title: Modulation of thyroid hormone-dependent gene expression in Xenopus laevis by INhibitor of Growth (ING) proteins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  INhibitor of Growth (ING) proteins belong to a large family of plant homeodomain finger-containing proteins important in epigenetic regulation and carcinogenesis. We have previously shown that ING1 and ING2 expression is regulated by thyroid hormone (TH) during metamorphosis of the Xenopus laevis tadpole. The present study investigates the possibility that ING proteins modulate TH action.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tadpoles expressing a Xenopus ING2 transgene (Trans(ING2)) were significantly smaller than tadpoles not expressing the transgene (Trans(GFP)). When exposed to 10 nM 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)), premetamorphic Trans(ING2) tadpoles exhibited a greater reduction in tail, head, and brain areas, and a protrusion of the lower jaw than T(3)-treated Trans(GFP) tadpoles. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) demonstrated elevated TH receptor β (TRβ) and TH/bZIP transcript levels in Trans(ING2) tadpole tails compared to Trans(GFP) tadpoles while TRα mRNAs were unaffected. In contrast, no difference in TRα, TRβ or insulin-like growth factor (IGF2) mRNA abundance was observed in the brain between Trans(ING2) and Trans(GFP) tadpoles. All of these transcripts, except for TRα mRNA in the brain, were inducible by the hormone in both tissues. Oocyte transcription assays indicated that ING proteins enhanced TR-dependent, T(3)-induced TRβ gene promoter activity. Examination of endogenous T(3)-responsive promoters (TRβ and TH/bZIP) in the tail by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that ING proteins were recruited to TRE-containing regions in T(3)-dependent and independent ways, respectively. Moreover, ING and TR proteins coimmunoprecipitated from tail protein homogenates derived from metamorphic climax animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We show for the first time that ING proteins modulate TH-dependent responses, thus revealing a novel role for ING proteins in hormone signaling. This has important implications for understanding hormone influenced disease states and suggests that the induction of ING proteins may facilitate TR function during metamorphosis in a tissue-specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Caren C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Helbing
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pettem
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Heimeier
authors.forename: Nik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veldhoen
authors.forename: Frank R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Jirik
authors.forename: Yun-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Leon W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Browder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D037042:Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta / Q000378:metabolism; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C486712:ING2 protein, Xenopus; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D037042:Thyroid Hormone Receptors beta; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II