title: HIC-5 is a novel repressor of lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor-driven transcription.
abstract: Activation of Wnt/beta-catenin target genes is regulated by a heterodimer of beta-catenin and the high mobility group box transcription factors of the lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)/T-cell factor (TCF) family. In vertebrates, four LEF/TCF family members have been identified. They all contain a conserved beta-catenin-binding motif at the N terminus and a highly conserved high mobility group box for DNA binding. The core sequence between these motifs is less conserved and contributes to the specific properties of the individual family members. To identify interacting proteins that allocate specific functions to the individual LEF/TCF transcription factors, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using the less conserved core sequence as bait. We isolated the murine LIM protein HIC-5 (hydrogen peroxide-induced clone 5; also termed ARA-55 (androgen receptor activator of 55 kDa)) and cloned the highly conserved Xenopus homolog. In addition, we report that the LIM domain-containing C-terminal half of HIC-5 binds to a conserved alternatively spliced exon in LEF/TCF transcription factors. Our functional analyses revealed that HIC-5 acts as negative regulator of a subset of LEF/TCF family members, which have been characterized as activators in reporter gene analyses and in the Xenopus axis induction assay. In addition, we observed a repressive interference of LEF/TCF family members with HIC-5-mediated activation of glucocorticoid-driven transcription, which again could be allocated to specific LEF/TCF subtypes. With the characterization of HIC-5 as a binding partner of the alternatively spliced exon in LEF/TCF transcription factors, we identified a novel molecular mechanism in the dialog of steroid and canonical Wnt signaling that is LEF/TCF subtype-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Institut II, Universität Karlsruhe (Technische Hochschule), Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephen Mbigha
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ghogomu
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Venrooy
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritthaler
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wedlich
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gradl
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D051822:T Cell Transcription Factor 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; C496488:Hnf1a protein, mouse; D060588:LIM Domain Proteins; C497574:Lef1 protein, mouse; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051822:T Cell Transcription Factor 1; C090090:Tgfb1i1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors