The human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 oncoprotein Tax inhibits the transcriptional activity of c-Myb through competition for the CREB binding protein.
Tax, the transforming protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is required for strong activation of HTLV-1 transcription. This activation is mediated through interaction with the KIX domain of the cellular coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP). In this study we examined the possibility that the Tax-KIX interaction may mediate effects on cellular gene transcription in vivo, as a growing number of cellular transcription factors have been shown to utilize CBP as a coactivator. We tested the ability of Tax to deregulate the activity of the cellular transcription factor, c-Myb, since both Tax and c-Myb interact with the KIX domain of CBP. Our results show that in vivo, Tax antagonizes the transcriptional activity of c-Myb and, reciprocally, c-Myb antagonizes the transcriptional activity of Tax. Furthermore, c-Myb competes for KIX binding to Tax in vitro, indicating that these two transcription factors bind CBP in a mutually exclusive manner. This novel mechanism of transcriptional interference by Tax may promote globally deregulated cellular gene expression in the HTLV-1-infected cell, possibly leading to leukemogenesis.
Colgin
M A
MA
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1870, USA.
Nyborg
J K
JK
D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D016356:Gene Products, tax; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators