title: Suppression of sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase transcription by the short heterodimer partner: insights into the repression mechanism.
abstract: Cholesterol conversion to bile acids is subject to a feedback regulatory mechanism by which bile acids down-regulate their own synthesis. This regulation occurs at the level of transcription of several genes encoding enzymes in the bile acid biosynthetic pathway. One of these enzymes is sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase/CYP8B1 (12alpha-hydroxylase), the specific enzyme required for cholic acid synthesis. The levels of this enzyme determine the ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid and thus the hydrophobicity of the circulating bile acid pool. Previous studies from this laboratory showed that fetoprotein transcription factor (FTF) is required for 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity and bile acid-mediated regulation. Here, we report that the short heterodimer partner (SHP) suppresses 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity via an interaction with FTF. Hepatic nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) binds and activates the 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter and is required for 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. Although HNF-4 interacts with SHP, it is not involved in SHP-mediated suppression of 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity. FTF and not HNF-4 is the factor involved in regulation of 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter activity by bile acids through its interaction with SHP. Finally, interaction of SHP with FTF displaces FTF binding to its sites within the 12alpha-hydroxylase promoter. These results provide insights into the mechanism of action of bile acid-mediated regulation of sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Medical College of Virginia, PO Box 980614, Richmond, VA 23298-0614, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Castillo-Olivares
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000502:physiology; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; D006801:Humans; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; C403128:MLX protein, human; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C099948:fetoprotein transcription factor; C099713:nuclear receptor subfamily 0, group B, member 2; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D013253:Steroid 12-alpha-Hydroxylase