The chondrogenic transcription factor Sox9 is a target of signaling by the parathyroid hormone-related peptide in the growth plate of endochondral bones.
In the growth plate of endochondral bones, parathyroid hormone (PTH)-related peptide (PTHrP) regulates the rate of chondrocyte maturation from prehypertrophic chondrocytes to hypertrophic chondrocytes. Using an antibody specific for Sox9 phosphorylated at serine 181 (S(181)), one of the two consensus protein kinase A phosphorylation sites of Sox9, we showed that the addition of PTHrP strongly increased the phosphorylation of SOX9 in COS7 cells transfected with both SOX9- and PTH/PTHrP receptor-expressing vectors. PTHrP also increased the SOX9-dependent activity of chondrocyte-specific enhancers in the gene for type II collagen (Col2a1) in transient transfection experiments. This increased enhancer activity did not occur with a Sox9 mutant harboring serine-to-alanine substitutions in its two consensus protein kinase A phosphorylation sites. Consistent with these results, PTHrP also increased Col2a1 mRNA levels in rat chondrosarcoma cells as well as 10T1/2 mesenchymal cells transfected with a PTH/PTHrP receptor expressing plasmid. No phosphorylation of Sox9 at S(181) was detected in prehypertrophic chondrocytes of the growth plate or any chondrocytes of PTH/PTHrP receptor null mutants. In contrast in wild-type mouse embryos, previous immunohistochemistry experiments indicated that Sox9 phosphorylated at S(181) was detected almost exclusively in chondrocytes of the prehypertrophic zone. Sox9, regardless of the phosphorylation state, was present in all chondrocytes of both genotypes except hypertrophic chondrocytes. Our results indicated that Sox9 is a target of PTHrP signaling in prehypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. We hypothesize that Sox9 mediates at least some effects of PTHrP in the growth plate and that the PTHrP-dependent increased transcriptional activity of Sox9 helps maintain the chondrocyte phenotype of cells in the prehypertrophic zone and inhibits their maturation to hypertrophic chondrocytes.
Huang
W
W
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Chung
U I
UI
Kronenberg
H M
HM
de Crombrugghe
B
B
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics; D016384:Consensus Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D054746:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010768:Phosphoserine / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D044168:Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1; D018016:Receptors, Parathyroid Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044168:Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1; D018016:Receptors, Parathyroid Hormone; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527933:Sox9 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D010768:Phosphoserine; D003094:Collagen; D054746:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases