title: Dimer-specific potentiation of NGFI-B (Nur77) transcriptional activity by the protein kinase A pathway and AF-1-dependent coactivator recruitment.
abstract: The NGFI-B (Nur77) subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors (NRs), which also includes Nurr1 and NOR1, bind the NurRE regulatory element as either homo- or heterodimers formed between subfamily members. These NRs mediate the activation of pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene transcription by the hypothalamic hormone corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), an important link between neuronal and endocrine components of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. CRH effects on POMC transcription do not require de novo protein synthesis. We now show that CRH signals activate Nur factors through the cyclic AMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. CRH and PKA rapidly increase nuclear DNA binding activity of NGFI-B dimers but not monomers. Accordingly, CRH- or PKA-activated Nur factors enhance dimer (but not monomer) target response elements. We also show that p160/SRC coactivators are recruited to Nur dimers (but not to monomers) and that coactivator recruitment to the NurRE is enhanced in response to CRH. Moreover, PKA- and coactivator-induced potentiation of NGFI-B activity are primarily exerted through the N-terminal AF-1 domain of NGFI-B. The TIF2 (SRC-2) glutamine-rich domain is required for this activity. Taken together, these results indicate that Nur factors behave as endpoint effectors of the PKA signaling pathway acting through dimers and AF-1-dependent recruitment of coactivators.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maira
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batsché
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drouin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C539818:Nr4a1 protein, mouse; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D004247:DNA; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases