KAI1 promoter activity is dependent on p53, junB and AP2: evidence for a possible mechanism underlying loss of KAI1 expression in cancer cells

• Published in: Oncogene Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 637 - 649
• Main Authors: MARREIROS, Alexandra, DUDGEON, Kip, DAO, Vinh, GRIMM, Marc-Oliver, CZOLIJ, Robert, CROSSLEY, Merlin, JACKSON, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 20.01.2005; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antigens, CD - chemistry; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Base Sequence; Binding Sites; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell physiology; Cell transformation and carcinogenesis. Action of oncogenes and antioncogenes; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Kangai-1 Protein; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - chemistry; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Metastasis; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - chemistry; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Transcription Factor AP-1 - metabolism; Transcription Factor AP-2; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription. Transcription factor. Splicing. Rna processing; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Tumors; United Kingdom > UK; Australia; Wales; Urinary system disease; Prostate disease; metastasis suppressor; Transcription promoter; Metastasis; Malignant tumor; Gene expression; Carcinogenesis; Mechanism; TP53 Gene; Transcription factor; Male genital diseases; Prostate cancer; KAI1; Tumor suppressor gene
• ISSN: 0950-9232; 1476-5594
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1208216

A molecular mechanism to explain reduced KAI1 expression in invasive and metastatic tumour cells remains elusive. In this report, we extend an earlier study in bladder cells to confirm that a 76 bp region of the KAI1 promoter (residues -922 to -847), with binding motifs for p53, AP1 and AP2, is required for high level activity of a KAI1 reporter in prostate cancer cell lines. Gel shift and supershift experiments supported binding of p53, junB and heterodimers of AP2alpha/AP2gamma or AP2beta/AP2gamma to this sequence. Introduction of mutations into specific motifs demonstrated an essential requirement for p53 and junB to reporter activity, and that functional synergy between these two factors enhanced activity. A further elevation of reporter activity required AP2. Roles of individual p53, junB and AP2 proteins, as well as functional synergy between p53 and junB, were confirmed in transfection experiments. Western blotting analysis showed that an absence of wild-type p53, and/or a loss of junB and AP2 protein expression, correlated with downregulation of KAI1 mRNA levels in a series of prostate cancer cell lines. A loss of p53 function and/or expression of junB, combined with reduced expression of specific AP2 proteins may underly downregulated KAI1 expression in tumour cells.