that a cis-acting element at the site of DHFR transcription initiation is necessary for serum regulation. Recently, this element has been demonstrated to bind the cloned transcription factor E2F. In this study, we focused on the role of E2F in the growth regulation of DHFR. We demonstrated that a single E2F site, in the absence or presence of other promoter elements, was sufficient for growth-regulated promoter activity. Next, we showed that the increase in DHFR mRNA at the G1/S-phase boundary required protein synthesis, raising the possibility that a protein(s) lacking in serum-starved cells is required for DHFR transcription. We found that, similar to DHFR mRNA expression, levels of murine E2F1 mRNA were low in serum-starved cells and increased at the G1/S-phase boundary in a protein synthesis-dependent manner. Furthermore, in a cotransfection experiment, expression of human E2F1 stimulated the DHFR promoter 22-fold in serum-starved cells. We suggest that E2F1 may be the key protein required for DHFR transcription that is absent in serum-starved cells. Expression of E2F also abolished the serum-stimulated regulation of the DHFR promoter and resulted in transcription patterns similar to those seen with expression of the adenoviral oncoprotein E1A. In summary, we provide evidence for the importance of E2F in the growth regulation of DHFR and suggest that alterations in the levels of E2F may have severe consequences in the control of cellular proliferation.
authors.affiliation: McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Slansky
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kaelin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Farnham
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D016193:G1 Phase; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D056465:Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; D016196:S Phase; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D050680:Transcription Factor DP1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C533431:Arid4a protein, mouse; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493754:E2f1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D056465:Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D050680:Transcription Factor DP1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase