v-Jun downregulates the alpha 2 (I) collagen target gene indirectly through Sp1/3.
Transformation of chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) by the v-Jun oncoprotein correlates with a downregulation of the alpha 2 (I) collagen gene. To investigate whether this gene constitutes a direct target of v-Jun, an analysis of a large proximal fragment of the promoter, extending from position -1080 to +109, was performed. Transient transfections with -1080/+109 and deleted derivatives revealed that a short proximal fragment, -433/+11, is the target for repression by v-Jun. Extensive analysis, conducted in CEFs and in Sp1/3-deficient Drosophila SL2 cells, further showed that (i) high constitutive activity of -433/+11 requires a direct binding of the ubiquitous Sp1 and/or Sp3 transcription factors acting on two distinct motifs, that is, a proximal TCC-rich region and an upstream GC box, and that (ii) repression by v-Jun does not require any direct binding of the oncoprotein to the DNA, but an indirect binding within a v-Jun-Sp1/3-DNA chromatin-associated complex. This situation is reminiscent of a situation previously reported with the tata-less, SPARC (secreted protein, acidic, and rich in cysteine) target promoter that regulates the expression of another extracellular matrix component in the same model of cell transformation. Taken together, these data reinforce the view that, at least in CEFs, v-Jun downregulates a family of direct target genes by binding to the DNA indirectly through Sp1/3.
Chamboredon
Sandrine
S
Unité de Virologie Humaine, INSERM-U412, Ecole Normale Supérieure, IFR128 BioSciences Lyon-Gerland, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
Castellazzi
Marc
M
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D024042:Collagen Type I; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004330:Drosophila; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016759:Oncogene Protein p65(gag-jun) / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D051705:Sp3 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
D024042:Collagen Type I; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016759:Oncogene Protein p65(gag-jun); D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051705:Sp3 Transcription Factor; D003094:Collagen