title: CDX2, a homeobox transcription factor, upregulates transcription of the p21/WAF1/CIP1 gene.
abstract: The CDX2 homeobox transcription factor plays key roles in intestinal development and homeostasis. CDX2 is downregulated during colorectal carcinogenesis, whereas overexpression of CDX2 results in growth inhibition and differentiation of colon carcinoma and intestinal cells. However, the means by which CDX2 functions remain poorly understood. p21/WAF1/CIP1 is one of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. In addition to its role in cell cycle control, p21 plays critical roles in differentiation and tumor suppression. The overlapping in both the expression and function of CDX2 and p21 in the small intestine and colon strongly suggests a link between these two genes. By means of luciferase reporter and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we show here that CDX2 transactivated and physically interacted with the promoter of p21 in a p53-independent manner. Moreover, overexpression of CDX2 increased the mRNA expression of p21 in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells, as demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These data suggest that p21 is a transcriptional target of CDX2. Our results may thus provide a new mechanism underlying the functions of CDX2.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Yun-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Takehisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuasa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors