title: Characterization of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha as a cyclic AMP-responsive nuclear regulator.
abstract: The alpha isoform of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBPalpha) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of genes linked to adipose differentiation and hepatic nutrient metabolism. Recently, our laboratory has characterized a role for C/EBPalpha in mediating hormonal responsiveness. For example, the cAMP responsiveness of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene promoter in liver requires synergism among the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), C/EBPalpha, and activator protein-1. In the present study, we show that C/EBPalpha can functionally substitute for CREB in this cAMP response unit, i.e. cAMP responsiveness can occur in the absence of CREB. This observation is physiologically relevant since both CREB and C/EBPalpha have been shown to bind with high affinity to the cAMP response element in this particular promoter. Structure/function analysis of C/EBPalpha identified specific mutations that differentially affected its constitutive and protein kinase A-inducible activities. This finding suggests that the mechanism whereby C/EBPalpha mediates constitutive transactivation is distinct from that whereby it mediates cAMP responsiveness. These data support the hypothesis that C/EBPalpha plays a critical role in metabolism, in part by participating in the hormonal regulation of expression of metabolically important genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada. roesler@duke.usask.ca
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McFie
mesh_terms: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)