title: Caspase-dependent regulation and subcellular redistribution of the transcriptional modulator YY1 during apoptosis.
abstract: The transcriptional regulator Yin Yang 1 (YY1) controls many aspects of cell behavior and is essential for development. We analyzed the fate of YY1 during apoptosis and studied the functional consequences. We observed that this factor is rapidly translocated into the cell nucleus in response to various apoptotic stimuli, including activation of Fas, stimulation by tumor necrosis factor, and staurosporine and etoposide treatment. Furthermore, YY1 is cleaved by caspases in vitro and in vivo at two distinct sites, IATD(12)G and DDSD(119)G, resulting in the deletion of the first 119 amino acids early in the apoptotic process. This activity generates an N-terminally truncated YY1 fragment (YY1Delta119) that has lost its transactivation domain but retains its DNA binding domain. Indeed, YY1Delta119 is no longer able to stimulate gene transcription but interacts with DNA. YY1Delta119 but not the wild-type protein or the caspase-resistant mutant YY1D12A/D119A enhances Fas-induced apoptosis, suggesting that YY1 is involved in a positive feedback loop during apoptosis. Our findings provide evidence for a new mode of regulation of YY1 and define a novel aspect of the involvement of YY1 in the apoptotic process.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Institut für Biochemie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krippner-Heidenreich
authors.forename: Gesa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walsemann
authors.forename: Maroun J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beyrouthy
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Speckgens
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thole
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Talanian
authors.forename: Myra M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hurt
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lüscher
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D006801:Humans; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor; C494698:YY1 protein, human; D020169:Caspases