title: HAND2-mediated proteolysis negatively regulates the function of estrogen receptor α.
abstract: A previous study demonstrated that the progesterone‑inducible HAND2 gene product is a basic helix‑loop‑helix transcription factor and prevents mitogenic effects of estrogen receptor α (ERα) by inhibiting fibroblast growth factor signalling in mouse uteri. However, whether HAND2 directly affects the transcriptional activation function of ERα remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the physical interaction between HAND2 and ERα was investigating by performing an immunoprecipitation assay and an in vitro pull‑down assay. The results demonstrated that HAND2 and ERα interacted in a ligand‑independent manner. The in vitro pull‑down assays revealed a direct interaction between HAND2 and the amino‑terminus of ERα, termed the activation function‑1 domain. To determine the physiological significance of this interaction, the role of HAND2 as a cofactor of ERα was investigated, which revealed that HAND2 inhibited the ligand‑dependent transcriptional activation function of ERα. This result was further confirmed and the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, an ERα‑downstream factor, was decreased by the overexpression of HAND2. This inhibition of ligand‑dependent transcriptional activation function of ERα was possibly attributed to the proteasomic degradation of ERα by HAND2. These results indicate a novel anti‑tumorigenic function of HAND2 in regulating ERα‑dependent gene expression. Considering that HAND2 is commonly hypermethylated and silenced in endometrial cancer, it is hypothesized that HAND2 may serve as a possible tumor suppressor, particularly in uterine tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirane
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wada-Hiraike
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakuabashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Houju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawana
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113‑8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
mesh_terms: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D059748:Proteolysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D008156:Luciferases; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C498765:HAND2 protein, human; C467484:VEGFA protein, human