title: BRCA1 augments transcription by the NF-kappaB transcription factor by binding to the Rel domain of the p65/RelA subunit.
abstract: BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene mutated in cases of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 protein is involved in apoptosis and growth/tumor suppression. In this study, we present evidence that p65/RelA, one of the two subunits of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, binds to the BRCA1 protein. Treatment of 293T cells with the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha induces an interaction between endogenous p65/RelA and BRCA1. GST-protein affinity assay experiments reveal that the Rel homology domain of the p65/RelA subunit of NF-kappaB interacts with multiple sites within the N-terminal region of BRCA1. Transient transfection of BRCA1 significantly enhances the ability of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1beta to activate transcription from the promoters of NF-kappaB target genes. Mutation of the NF-kappaB-binding sites in the NF-kappaB reporter blocks the effect of BRCA1 on transcription. Also the ability of BRCA1 to activate NF-kappaB target genes is inhibited by a super-stable inhibitor of NF-kappaB and by the chemical inhibitor SN-50. These data indicate that BRCA1 acts as a co-activator with NF-kappaB. In addition, we show that cells infected with an adenovirus expressing BRCA1 up-regulate the endogenous expression of NF-kappaB target genes Fas and interferon-beta. Together, this information suggests that BRCA1 may play a role in cell life-death decisions following cell stress by modulation of the activity of NF-kappaB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benezra
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Timothy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: MacLachlan
authors.forename: Wafik S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: El-Deiry
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Licht
mesh_terms: D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C102449:BARD1 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases