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Journal of Virology, November 2006, p. 10506-10513, Vol. 80, No. 21
0022-538X/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JVI.01355-06
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Received 27 June 2006/ Accepted 14 August 2006
| ABSTRACT |
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| INTRODUCTION |
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In part, cellular susceptibility to JCV is governed by events at the transcriptional level. Several cellular transcription factors implicated in the regulation of JCV gene expression include NF-
B (29), Tst-1 (35), Y-box binding protein 1 (16), and Pur
(7), as well as members of transcription factor groupings, such as the nuclear factor 1 (NF-1) (2) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) families (1). Consensus binding sites for these and other DNA-binding proteins are centrally located within the JCV regulatory region (promoter) in an approximately 200-bp section of highly variable nucleotide sequence. This variable sequence offers distinct arrangements and assortments of transcription factor binding sites, which, in turn, lend to the diversity of viral activity seen between variant JCV genomes (15). Viral activity, however, is also affected by the unique expression pattern of transcription factors found within each cell type JCV enters (23, 26). Interestingly, cellular transcription factor expression patterns change as cells mature, and variations can be pronounced depending on the pathway of differentiation (26). Moreover, synergistic, competitive, and/or inhibitory interactions occurring between any number of cellular transcription factors (and cis-acting viral proteins) have the potential to further alter net levels of JCV activity. Such parameters suggest that JCV transcription and replication is controlled by multilayered interactions between cellular machinery, viral proteins, and infectious viral promoter sequences.
In humans, the NF-1 family of DNA-binding proteins (NF-1A, -B, -C, and -X) (X is also known as D) is encoded by four discrete genes. Differential splicing of the NF-1 mRNA transcripts results in multiple isoforms of each NF-1 class member (11). First isolated from HeLa cells and found to stimulate adenovirus DNA replication, NF-1 proteins have since been associated with transcriptional regulation of several cellular and viral genes. The variable C-terminal regions of NF-1 proteins convey differences in transcriptional activity and also serve to distinguish the NF-1 class types and splice variants. With highly conserved N-terminal domains shared between the NF-1 class types, homo- and/or heterodimerization bears a variety of protein structures, all capable of binding alpha-helical DNA representative of the consensus sequence 5'-TGG (A/C)N5GCCAA-3' (6).
Enhanced expression of NF-1 class X has been correlated with the support of JCV activity. Previously, we showed that JCV-susceptible stromal cells express elevated levels of NF-1X compared to nonsusceptible cell types (26). The same relationship between cellular NF-1X expression and JCV susceptibility was observed in permissive SH-EP and nonpermissive SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines (32). Moreover, we demonstrated that when a JCV-susceptible human hematopoietic progenitor cell line, KG-1, was treated with the mitogen phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to induce differentiation to a macrophage-like phenotype, it no longer supported JCV activity. However, transfecting the macrophage-like phenotype with an expression vector encoding NF-1X restored JCV susceptibility. A similar observation was made using nonsusceptible human neuronal cells derived from a human CNS progenitor cell culture system (23). In both cases, the conveyance of JCV susceptibility was specific to NF-1X, as demonstrated by the failure of parallel transfections with expression vectors encoding the other NF-1 class members.
The AP-1 family of transcription factors has also been associated with JC viral activity (1, 17). Many members of this transcription factor family, like the NF-1 proteins, dimerize to facilitate DNA binding. AP-1 dimers are composed of Jun (c-Jun, JunB, and JunD) as well as Fos (c-Fos and FosB) proteins and have affinity for DNA containing the consensus sequence 5'-TGA(G/C)TCA-3'. AP-1 proteins comprise three domains: a C-terminal leucine zipper necessary for dimerization (19, 34), a central basic region responsible for DNA binding, and an N terminus involved in transcriptional activation (4). It has been demonstrated that c-Jun can modulate transcriptional activity of JC virus, as well as the unwinding of DNA mediated by the early T antigen of mouse polyomavirus (12, 13, 17).
Adjacent NF-1 and AP-1 consensus sites are encountered in JCV and BK virus promoters, as well as several brain-specific genes, including those encoding myelin basic protein, neurofilament, human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and proenkephalin (1, 18, 33). This juxtaposition of NF-1 and AP-1 consensus sites in various genes associated with the human CNS suggests that interactions between NF-1 and AP-1 proteins play a role in tissue-specific host and viral gene expression. In addition to juxtaposed binding sites, physical interaction between NF-1 and AP-1 proteins has recently been observed in regard to GFAP expression in an astrocytic cell line (10); however, the nature of this interaction is unclear.
Here, we demonstrate interference by c-Jun upon binding of NF-1 proteins to an NF-1 consensus site derived from JCV promoter sequence. We also demonstrate specific protein-protein binding affinity, independent of DNA binding, between NF-1X and c-Jun using a number of techniques, including immunoprecipitation assays, Western blots, in vitro transcription/translation, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein capture. Moreover, utilization of a JCV-anchored transcriptional promoter (ATP) assay we have developed reveals differentials of viral activity concurrent with varied profiles of NF-1X and c-Jun binding to JCV promoter sequence. The interactions described here between NF-1X, c-Jun, and JCV promoter sequence likely play a role in the regulation of JCV activity.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Stromal protein extract. Stromal cells were washed three times with ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and whole-cell extracts were prepared by a modification of the procedure of Andrews and Faller (3). Cells were scraped from tissue culture flasks, pelleted, and then disrupted by three freeze-thaw cycles on dry ice. Cell pellets were resuspended in two volumes of ice-cold buffer C (20 mM Tris-HCl [pH 7.9], 1.5 mM MgCl2, 420 mM NaCl, 0.2 M EDTA, 25% glycerol) including protease inhibitors (0.5 mM dithiothreitol, 0.5 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 5 µg/µl antipain, 5 µg/µl leupeptin, 5 µg/µl chymostatin, 5 µg/µl aprotinin, 5 µg/µl pepstatin A). Lysates were then centrifuged at 9,000 x g for 5 min at 4°C. Supernatant protein fractions were divided into aliquots and stored at 80°C. Protein concentrations were determined by Bradford assay (5).
Radiolabeled oligonucleotide probes.
Oligonucleotides derived from JCV Mad-1 promoter sequence (nucleotides [nt] 38 to 53) (9) containing either an intact NF-1 binding site (5'-ATGGCTGCCAGCCAAG-3') or a mutated NF-1 site (mutated sites underlined; 5'-ATTACTGCCAGCTGAG-3') were synthesized (Invitrogen). Complementary strands were produced and annealed to each corresponding sequence above to form double-stranded oligonucleotides. The above double-stranded oligonucleotides (20 pM) were end labeled with [
-32P]ATP for 2 h at 37°C, centrifuged through a Microspin G-25 column (Pharmacia/GE Healthcare-Amersham Biosciences) at 735 x g for 2 min, and brought to a working concentration of 0.2 pM with buffer D (10 mM HEPES, 50 mM KCl, 10% glycerol).
Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).
Unless otherwise noted, radiolabeled oligonucleotide probes (200,000 cpm) were incubated with 10 µg of stromal protein extract or 0.6 µg of recombinant human c-Jun [rhAP-1(c-Jun); amount recommended by the manufacturer; Promega] in the presence or absence of a 250-fold excess of either unlabeled intact oligonucleotide or unlabeled mutant oligonucleotide. As a binding control, one gel shift unit of the p50 subunit of recombinant human NF-
B was used (amount suggested by the manufacturer; Promega). Unless otherwise noted, incubations were carried out on ice for 30 min. Secondary incubations were conducted, where needed, by adding either cellular protein extract or rhAP-1(c-Jun) to the primary reaction mixture and then placing on ice for an additional 30 min. All incubations were resolved by electrophoresis on 6% polyacrylamide-Tris-glycine gels at 4°C. Gels were dried and exposed to BioMAX MR film (Kodak) for autoradiographical detection of protein/oligonucleotide binding as evidenced by any increase in the molecular weight of the probe (gel shift).
Human progenitor-derived astrocytes (PDA). Human CNS progenitor cells (progenitors) were isolated from the telencephalon of a human fetal brain at 8 weeks of gestation, obtained in accordance to NIH guidelines and differentiated into an astrocytic lineage (PDA) according to a previously described protocol (26).
Immunoprecipitation (IP) and Western blot. In these assays we utilized whole-cell extracts. Stromal and PDA cell cultures were lysed in ice-cold lysis buffer E (20 mM HEPES [pH 7.5], 150 mM NaCl, 3% glycerol, 5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM CaCl2, 1 mM EDTA, 1.0% NP-40, and one Complete Mini protease/phosphatase inhibitor tablet [Roche] per 20 ml). Lysates were sonicated on ice three times, 5 s each. After lysates were centrifuged to remove cellular debris, supernatants were precleared by incubation at 4°C for 1 h with 100 µl of protein G slurry (50% protein G agarose beads [Santa Cruz Biotechnology] suspended in 50% lysis buffer E) and 1 µg of a nonspecific rabbit polyclonal antibody (anti-14-3-3; Santa Cruz Biotechnology). Nonspecific complexes were pelleted by centrifugation at 10,000 x g at 4°C for 10 min, and the precleared supernatants were rotated at 4°C with either 1 µg of preimmune rabbit sera (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), anti-NF-1X (Geneka/Active Motif), or anti-c-Jun (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). After 1 h of incubation with these antibodies, a fresh 100 µl of protein G slurry was added for another 1 h of rotation at 4°C. The protein G beads were pelleted by centrifugation at 4°C and washed three times in ice-cold lysis buffer E, one time in ice-cold PBS. Beads were again pelleted by centrifugation at 4°C but then resuspended in 50 µl Laemmli protein loading buffer (PLB) and boiled for 5 min. Supernatants (the immunoprecipitates) from the pelleted beads were resolved on 12% precast sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide ReadyGels (Bio-Rad) and transblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes (Millipore). The transblotted membranes were probed with primary antibodies (anti-c-Jun [Santa Cruz Biotechnology] or anti-NF-1X [Geneka/Active Motif]) at 4°C overnight in blocking buffer (25 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1% Tween 20, and 5% nonfat dry milk). Bound primary antibodies were detected with an antirabbit, horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody and the Chemiluminescence Luminol reagent kit (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), according to the manufacturer's protocol.
Plasmid constructs. A GST fusion protein plasmid, pGEX-Jun (21), which encodes GST-c-JUN, was generously provided by James A. Goodrich (University of Colorado). Additionally, pGEX2T, which encodes GST alone, was purchased (Pharmacia/GE Healthcare-Amersham Biosciences) as a suitable control plasmid (vector alone) for experiments conducted with the pGEX-Jun plasmid described above. The pcDNA3NF-1X plasmid was subcloned by forced cloning of the hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged NF-1X2 gene from pCHAmNF-1X2 (described below) into the multicloning site (between the NotI and XbaI restriction sites) of the pcDNA3 vector (Invitrogen). pCHAmNF1-X2 was a generous gift from Richard Gronostajski (The State University of New York at Buffalo) which contains the cDNA coding region of murine NF-1X (with a single amino acid difference, murine NF-1X is >99.7% homologous to human NF-1X). The NF-1X cDNA was subcloned into the pCHA vector to form a fusion protein with an N-terminal hemagglutinin tag. This tag has shown no effect on NF-1X DNA-binding or transactivation functions (6). pCHAmNF-1A1.1 (also from Richard Gronostajski at The State University of New York at Buffalo) is similar to pCHAmNF-1X2, described above, except that it contains the NF-1A1.1 gene rather than the NF-1X2 gene. pM1TC (9) is the entire JCV prototype, Mad-1 genome cloned into the EcoRI restriction site of pBR322.
Expression and purification of recombinant GST and GST-Jun proteins.
GST and GST-c-Jun were expressed in competent DH5-
Escherichia coli (Invitrogen) that was transformed with pGEX2T or pGEX-Jun, respectively.
GST pull-down assay. GST and GST-c-Jun were generated, purified, and immobilized on glutathione-agarose as described above. Cultures of PDA were transiently transfected with pCDNA3NF-1X (2 µg/2 x 106 cells) using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's protocol. To generate whole-cell extracts, the PDA were disrupted 36 h posttransfection with ice-cold lysis buffer E (20 mM HEPES [pH 7.5], 150 mM NaCl, 3% glycerol, 5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM CaCl2, 1 mM EDTA, 1.0% NP-40, and one Complete Mini protease/phosphatase inhibitor tablet [Roche] per 20 ml). Lysates were sonicated on ice three times, 5 s each, and incubated separately with immobilized GST or GST-c-Jun at 4°C, rotating for 2 h. Resulting complexes were washed four times with 100-bed volumes of binding buffer containing 0.1% NP-40 and once with PBS. Bound proteins were eluted by boiling the complexes for 3 min in 2x PLB, resolved on 12% precast SDS-polyacrylamide ReadyGels (Bio-Rad), transblotted to PVDF membranes (Millipore), and analyzed by anti-NFX-1 (Geneka/Active Motif) chemiluminescent Western blotting.
In vitro binding assay. GST and GST-c-Jun were generated and purified as described above. Employing pCDNA3NF-1X as a template, [35S]methionine-labeled NF-1X ([35S]NF-1X) was generated using the TNT Coupled in vitro transcription/translation system (Promega) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Approximately 2 µg of GST or GST-c-JUN immobilized on glutathione-agarose was incubated with [35S]NF-1X (to form bead-complexes) in binding buffer (as described in the "Expression" section above) containing 1.0% NP-40 and 1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin. After incubation for 2 h at 4°C with agitation, the bead complexes were washed once in fresh binding buffer as used for the incubation above, twice in binding buffer containing only 0.1% NP-40, twice in binding buffer alone, and once in PBS. The washed bead complexes were disrupted by boiling for 3 min in Laemmli PLB and the components resolved by electrophoresis on 12% precast SDS-polyacrylamide ReadyGels (Bio-Rad). These gels were fixed and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 in 10% methanol and then dried and exposed to BioMax MR film (Kodak) overnight at 80°C.
PDA nuclear extract. PDA (5 x 106 cells/162-cm2 flask) were washed with ice-cold Tris-buffered saline (TBS), scraped, pooled, and pelleted by centrifugation at 1,500 x g for 5 min at 4°C. Pellets from each flask were washed in 1 ml ice-cold TBS and resuspended in 400 µl of ice-cold NEB-A (nuclear extract buffer-A) (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 10 mM KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 0.1 mM EGTA, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and one Complete Mini protease/phosphatase inhibitor tablet [Roche] per 20 ml) and incubated for 15 min at 4°C to swell the cells. Twenty-five microliters of 10% NP-40 was added to the mixture followed by a brief vortex. The homogenates were centrifuged at 16,000 x g for 30 s at 4°C. The supernatants, containing cytosolic proteins, were collected and stored at 80°C. The nuclear pellets were resuspended in 50 µl ice-cold NEB-C (nuclear extract buffer-C) (20 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 0.4 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and one Complete Mini protease/phosphatase inhibitor tablet [Roche] per 20 ml). Samples were rocked for 15 min at 4°C and then centrifuged at 16,000 x g for 5 min at 4°C. Supernatants containing nuclear proteins were stored at 80°C. Protein concentrations were determined by using a Bio-Rad DC protein assay kit according to the manufacturer's protocol. Extracts were resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) on 4 to 12% gradient bis-Tris gels (Invitrogen), transferred to a PVDF membrane (Millipore), and analyzed by Western blotting as described in the "IP and Western blot" section but with anti-NF-1A, anti-NF-1B, and anti-NF-1X (Geneka/Active Motif), as well as anti-ß-actin (Sigma) and anti-GFAP (Chemicon) primaries. In cases where monoclonal primary antibodies were used, a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antimouse (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) secondary antibody was employed for detection.
JCV infection in PDA. PDA were exposed to JCV, Mad-4 variant, at 200 hemagglutination units/106 cells in a minimal covering of serum-free astrocyte medium. Ninety minutes after JCV exposure, the medium was supplemented with fresh complete astrocyte medium. Nuclear and cytosolic fractions of infected PDA were prepared 4 days post-JCV exposure, resolved by SDS-PAGE, and assayed by Western blotting as described in the "PDA nuclear extract" section but with anti-T antigen (Oncogene), a polyclonal rabbit anti-Vp-1 developed in our lab, and anti-ß-actin (Sigma).
Overexpression experiments. PDA were transfected with pCDNA3, pCDNA3NF-1X, or pET-c-Jun (a generous gift from James A. Goodrich, University of Colorado) using 5 µg of DNA/107 cells with Amaxa (Amaxa Inc.) astrocyte nucleofector reagent. At 12 h posttransfection, the media were replaced with fresh medium containing JCV at 200 hemagglutination units/106 cells. After 12 h, medium containing virus was aspirated, cells were washed once, and fresh medium was added. Nuclear fractions of transfected/infected PDA were prepared 4 days post-JCV exposure, resolved by SDS-PAGE, and analyzed by Western blotting as described in the "PDA nuclear extract" section but with anti-NF-1X (Geneka/Active Motif), anti-c-Jun (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), the polyclonal rabbit anti-Vp-1 developed in our lab, and anti-ß-actin (Sigma).
ATP binding assay. The Mad-1 JCV promoter was PCR amplified from pM1TC (9) using a modified forward primer (JCV Mad-1) (nt 4992 to 5011) having a biotin group linked to the 5-prime end and a normal reverse primer (JCV Mad-1) (nt 447 to 427). This biotinylated PCR product was coupled to streptavidin agarose beads, as previously described (30), to generate ATP-Mad-1. For preclearing of PDA extracts prior to ATP-Mad-1 exposure, an approximately 1,500-bp segment of NF-1A1.1 coding sequence (locus_ID: NM_010905) was PCR amplified from pCHAmNF-1A1.1 using a modified forward primer (nt 1 to 27) having a biotin group linked to the 5-prime end and a normal reverse primer (nt 1520 to 1500). This PCR product was coupled to streptavidin agarose beads to generate an anchored coding region (ACR-NF-1A1.1).
In an approach similar to antibody-based immunoprecipitations, ATP-Mad-1 slurry was used to pull down DNA binding proteins from aliquots of PDA nuclear extracts (same extracts as those described in "Overexpression experiments"). Briefly, PDA nuclear extracts were precleared by addition to equal volumes of protein binding buffer (1x TBS, pH 7.4, 1% Triton X-100, 1% glycerol, and protease inhibitors) containing 10% ACR-NF-1A1.1 and gently rotated overnight at 4°C. After centrifugation to pellet ACR-NF-1A1.1, the supernatants (precleared nuclear extracts) were added to equal volumes of protein binding buffer containing 10% ATP-Mad-1. After 2 h, at 4°C with gentle rotation, the ATP-Mad-1 was pelleted by centrifugation and washed three times with ATP wash buffer (1x TBS, pH 7.4, 0.5% Triton X-100, 0.5% glycerol, and protease inhibitors) and once with TBS containing protease inhibitors. Bound proteins were eluted by boiling the washed ATP-Mad-1 for 3 min in Laemmli PLB, resolved by SDS-PAGE, and analyzed by Western blotting as described in the "PDA nuclear extract" section but with anti-NF-1X (Geneka/Active Motif) and anti-c-Jun (Santa Cruz Biotechnology).
