title: HMG I(Y) interferes with the DNA binding of NF-AT factors and the induction of the interleukin 4 promoter in T cells.
abstract: HMG I(Y) proteins bind to double-stranded A + T oligonucleotides longer than three base pairs. Such motifs form part of numerous NF-AT-binding sites of lymphokine promoters, including the interleukin 4 (IL-4) promoter. NF-AT factors share short homologous peptide sequences in their DNA-binding domain with NF-kappa B factors and bind to certain NF-kappa B sites. It has been shown that HMG I(Y) proteins enhance NF-kappa B binding to the interferon beta promoter and virus-mediated interferon beta promoter induction. We show that HMG I(Y) proteins exert an opposite effect on the DNA binding of NF-AT factors and the induction of the IL-4 promoter in T lymphocytes. Introduction of mutations into a high-affinity HMG I(Y)-binding site of the IL-4 promoter, which decreased HMG I(Y)-binding to a NF-AT-binding sequence, the Pu-bB (or P) site, distinctly increased the induction of the IL-4 promoter in Jurkat T leukemia cells. High concentrations of HMG I(Y) proteins are able to displace NF-ATp from its binding to the Pu-bB site. High HMG I(Y) concentrations are typical for Jurkat cells and peripheral blood T lymphocytes, whereas E14 T lymphoma cells and certain T helper type 2 cell clones contain relatively low HMG I(Y) concentrations. Our results indicate that HMG I(Y) proteins do not cooperate, but instead compete with NF-AT factors for the binding to DNA even though NF-AT factors share some DNA-binding to DNA even though NF-AT factors share some DNA-binding properties with NF-kB factors. This competition between HMG I(Y) and NF-AT proteins for DNA binding might be due to common contacts with minor groove nucleotides of DNA and may be one mechanism contributing to the selective IL-4 expression in certain T lymphocyte populations, such as T helper type 2 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klein-Hessling
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinfling
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chuvpilo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serfling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D025741:HMGA1a Protein; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025741:HMGA1a Protein; D015847:Interleukin-4; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate