title: Synergistic activation of the human MnSOD promoter by DJ-1 and PGC-1alpha: regulation by SUMOylation and oxidation.
abstract: Oxidative stress contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. DJ-1, a protein genetically linked to Parkinson's disease (PD), has been implicated in oxidative stress defense and transcriptional regulation. However, it is unclear whether these two aspects of the DJ-1 function are connected. Here, we show that the inactivation of DJ-1 causes decreased expression of the human MnSOD. DJ-1 stimulates the activity of a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and stress response, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha), in the transcription of the MnSOD. Although DJ-1 does not interact with PGC-1alpha directly, it inhibits the SUMOylation of a transcriptional repressor, pyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF). PSF binds PGC-1alpha and suppresses its transcriptional activity. In contrast, a SUMOylation-deficient PSF mutant exhibits reduced binding to PGC-1alpha and promotes its activity. SUMO-specific isopeptidase SENP-1 further enhances the synergy between DJ-1 and PGC-1alpha, whereas an SUMO E3 ligase protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y completely blocks the synergy. Conversely, oxidative modification renders DJ-1 unable to inhibit SUMOylation, resulting in attenuated transcriptional synergy between DJ-1 and PGC-1alpha. Therefore, our results validate DJ-1 as a transcriptional regulator in mitochondrial oxidative stress response and imply that the oxidation-mediated functional impairment of DJ-1 leads to gradual dysregulation of the SUMO pathway. Consequent abnormal mitochondrial gene expression may contribute to the development of sporadic PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02135, USA.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D000071617:Protein Deglycase DJ-1; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C486497:PPARGC1A protein, human; D000071248:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C105131:PARK7 protein, human; D000071617:Protein Deglycase DJ-1