title: CREB-binding protein/p300 co-activation of crystallin gene expression.
abstract: Although some of the transcription factors that are required for expression of crystallins during lens development have been identified, the molecular interactions that contribute to enhanced crystallin expression are not yet well defined. In this study, we designed experiments to test whether the co-activators CREB-binding protein (CBP) and/or p300 interact with c-Maf, Prox-1, or Sox-1 to enhance transcription of crystallin genes. Promoter regions from the mouse alphaA-, betaB2-, and gammaF-crystallin genes were linked to a luciferase reporter. Expression of c-Maf transactivated each of these promoters. Of particular interest, co-expression of CBP or p300 with c-Maf was found to synergistically co-activate each promoter. CBP and p300 were less effective or ineffective at co-activation with Prox-1 or Sox-1. Co-immunoprecipitation and mammalian two-hybrid experiments revealed that CBP and p300 bind to c-Maf and Prox-1 but not to Sox-1. The co-activation of c-Maf by CBP/p300 requires histone acetyltransferase activity. Our results suggest that c-Maf recruits CBP and/or p300 to crystallin promoters leading to up-regulation of crystallin gene expression through localized histone acetylation and consequent chromatin re-modeling. In a promoter-specific fashion, co-activation can be modulated by Prox-1 and/or Sox-1. This modulation may help to specify the endogenous levels of crystallin gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Dowhan
authors.forename: Dongcai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Overbeek
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor
chemical_list: D000123:Acetyltransferases; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D003459:Crystallins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051257:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-maf; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor; C495608:Maf protein, mouse; C098693:Sox1 protein, mouse; C494364:Crebbp protein, mouse