CDP/cut is the DNA-binding subunit of histone gene transcription factor HiNF-D: A mechanism for gene regulation at the Gi/S phase cell cycle transition point independent of transcription factor E2F

A. J. Van Wijnen, M. F. Van Gurp, M. C. De Ridder, C. Tufarelli, T. J. Last, M. Birnbaum, P. S. Vaughan, A. Giordano, W. Krek, E. J. Neufeld, J. L. Stein, G. S. Stein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transcription of the genes for the human histone proteins H4, H3, H2A, H2B, and H1 is activated at the G1/S phase transition of the cell cycle. We have previously shown that the promoter complex HiNF-D, which interacts with cell cycle control elements in multiple histone genes, contains the key cell cycle factors cyclin A, CDC2, and a retinoblastoma (pRB) protein-related protein. However, an intrinsic DNA-binding subunit for HiNF-D was not identified. Many genes that are up-regulated at the G1/S phase boundary are controlled by E2F, a transcription factor that associates with cyclin-, cyclin-dependent kinase-, and pRB-related proteins. Using gel-shift immunoassays, DNase I protection, and oligonucleotide competition analyses, we show that the homeodomain protein CDP/cut, not E2F, is the DNA-binding subunit of the HiNF-D complex. The HiNF-D (CDP/cut) complex with the H4 promoter is immunoreactive with antibodies against CDP/cut and pRB but not p107, whereas the CDP/cut complex with a nonhistone promoter (gp91-phox) reacts only with CDP and p107 antibodies. Thus, CDP/cut complexes at different gene promoters can associate with distinct pRB-related proteins. Transient coexpression assays show that CDP/cut modulates H4 promoter activity via the HiNF-D-binding site. Hence, DNA replication-dependent histone H4 genes are regulated by an E2F-independent mechanism involving a complex of CDP/cut with cyclin A/CDC2/ RB-related proteins.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11516-11521
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume93
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 1996

Keywords

  • Cyclin-dependent kinase
  • Gene expression
  • Proliferation
  • Tumor suppressor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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