| RESULTS |
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B, which like rhAP-1(c-Jun) is not recognized by the NF-1 probe, had no affect on binding to the NF-1 probe (Fig. 1, lanes 11 and 12). These results demonstrate that c-Jun can inhibit binding of the NF-1 protein to the consensus NF-1 site of the JCV Mad-1 promoter if introduced prior to and/or in sufficient quantity with an NF-1 source (e.g., stromal cell extract). Interestingly, the inhibition of NF-1 binding occurs independently of c-Jun binding the NF-1 probe, as demonstrated by the failure of rhAP-1(c-Jun) to shift the NF-1 probe by itself (Fig. 1, lane 2). Free NF-1 probe was routinely run off the bottom the EMSA gels to avoid interference with the clear identification of entire NF-1 smears. In EMSAs where the NF-1 probe was not run off the bottom of the gel (data not shown), addition of rhAP-1 showed no reduction in the free NF-1 probe band compared with lanes having no rhAP-1, ruling out rhAP-1-mediated isotope cleavage from the probe. Therefore, the observed inhibition may be the result of a physical interaction between NF-1 and c-Jun that prevents NF-1 from binding to the JCV promoter and/or an effect of free c-Jun on the NF-1 consensus site, such as electrostatic interactions that have been described by others (27, 28).
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In vitro translation of NF-1X. An additional GST pull-down assay was performed using the recombinant GST and GST-c-Jun described above, along with in vitro-transcribed/translated 35S-labeled-NF-1X protein ([35S]NF-1X) to rule out possible effects of other cellular proteins on the observed association of NF-1X and c-Jun (Fig. 2C). [35S]NF-1X showed specific association with GST-c-Jun, further demonstrating the specific interaction between NF-1X and c-Jun.
Comparative NF-1 expression in progenitors and PDA. To uncover additional details regarding the control of JCV activity by NF-1X, we analyzed NF-1 protein expression in our model cell culture system of multipotential human CNS progenitors. Progenitors support only low levels of JCV activity compared with that for PDA (23). Our studies here revealed differential protein expression patterns of NF-1 class members, with elevated expression of NF-1X in PDA (Fig. 3A). ß-Actin detection served as the control for equivalent total protein loading between progenitor and PDA nuclear extracts. The cytosolic fraction probed with anti-GFAP (a cytoskeletal marker that specifically identifies astrocytes among other CNS cell types) was included to illustrate the complete differentiation from progenitor to PDA.
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Interference of c-Jun on NF-1 binding to JCV promoter. Since some AP-1 binding sites are found adjacent to NF-1 binding sites in JCV promoters, we explored how increased protein expression of either c-Jun or NF-1X might affect protein interactions with JCV promoter sequence (specifically Mad-1) and if interference with NF-1 binding alters JC viral activity. We used ATP binding experiments to compare the binding levels of NF-1X and c-Jun from nuclear extracts of JCV-infected PDA transfected to overexpress NF-1X or c-Jun. Proteins that bound ATP-Mad-1 were eluted and analyzed by Western blotting using anti-NF-1X or anti-c-Jun. PDA transfected to overexpress NF-1X showed a corresponding increase in NF-1X association to ATP-Mad-1 and an increased Vp-1 level compared with control PDA (Fig. 4). On the other hand, the increased association of c-Jun with ATP-Mad-1 in PDA transfected to overexpress c-Jun was partnered with a decrease in Vp-1 expression. This finding suggests that increased c-Jun association with AP-1 binding sites could be responsible for interference with NF-1X binding to adjacent NF-1 sites. Therefore, the inability of NF-1X to bind efficiently to particular NF-1 consensus binding sites in JCV promoters as a result of c-Jun interaction is, in the same measure, playing a role in the observed decrease of JCV activity (Fig. 4 and 5).
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| DISCUSSION |
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B (25), Y-box binding protein 1 (17), Tst-1 (35), and Pur
(8). We have previously demonstrated that of the NF-1 family of transcription factors, NF-1X has a significant role in the regulation of JCV expression (26). NF-1X is highly expressed in cell types known to support JCV expression. These include human glial cells, B lymphocytes, tonsillar stromal cells, some established permissive human cell lines, and the astrocytic lineage (PDA) derived from a model cell culture system of human CNS progenitor cells. Neuronal cultures derived from this multipotential cell culture system, which are not susceptible to JCV infection, have been rendered susceptible by transfection-induced overexpression of NF-1X (23). In the same manner, differentiated KG-1 cells, which have lost JCV susceptibility present in the undifferentiated state, have had susceptibility restored due to NF-1X overexpression (26). HeLa cells, which normally do not support activation of the JCV early promoter, also demonstrate the ability to do so after transfection of an NF-1X-expressing plasmid (32). Our EMSA experiments suggest that interactions between NF-1 and c-Jun may have functional consequences for JCV activity. The interactions observed in our EMSAs are modulated by concentrations of each transcription factor, as well as the order and timing of transcription factor addition to the binding complex. Furthermore, our EMSA strongly supports the idea that NF-1 and c-Jun can physically bind one another (protein to protein) either in the absence of DNA or in the presence of JCV promoter sequence.
In our studies here, the range of susceptibility to JCV infection observed between progenitor and PDA cultures was again linked to differential levels of NF-1X protein expression. Our examinations of NF-1A, NF-1B, and NF-1X proteins in various cell types lead us to believe that expression levels of each NF-1 family member play a distinct role in the control of JCV cellular tropism.
The close proximity of the NF-1 and AP-1 binding sites in the JCV promoter suggest that interactions between NF-1X and the AP-1 proteins are important in the modulation of JCV expression (14). Recently, interaction between NF-1 and AP-1 proteins has been proposed to have an effect on GFAP expression in an astrocytic cell line (10), with the conclusion that the basal expression of GFAP specific to astrocytes depends on both AP-1 and NF-1. Our experiments here show that NF-1X and c-Jun undergo direct, physical interactions, independently of DNA binding, that alter associations of these transcription factors with JCV promoters. Here we used immunoprecipitation, in vitro transcription/translation, and GST-c-Jun pull-down assays to demonstrate binding between the c-Jun and NF-1X proteins. Our in vitro binding experiments demonstrate that only c-Jun and NF-1 are required for such interaction, free of DNA and/or other cellular proteins. The experiments reported here provide evidence that DNA-independent mechanisms affecting interactions between nuclear transcription factors have relevance to aspects of viral activity.
Having established that NF-1X is a critical cellular component conveying transcriptional support of JCV infection and that the association of NF-1X and c-Jun occurs with or without DNA binding, we have set out to better understand what role c-Jun and NF-1X play in affecting viral activity. Our experiments utilizing overexpression of NF-1X showed concurrent increases in expression of JC Vp-1 and binding of NF-1X to ATP-Mad-1, without affecting c-Jun binding. However, overexpression of c-Jun showed increases in c-Jun binding, along with decreases in not only the association of NF-1X to ATP-Mad-1 but also the expression of JC Vp-1 (Fig. 5A). These observations strongly suggest that increased binding of c-Jun on JCV promoters interferes with NF-1X binding by masking the binding site, which may be, in part, responsible for decreased JCV activity (Fig. 5B).
In addition to c-Jun masking NF-1X binding on JCV promoters, the decreased viral activity in cells that overexpress c-Jun may be partly due to "quenching" of NF-1X through protein-protein interaction. The in vivo interaction between NF-1X and c-Jun described here could be functionally significant for JCV propagation and for the regulation of cellular gene expression.
The positive regulation of JCV expression is complex and is limited to cell types that support virus replication (31). Nuclear transcription factors certainly have a significant role in JC virus expression and host cell restriction (14, 16, 24-26). The experiments described here suggest that interactions between transcription factors from different families (NF-1 and AP-1) not only occur independently of DNA binding (protein to protein) but also in the context of associating with JCV promoters (protein to promoter), offering multilevel regulation of JCV expression. These findings support the hypothesis that binding of NF-1X to JCV promoters is a critical mechanism supporting JCV propagation, while c-Jun may also play a role in the regulation of JCV activity by the inhibition of NF-1X binding.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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We thank Richard Gronostajski (The State University of New York at Buffalo) and James A. Goodrich (University of Colorado) for supplying the plasmids and Jean Hou for critical reading of the manuscript.
| FOOTNOTES |
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Published ahead of print on 23 August 2006. ![]()
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