AF17 competes with AF9 for binding to Dot1a to up-regulate transcription of epithelial Na+ channel alpha.
We previously reported that Dot1a.AF9 complex represses transcription of the epithelial Na(+) channel subunit alpha (alpha-ENaC) gene in mouse inner medullary collecting duct mIMCD3 cells and mouse kidney. Aldosterone relieves this repression by down-regulating the complex through various mechanisms. Whether these mechanisms are sufficient and conserved in human cells or can be applied to other aldosterone-regulated genes remains largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that human embryonic kidney 293T cells express the three ENaC subunits and all of the ENaC transcriptional regulators examined. These cells respond to aldosterone and display benzamil-sensitive Na(+) currents, as measured by whole-cell patch clamping. We also show that AF17 and AF9 competitively bind to the same domain of Dot1a in multiple assays and have antagonistic effects on expression of an alpha-ENaC promoter-luciferase construct. Overexpression of Dot1a or AF9 decreased mRNA expression of the ENaC subunits and their transcriptional regulators and reduced benzamil-sensitive Na(+) currents. AF17 overexpression caused the opposite effects, accompanied by redirection of Dot1a from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and reduction in histone H3 K79 methylation. The nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B blocked the effect of AF17 overexpression on H3 K79 hypomethylation. RNAi-mediated knockdown of AF17 yielded nuclear enrichment of Dot1a and histone H3 K79 hypermethylation. As with AF9, AF17 displays nuclear and cytoplasmic co-localization with Sgk1. Therefore, AF17 competes with AF9 to bind Dot1a, decreases Dot1a nuclear expression by possibly facilitating its nuclear export, and relieves Dot1a.AF9-mediated repression of alpha-ENaC and other target genes.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Mary Rose
MR
Reisenauer
Marc
M
Anderson
Le
L
Huang
Zhijing
Z
Zhang
Qiaoling
Q
Zhou
Bruce C
BC
Kone
Andrew P
AP
Morris
Gene D
GD
Lesage
Stuart E
SE
Dryer
Wenzheng
W
Zhang
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007685:Kidney Tubules, Collecting / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D008780:Methyltransferases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases; C096106:MLLT6 protein, human; C489902:Mllt3 protein, mouse; C481527:Dot1l protein, mouse