Autoregulation of the N-myc gene is operative in neuroblastoma and involves histone deacetylase 2.
BACKGROUND
Autoregulation of the myc gene family is a negative feedback mechanism known to occur at high levels of Myc expression. Loss of this mechanism and associated Myc overexpression has been observed in human tumors, thereby contributing to tumorigenesis. The childhood tumor neuroblastoma is characterized by N-myc amplification in aggressive and highly proliferative tumors that occur in a subset of patients. The precise molecular mechanism of autoregulation is unknown, and previous observations indicated that N-myc autoregulation was intact only in single-copy neuroblastoma cell lines.


METHODS
Transient reporter assays and trichostatin A (TSA) experiments were performed to evaluate several candidate genes, including Mxi1, c-myc promoter binding protein 1 (MBP-1), Miz, and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), for their involvement in N-myc autoregulation. Mxi1 and HDAC2 were examined further for their expression levels and effects on endogenous N-myc levels. Finally, their recruitments to the N-myc promoter were investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP).


RESULTS
The autoregulatory circuit was operative, even in amplified cell lines. Mxi1 consistently showed a modest effect in down-regulating N-myc in transient reporter assays. Overexpression of the c-myc, Mxi1, and mHDAC2 genes resulted in a threefold to fourfold decrease in endogenous N-myc levels. Mxi1 and HDAC2 were up-regulated by N-Myc in an myc-inducible cell line and in N-myc-expressing cell lines. In addition, down-regulation of the N-myc promoter was relieved in the presence of TSA. Increased association of HDAC2 with the autoregulatory region within the N-myc promoter by ChIP was observed upon down-regulation of endogenous N-myc.


CONCLUSIONS
The autoregulatory circuit was intact in both amplified and single-copy neuroblastoma cell lines. Furthermore, myc gene autoregulation occurred through histone deacetylation.
Kim
Marianne K H
MK
The Molecular, Cellular, Biochemical, and Developmental Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Carroll
William L
WL
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016259:Genes, myc; D056464:Histone Deacetylase 2; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D056464:Histone Deacetylase 2; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C079440:MXI1 protein, human; C012589:trichostatin A