Y-box结合蛋白功能及对肿瘤发生的影响

Y-box结合蛋白家族成员是一类高度保守的顺式作用元件, 广泛存在于原核及真核生物细胞中。它是一种多功能蛋白, 与转录调节、翻译调控、mRNA选择性剪接、DNA的修复、细胞增殖和再生等有关。Y-box结合蛋白的氨基酸序列包含3个结构域: 氨基酸N末端, 亲水结构域C末端, 冷休克结构域(cold shock domain CSD), 保守的冷休克结构域决定了Y-box结合蛋白的大部分功能。最近研究发现, 定位于细胞核中的YB-1蛋白在局部晚期非小细胞肺癌的预防上可作为新的靶位点, YB-1蛋白还可通过对抑癌基因p53启动子抑制起负调控作用, 此外, YB-1蛋白在PI3K/Akt信号通路中也起到重要的作用, 这些研究都为肿瘤的治疗提供了新的线索和启示。文章就Y-box结合蛋白功能及其对肿瘤发生的影响等方面进行概述。     

RBBP6 interacts with multifunctional protein YB-1 through its RING finger domain, leading to ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation of YB-1

RBBP6 (retinoblastoma binding protein 6) is a 250-kDa multifunctional protein that interacts with both p53 and pRb and has been implicated in mRNA processing. It has also been identified as a putative E3 ubiquitin ligase due to the presence of a RING finger domain, although no substrate has been identified up to now. Using the RING finger domain as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified YB-1 (Y-box binding protein 1) as a binding partner of RBBP6, localising the interaction to the last 62 residues of YB-1. We showed, furthermore, that both full-length RBBP6 and the isolated RING finger domain were able to ubiquitinate YB-1, resulting in its degradation in the proteosome. As a result, RBBP6 was able to suppress the levels of YB-1 in vivo and to reduce its transactivational ability. In the light of the important role that YB-1 appears to play in tumourigenesis, our results suggest that RBBP6 may be a relevant target for therapeutic drugs aimed at modifying the activity of YB-1.     

A member of the Y-box protein family interacts with an upstream element in the alpha1(I) collagen gene.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) stimulates protein complex formation on a TGF-beta response element (TAE) found in the distal portion (-1624) of the collagen alpha 1(I) promoter. To identify the fibroblast proteins in this complex, an expression library constructed from human embryonic lung fibroblasts mRNA was screened using a tetramer of TAE. Y-box binding protein (YB-1), was identified as a protein in the TAE-protein complex. The protein expressed by phage clones formed a specific complex with labeled TAE but not mutated TAE (mTAE) similar to the complex formed with nuclear protein. Nuclear protein-TAE complexes isolated from native gels contained YB-1 by Western analysis. TGF-beta treatment increased the amount of YB-1 protein in nuclear extracts, decreased its amount in cytoplasm, but did not alter the steady state levels of YB-1 mRNA. A full-length YB-1 protein expressed in human lung fibroblasts was primarily located in the nucleus with punctate staining in cytoplasmic regions. The expression of YB-1 decreased in the cytoplasm after 2 h of TGF-beta treatment. Therefore, the increased binding activity seen in TGF-beta-stimulated nuclear extracts was due primarily to relocalization of YB-1 from the cytoplasm to the nuclear compartment. Co-transfection of YB-1 cDNA with a collagen promoter-reporter construct caused a dose-dependent activation of collagen promoter activity in rat fibroblasts whereas the promoter with a mutation in the TAE element was not sensitive to YB-1 co-expression. In conclusion, we have identified YB-1 as a protein that interacts with a TGF-beta response element in the distal region of the collagen alpha 1(I) gene. YB-1 protein activates the collagen promoter and translocates into the nucleus during TGF-beta addition to fibroblasts, suggesting a role for this protein in TGF-beta signaling.     

YB-1 binds to the MMP-13 promoter sequence and represses MMP-13 transactivation via the AP-1 site

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key enzymes that implement degradation of the extracellular matrix during cellular invasion in development, tissue remodeling, and pathogenic disease states. MMP-13 has pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of invasive cancers and arthritis. Here we report the identification of Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) as a new repressor of MMP-13 transactivation. YB-1 binds in vitro in DNA affinity chromatography to the activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA sequence within the MMP-13 promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays reveal that YB-1 binds in living cells to the MMP-13 gene promoter to a region of the MMP-13 promoter containing the AP-1 site. YB-1 represses tumor promoter-induced MMP-13 promoter transactivation at the AP-1 site. This is the first report demonstrating YB-1 binding in vitro and in living cells to a mammalian AP-1 target gene, and the first report of YB-1 regulation of the MMP-13 promoter.     

A member of the Y-box protein family interacts with an upstream element in the α1(I) collagen gene

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) stimulates protein complex formation on a TGF-β response element (TAE) found in the distal portion (−1624) of the collagen alpha 1(I) promoter. To identify the fibroblast proteins in this complex, an expression library constructed from human embryonic lung fibroblasts mRNA was screened using a tetramer of TAE. Y-box binding protein (YB-1), was identified as a protein in the TAE–protein complex. The protein expressed by phage clones formed a specific complex with labeled TAE but not mutated TAE (mTAE) similar to the complex formed with nuclear protein. Nuclear protein–TAE complexes isolated from native gels contained YB-1 by Western analysis. TGF-β treatment increased the amount of YB-1 protein in nuclear extracts, decreased its amount in cytoplasm, but did not alter the steady state levels of YB-1 mRNA. A full-length YB-1 protein expressed in human lung fibroblasts was primarily located in the nucleus with punctate staining in cytoplasmic regions. The expression of YB-1 decreased in the cytoplasm after 2 h of TGF-β treatment. Therefore, the increased binding activity seen in TGF-β-stimulated nuclear extracts was due primarily to relocalization of YB-1 from the cytoplasm to the nuclear compartment. Co-transfection of YB-1 cDNA with a collagen promoter–reporter construct caused a dose-dependent activation of collagen promoter activity in rat fibroblasts whereas the promoter with a mutation in the TAE element was not sensitive to YB-1 co-expression. In conclusion, we have identified YB-1 as a protein that interacts with a TGF-β response element in the distal region of the collagen alpha 1(I) gene. YB-1 protein activates the collagen promoter and translocates into the nucleus during TGF-β addition to fibroblasts, suggesting a role for this protein in TGF-β signaling.     

LRP16通过调控E-钙粘合素的表达促进MCF-7细胞的侵袭生长

LRP16在原代乳腺癌组织中表达水平与雌激素受体α（ERα）表达状态以及腋窝淋巴结侵袭数目密切相关.为研究LRP16基因对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞侵袭生长的影响,并探讨涉及的分子机制,采用基质胶黏附实验与Transwell方法,检测内源性LRP16表达抑制MCF-7细胞的体外黏附、侵袭生长与迁移特征.结果表明,抑制LRP16在MCF-7细胞中的表达,降低了细胞的体外黏附、侵袭与迁移能力;采用FVB小鼠进行的实验性转移试验结果显示,抑制LRP16显著降低了MCF-7细胞的肺转移结节数目;为探索可能的分子机制,采用Western印迹方法,检测了LRP16对乳腺癌转移相关分子MMP-2, MMP-9, CD44和E-钙黏着蛋白表达的影响,结果在LRP16抑制的MCF-7细胞中只有E-钙黏着蛋白蛋白表达上调.进一步的Northern印迹与免疫组化实验结果表明,抑制LRP16可上调MCF-7细胞中E 钙黏着蛋白基因的mRNA与蛋白表达水平;共转染与双荧光素酶方法检测LRP16对E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子的表达调控效应,结果显示,LRP16抑制E 钙黏着蛋白基因基因5′-近端启动子的转录激活,该抑制效应选择性存在于内源性ERα阳性细胞,并且依赖于雌激素的存在;染色质免疫共沉淀方法（ChIP）检测ERα与E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子的相互作用,结果显示,在LRP16基因表达缺陷的MCF-7细胞中,ERα抗体沉淀到E-钙黏着蛋白基因启动子的DNA序列;上述研究结果表明,抑制LRP16基因表达,削弱了激素依赖型乳腺癌细胞的侵袭生长能力,其分子机制涉及了LRP16通过ERα介导对E-钙黏着蛋白基因基因转录激活的调控.     

LRP16与 ERα相互作用增强ERα介导的转录活性

LRP16是一个雌激素（E2）通过受体α（ERα）诱导表达的靶基因,LRP16不仅促进人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞的增殖,而且促进细胞的侵袭生长,但对LRP16作用的分子机制尚不清楚.首先,检测到LRP16表达缺陷明显削弱了MCF-7细胞对E2的反应性增殖能力;采用Northern 印迹与Western印迹法,进一步检测到抑制LRP16表达,明显损害了ERα靶基因对E2诱导上调的反应性,这些基因包括了cyclin D1, c-myc, c-fos,MTA3, pS2和维甲酸受体α基因（RARα）等;以上结果提示,LRP16参与了ERα介导的信号途径.将ERα模式启动子报告基因3×ERE-TATA-luc,ERα以及LRP16表达载体共转染MCF-7与HeLa细胞.结果发现,LRP16增强了ERα对报告基因的转录激活,并呈现对LRP16的剂量依赖性;进而采用GST-pull down以及免疫共沉淀方法证实了LRP16与ERα之间的直接相互作用,该作用不依赖于E2的存在,但可被E2增强;采用哺乳动物双杂交方法进一步证实了ERα与LRP16相互作用位点存在于A/B区的激活功能域-１（AF1）.以上结果表明,LRP16是ERα的一个共激活因子,通过相互作用,LRP16增强了ERα介导转录活性.该研究为LRP16促进ERα阳性乳腺癌细胞增殖与侵袭生长提供了合理的分子解释.