title: Role for Hes1-induced phosphorylation in Groucho-mediated transcriptional repression.
abstract: Transcriptional corepressors of the Groucho/transducin-like Enhancer of split (Gro/TLE) family regulate a number of developmental pathways in both invertebrates and vertebrates. They form transcription repression complexes with members of several DNA-binding protein families and participate in the regulation of the expression of numerous genes. Despite their pleiotropic roles, little is known about the mechanisms that regulate the functions of Gro/TLE proteins. It is shown here that Gro/TLEs become hyperphosphorylated in response to neural cell differentiation and interaction with the DNA-binding cofactor Hairy/Enhancer of split 1 (Hes1). Hyperphosphorylation of Gro/TLEs is correlated with a tight association with the nuclear compartment through interaction with chromatin, suggesting that hyperphosphorylated Gro/TLEs may mediate transcriptional repression via chromatin remodeling mechanisms. Pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase CK2 reduces the Hes1-induced hyperphosphorylation of Gro/TLEs and causes a decrease in the chromatin association of the latter. Moreover, the transcription repression activity of Gro/TLEs is reduced by protein kinase CK2 inhibition. Consistent with these observations, Gro/TLEs are phosphorylated in vitro by purified protein kinase CK2. Taken together, these results implicate protein kinase CK2 in Gro/TLE functions. They suggest further that this kinase is involved in a hyperphosphorylation mechanism activated by Hes1 that promotes the transcription repression functions of Hes1-Gro/TLE protein complexes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuronal Survival, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
authors.forename: Hugh N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Nuthall
authors.forename: Junaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Husain
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: McLarren
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stifani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D047390:Casein Kinase II; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D047390:Casein Kinase II; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C489734:Hes1 protein, mouse; C091023:gro protein, Drosophila; C078493:HES1 protein, human