title: Regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase gene activity by upstream stimulatory factor.
abstract: Upregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) transcription accounts for the immortalization of greater than 85% of all human tumor cells. However, the mechanism whereby hTERT expression is activated remains unresolved. Specifically, recent data challenging the role of Myc/Max in E-box-dependent activation of hTERT expression suggests that other E-box-binding proteins regulate hTERT transcription. Indeed, we now demonstrate that two such proteins, upstream stimulatory factor (USF) 1 and 2, readily associate with two E-boxes in the hTERT promoter in vitro and in vivo primarily as heterodimers, whereas Myc/Max does not. The avid binding of USF1/2 heterodimers to these E-boxes occurs in both hTERT-positive and -negative cells. In contrast, USF1/2 activates the hTERT promoter exclusively in hTERT-positive cells in a manner that is enhanced by the coactivator p300 and attenuated upon inhibiting p38-MAP kinase, a known modulator of USF activity. Collectively, our data indicate that USF binding to the hTERT promoter may be transcriptionally neutral, or even repressive, in nonimmortalized hTERT-negative somatic cells, but stimulatory in hTERT-positive cells where USF1/2 contributes to the acquisition and maintenance of immortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Basem S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Goueli
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Janknecht
mesh_terms: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D001665:Binding Sites; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D024721:E-Box Elements; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D050976:Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; C499330:MAX protein, human; C067850:Myc associated factor X; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D011725:Pyridines; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C497181:USF1 protein, human; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019098:Telomerase; C090942:4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole