title: Sin1 binds to both ATF-2 and p38 and enhances ATF-2-dependent transcription in an SAPK signaling pathway.
abstract: Yeast Sin1 binds to the Sty1 kinase, a member of the stress-activated kinases (SAPKs), and is required for stress-induced phosphorylation and activation of the transcription factor Atf1, a homolog of the vertebrate-activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2). Here we report that mammalian Sin1 plays an important role in the SAPK signaling pathway by binding to both ATF-2 and p38. In response to stress, ATF-2, a member of the ATF/cAMP response element-binding protein family, is phosphorylated by p38/Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase and activates the transcription of apoptosis-related genes. In contrast, in response to serum stimulation, ATF-2 is phosphorylated via the Ras effector pathway and leads to the induction of growth-related genes. We found that Sin1 binds directly to both ATF-2 and p38. Sin1 over-expression enhanced osmotic stress-induced phosphorylation of ATF-2 and ATF-2-mediated transcription, whereas knockdown of Sin1 expression by siRNA suppressed these responses. Moreover, a reduction in Sin1 expression suppressed osmotic stress-induced apoptosis and the expression of Gadd45beta, one of the ATF-2 target genes that is correlated with apoptosis. Decreased Sin1 expression, however, did not affect the serum stimulation-induced phosphorylation of ATF-2. Sin1 may contribute to ATF-2 signaling specificity by acting as a nuclear scaffold.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, RIKEN Tsukuba Institute, 3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan.
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Toshie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinagawa
authors.forename: Jonathan B A
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497105:ATF2 protein, human; D051698:Activating Transcription Factor 2; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C493277:MAPKAP1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases