title: The Fn14 cytoplasmic tail binds tumour-necrosis-factor-receptor-associated factors 1, 2, 3 and 5 and mediates nuclear factor-kappaB activation.
abstract: Fn14 is a growth-factor-inducible immediate-early-response gene encoding a 102-amino-acid type I transmembrane protein. The human Fn14 protein was recently identified as a cell-surface receptor for the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member named TWEAK (TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis). In the present paper, we report that the human TWEAK extracellular domain can also bind the murine Fn14 protein. Furthermore, site-specific mutagenesis and directed yeast two-hybrid interaction assays revealed that the TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) 1, 2, 3 and 5 adaptor molecules bind the murine Fn14 cytoplasmic tail at an overlapping, but non-identical, amino acid sequence motif. We also found that TWEAK treatment of quiescent NIH 3T3 cells stimulates inhibitory kappaBalpha phosphorylation and transcriptional activation of a nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) enhancer/luciferase reporter construct. Fn14 overexpression in transiently transfected NIH 3T3 cells also promotes NF-kappaB activation, and this cellular response requires an intact TRAF binding site. These results indicate that Fn14 is a functional TWEAK receptor that can associate with four distinct TRAF family members and stimulate the NF-kappaB transcription factor signalling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Department, Jerome H. Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences, American Red Cross, 15601 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855, USA.
authors.forename: Sharron A N
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Heather N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hanscom
authors.forename: Sheau-Line Y
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Winkles
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001665:Binding Sites; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018411:Spodoptera; D047990:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2; D048008:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3; D048015:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 5; D000074050:TWEAK Receptor; D014162:Transfection; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011506:Proteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047990:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1; D047992:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 2; D048008:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3; D048015:TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 5; C000613297:TNFRSF12A protein, human; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D000074050:TWEAK Receptor; C000613299:Tnfrsf12a protein, mouse; C491645:Tnfsf12 protein, mouse; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D008156:Luciferases