Gene-specific patterns of coregulator requirements by estrogen receptor-α in breast cancer cells

Progesterone receptor (PgR) controls the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, embryonic development, and homeostasis, and it plays important roles in breast cancer development and progression. However, the requirement of coregulators for estrogen-induced expression of the PgR gene has not been fully explored. Here we used RNA interference to demonstrate dramatic differences in requirements of 10 different coregulators for estrogen-regulated expression of six different genes, including PgR and the well-studied TFF1 (or pS2) gene in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Full estrogen-induced expression of TFF1 required all ten coregulators, but PgR induction required only four of the 10 coregulators. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated several mechanisms responsible for the differential coregulator requirements. Actin-binding coregulator Flightless-I, required for TFF1 expression and recruited to that gene by estrogen receptor-α (ERα), is not required for PgR expression and not recruited to that gene. Protein acetyltransferase tat-interactive protein 60 and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler Brahma Related Gene 1 are recruited to both genes but are required only for TFF1 expression. Histone methyltransferase G9a is recruited to both genes and required for estrogen-induced expression of TFF1 but negatively regulates estrogen-induced expression of PgR. In contrast, histone methyltransferase myeloid/lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1), pioneer factor Forkhead box A1, and p160 coregulator steroid receptor coactivator-3 are required for expression of and are recruited to both genes. Depletion of MLL1 decreased ERα binding to the PgR and TFF1 genes. In contrast, depletion of G9a enhanced ERα binding to the PgR gene but had no effect on ERα binding to the TFF1 gene. These studies suggest that differential promoter architecture is responsible for promoter-specific mechanisms of gene regulation.     

PES1与雌激素受体存在相互作用

雌激素(E2)和雌激素受体(ER)在E2诱发的肿瘤中起着极其重要的作用.ER共调节因子通过与ER相互作用调节其生物学功能.PES1主要表达于E2的重要靶器官如乳腺、卵巢等组织中,并在乳腺癌细胞中高表达.用PCR技术构建HA标签的PES1全长以及1～322aa、312 ～588aa和414～588aa三个不同功能区片段的重组质粒.将不同的重组质粒与FLAG-ERα和或FLAGC-ERβ共转染293T细胞后进行免疫共沉淀,以验证PES1与ER是否有相互作用以及相互作用的区域.用含雌激素受体作用元件的荧光素酶报告基因( ERE-LUC)检测PES1对ERα和ERβ转录激活活性的影响.结果表明,PES1与ERα和ERβ均相互作用,且PES1的1～ 322aa区域与ERα和ERβ相结合.PES1能特异地、E2非依赖性抑制ERβ的转录激活活性.实验结果显示,PES1是一个新的ER共调节因子,需要进一步研究其在ERβ信号通路及其在E2诱发的肿瘤的作用.     

Estrogen regulation of trefoil factor 1 expression by estrogen receptor alpha and Sp proteins

Estrogen-responsive genes in human breast cancer cells often have an estrogen response element (ERE) positioned next to an Sp1 binding site. In chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we investigated the binding of estrogen receptor alpha (ER), Sp1, and Sp3 to the episomal and native estrogen-responsive trefoil factor 1 (TFF1; formerly pS2) promoter in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Mutation of the Sp site upstream of the ERE reduced estrogen responsiveness and prevented binding of Sp1 and Sp3, but not ER to the episomal promoter. In the absence of estradiol (E2), Sp1, Sp3, histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC), and HDAC2, and low levels of acetylated H3 and H4 are associated with the native promoter, with the histones being engaged in dynamic reversible acetylation. Following E2 addition, levels of ER and acetylated H3 and H4 bound to the native promoter increases. There is clearance of Sp1, but not of Sp3, from the promoter while HDAC1 and HDAC2 remain bound. These data are consistent with a model in which Sp1 or Sp3 aid in recruitment of HDACs and histone acetyltransferases (HATs) to mediate dynamic acetylation of histones associated with the TFF1 promoter, which is in a state of readiness to respond to events occurring following the addition of estrogen.     

UNC5B‐AS1 promoted ovarian cancer progression by regulating the H3K27me on NDRG2 via EZH2

The role of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis and development of ovarian cancer (OC) has caught the attention of scientists. UNC5B antisense RNA 1 (UNC5B‐AS1) is a newly identified carcinogenic lncRNA in thyroid papillary carcinoma, but its role in OC remains unclear. This study is proposed to investigate the function and mechanism of UNC5B‐AS1 in OC. UNC5B‐AS1 expression in OC samples was obtained from gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) based on The Cancer Genome Atlas data. Gene expressions were detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and western blot. Biological functions of UNC5B‐AS1 were assessed by cell counting kit‐8, colony formation, and caspase‐3 analysis. GEPIA revealed the UNC5B‐AS1 upregulation in OC samples. RT‐qPCR assay confirmed the upregulation of UNC5B‐AS1 in OC cells. Functionally, depletion of UCN5B‐AS1 hindered proliferation and prompted apoptosis in OC cells. Mechanistically, we found that UNC5B‐AS1 interacted with zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) to trigger trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) on N‐myc downstream regulated gene‐2 (NDRG2) promoter and epigenetically repressed NDRG2. Rescue assay indicated the participation of NDRG2 in the regulation of UNC5B‐AS1 on OC progression. Together, we first illustrated that UNC5B‐AS1 promoted OC progression by regulating the H3K27me on NDRG2 via EZH2, indicating UNC5B‐AS1 as a potential molecular target for OC treatment.     

ChIP‐Seq of ERα and RNA polymerase II defines genes differentially responding to ligands

We used ChIP‐Seq to map ERα‐binding sites and to profile changes in RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occupancy in MCF‐7 cells in response to estradiol (E2), tamoxifen or fulvestrant. We identify 10 205 high confidence ERα‐binding sites in response to E2 of which 68% contain an estrogen response element (ERE) and only 7% contain a FOXA1 motif. Remarkably, 596 genes change significantly in RNAPII occupancy (59% up and 41% down) already after 1 h of E2 exposure. Although promoter proximal enrichment of RNAPII (PPEP) occurs frequently in MCF‐7 cells (17%), it is only observed on a minority of E2‐regulated genes (4%). Tamoxifen and fulvestrant partially reduce ERα DNA binding and prevent RNAPII loading on the promoter and coding body on E2‐upregulated genes. Both ligands act differently on E2‐downregulated genes: tamoxifen acts as an agonist thus downregulating these genes, whereas fulvestrant antagonizes E2‐induced repression and often increases RNAPII occupancy. Furthermore, our data identify genes preferentially regulated by tamoxifen but not by E2 or fulvestrant. Thus (partial) antagonist loaded ERα acts mechanistically different on E2‐activated and E2‐repressed genes.