title: Oct-1 counteracts autoinhibition of Runx2 DNA binding to form a novel Runx2/Oct-1 complex on the promoter of the mammary gland-specific gene beta-casein.
abstract: The transcription factor Runx2 is essential for the expression of a number of bone-specific genes and is primarily considered a master regulator of bone development. Runx2 is also expressed in mammary epithelial cells, but its role in the mammary gland has not been established. Here we show that Runx2 forms a novel complex with the ubiquitous transcription factor Oct-1 to regulate the expression of the mammary gland-specific gene beta-casein. The Runx2/Oct-1 complex forms on a Runx/octamer element which is highly conserved in casein promoters. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA interference, promoter mutagenesis, and transient expression analyses were used to demonstrate that the Runx2/Oct-1 complex contributes to the transcriptional regulation of the beta-casein gene. Analysis of the complex revealed autoinhibitory domains for DNA binding in both the N-terminal and the C-terminal regions of Runx2. Oct-1 stimulates the recruitment of Runx2 to the beta-casein promoter by interacting with the C-terminal region of Runx2, suggesting that Oct-1 stimulates Runx2 recruitment by relieving the autoinhibition of Runx2 DNA binding. These findings demonstrate that Runx2 collaborates with Oct-1 and contributes to the expression of a mammary gland-specific gene.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Rd., Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Claire K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Inman
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002364:Caseins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050657:Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D050657:Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; C494165:POU2F1 protein, human; C494166:Pou2f1 protein, mouse; C494168:Pou2f1 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors