Ets-1 Transcription Factor
Marie Ota
There are 28 ETS genes in humans and 27 in mice. They bind the DNA via their winged-helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif known as the Ets domain that specifically recognizes DNA sequences that contain a GGAA/T core element. However, Ets proteins differ significantly in their preference for the sequence flanking the GGAA/T core motif. For instance, the consensus sequence for Ets1 is PuCC/a-GGAA/T-GCPy. On the other hand, many natural Ets1-responsive GGAA/T elements differ from this consensus sequence. The later suggests that several other transcription factors may facilitate Ets1 binding to unfavorable DNA sequences. ChIP-Seq studies have shown that Ets1 can bind both AGGAAG and CGGAAG motifs.[7]
Ets1 binds to DNA as a monomer. Phosphorylation of serine residues of the C-terminal domain (in the nucleotide sequence they belong to exon VII) known as autoinhibition makes Ets1 inactive. There are several ways to activate Ets1. First, Ets1 can be dephosphorylated. Second, two Ets1 can be activated If two Ets molecules homodimerize. The homodimerization occurs if DNA binding sites are present in the correct orientation and spacing. Thus, the exact layout of binding sites within an enhancer or promoter segment to either relieve or allow autoinhibition of Ets1 to occur may strongly influence whether or not Ets1 actually binds to particular site. Third, Ets1 can be activated by Erk2 and Ras at Thr38. The truncated isoform cannot be phosphorylated by the Erk2. It is localized in the cytoplasm and acts as a dominant negative isoform. Contrary, another isoform that misses exon VII is constitutively active. Many Ras responsive genes harbor combinatorial Ets/AP1 recognition motifs through which Ets1 and AP1 synergistically activate transcription when stimulated by Ras.[8]
In adult humans, Ets1 is expressed at high levels mainly in immune tissues such as thymus, spleen, and lymph node (B cells, T cells, NK cells, and NK T cells and non-lymphoid immune cells).An enforced expression of Ets1 blocks differentiation of B- and T-cells. By contrast, knocking Ets1 down causes multiple defects in the immune system.
Ets1 knockout mice have aberrant thymic differentiation, reduced peripheral T cell numbers, reduced IL-2 production, a skewing towards a memory/effector phenotype and impairments in the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Although Ets1 knockout mice have an impaired development of Th1, Th2, and Treg cells, they have higher numbers of Th17 cells. In CD4/CD8 double positive thymocytes from Ets knockout mice, both the suppression of gene expression programs corresponding to alternative lineages and upregulation of T-cell specific genes are impaired.[7] There are also partial defects in bone marrow B cell development with reduced cellularity and inefficient transition from pro-B to pre-B cell stages.
Meta-analyses of multiple genome-wide association studies has suggested an association of SNPs in the ETS1 locus with psoriasis in European populations. This is not surprising because Ets1 is a negative regulator of Th17 cells.
Ets1 overexpression in stratified squamous epithelial cells causes pro-oncogenic changes, such as suspension of terminal differentiation, high secretion of matrix metalloproteases (Mmps), epidermal growth factor ligands, and inflammatory mediators.
Ets1 directly interacts with various transcription factors. Their interaction results in formation of multiprotein complexes. When Ets1 interacts with other transcription factors (Runx1, Pax5, TFE3, and USF1) its final effect on transcription depends on whether C-terminal domain is phosphorylated. Acetyltransferases CBP and p300 bind to the transactivation domain. AP1, STAT5 and VDR bind to C-terminal domain.
The messenger RNA and protein levels of DNA repair protein PARP1 are controlled, in part, by the expression level of the ETS1 transcription factor which interacts with multiple ETS1 binding sites in the promoter region of PARP1.[12] The degree to which the ETS1 transcription factor can bind to its binding sites on the PARP1 promoter depends on the methylation status of the CpG islands in the ETS1 binding sites in the PARP1 promoter.[13] If these CpG islands in ETS1 binding sites of the PARP1 promoter are epigenetically hypomethylated, PARP1 is expressed at an elevated level.[13] The high constitutive levels of PARP1 in centenarians, providing more effective DNA repair, is thought to contribute to their unusual longevity. These levels of PARP1 expression are considered to be due to altered epigenetic control of transactivation of PARP1 expression.[14]
As shown by Wilson et al.,[15] increased ETS1 expression causes about 50 target genes to increase expression, including DNA repair genes MUTYH, BARD1, ERCC1 and XPA. Increased ETS1 expression causes resistance to cell killing by cisplatin, the resistance thought to be partly due to increased expression of DNA repair genes.
As shown by Legrand et al.,[19] ETS1 protein interacts with PARP1 protein. ETS1 activates PARP1, causing poly ADP-ribosylation of PARP1 itself and of other proteins, even in the absence of nicked DNA. PARP1 (without self- poly ADP-ribosylation), in turn, is needed for activation of the transactivating activity of ETS1 on a tested promoter. Active PARP1 subsequently causes poly ADP-ribosylation of ETS1, and this appears to promote ETS1 ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, preventing excessive activity of ETS1.
In the field of molecular biology, the ETS (E26 transformation-specific[2] or E-twenty-six. (Erythroblast Transformation Specific)[3]) family is one of the largest families of transcription factors and is unique to animals. There are 29 genes in humans, 28 in the mouse, 10 in Caenorhabditis elegans and 9 in Drosophila. The founding member of this family was identified as a gene transduced by the leukemia virus, E26. The members of the family have been implicated in the development of different tissues as well as cancer progression.
All ETS (Erythroblast Transformation Specific) family members are identified through a highly conserved DNA binding domain, the ETS domain, which is a winged helix-turn-helix structure that binds to DNA sites with a central GGA(A/T) DNA sequence. As well as DNA-binding functions, evidence suggests that the ETS domain is also involved in protein-protein interactions.There is limited similarity outside the ETS DNA binding domain.
The ETS family is present throughout the body and is involved in a wide variety of functions including the regulation of cellular differentiation, cell cycle control, cell migration, cell proliferation, apoptosis (programmed cell death) and angiogenesis.
Multiple ETS factors have been found to be associated with cancer, such as through gene fusion. For example, the ERG ETS transcription factor is fused to the EWS gene, resulting in a condition called Ewing's sarcoma.[5] The fusion of TEL to the JAK2 protein results in early pre-B acute lymphoid leukaemia.[6] ERG and ETV1 are known gene fusions found in prostate cancer.[7]
In addition, ETS factors, e.g. the vertebrate Etv1 and the invertebrate Ast-1, have been shown to be important players in the specification and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons in both C. elegans and olfactory bulbs of mice.[8]
Amongst members of the ETS family, there is extensive conservation in the DNA-binding ETS domain and, therefore, a lot of redundancy in DNA binding. It is thought that interactions with other proteins (eg: Modulator of the activity of Ets called Mae) is one way in which specific binding to DNA is achieved. Transcription factor Ets are a site of signalling convergence.[9]ETS factors act as transcriptional repressors, transcriptional activators, or both.[10]
The Ets1 proto-oncoprotein is a member of the Ets family of transcription factors that share a unique DNA binding domain, the Ets domain. The DNA binding activity of Ets1 is controlled by kinases and transcription factors. Some transcription factors, such as AML-1, regulate Ets1 by targeting its autoinhibitory module. Others, such as Pax-5, alter Ets1 DNA binding properties. Ets1 harbors two phosphorylation sites, threonine-38 and an array of serines within the exon VII domain. Phosphorylation of threonine-38 by ERK1/2 activates Ets1, whereas phosphorylation of the exon VII domain by CaMKII or MLCK inhibits Ets1 DNA binding activity. Ets1 is expressed by numerous cell types. In haemotopoietic cells, it contributes to the regulation of cellular differentiation. In a variety of other cells, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and epithelial cancer cells, Ets1 promotes invasive behavior. Regulation of MMP1, MMP3, MMP9 and uPA as well as of VEGF and VEGF receptor gene expression has been ascribed to Ets1. In tumors, Ets1 expression is indicative of poorer prognosis.
The human TATA-less ets1 gene contains eight exons (A, III-IX) [15]. Transcripts either harbor all exons or lack exon IV- or exon VII- or exon IV/VII-specific sequence [16]. Only two proteins are generated from these RNAs, p54c-ets1 (full length Ets1) and p42c-ets1 (ΔVII-Ets1) (Fig. 1). The Ets1 protein sequence is highly conserved among species. E.g., the DNA and protein sequence of chicken Ets1 is 85% or 95%, respectively, identical to the corresponding sequence of human Ets1 [17]. The Ets1 protein can be divided into six domains, A-F (Fig. 1). The E-domain is the DNA binding Ets-domain. The adjoining D- (or exon VII-) domain and the F-domain are regulatory domains that control the activity of the E-domain. The A- und B- domains also function as regulatory units, whereas the C-domain is the activation domain of p54c-ets1 and p42c-ets1.
The Pointed (PNT) domain, named after the Ets1-related protein Pointed-P2 in Drosophila, is shared by many Ets proteins. The Ets1 PNT domain, located between amino acid 54 and 135, consists of five α-helices. Though originally thought to adopt a helix-loop-helix (HLH) conformation, NMR analysis revealed that the PNT domain forms a globular structure that does not resemble any other known protein- or DNA-binding interaction interface [27]. The N-terminal sequence of Ets1 contains also a Ras-responsive phosphorylation site at threonine-38 [28, 29] (Fig. 1). Phosphorylation of this residue strongly increases the transcriptional activity of Ets1.
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