Analysis of transcriptional regulation of the human miR-17-92 cluster; evidence for involvement of Pim-1

Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jun 7;14(6):12273-96. doi: 10.3390/ijms140612273.

Abstract

The human polycistronic miRNA cluster miR-17-92 is frequently overexpressed in hematopoietic malignancies and cancers. Its transcription is in part controlled by an E2F-regulated host gene promoter. An intronic A/T-rich region directly upstream of the miRNA coding region also contributes to cluster expression. Our deletion analysis of the A/T-rich region revealed a strong dependence on c-Myc binding to the functional E3 site. Yet, constructs lacking the 5'-proximal ~1.3 kb or 3'-distal ~0.1 kb of the 1.5 kb A/T-rich region still retained residual specific promoter activity, suggesting multiple transcription start sites (TSS) in this region. Furthermore, the protooncogenic kinase, Pim-1, its phosphorylation target HP1γ and c-Myc colocalize to the E3 region, as inferred from chromatin immunoprecipitation. Analysis of pri-miR-17-92 expression levels in K562 and HeLa cells revealed that silencing of E2F3, c-Myc or Pim-1 negatively affects cluster expression, with a synergistic effect caused by c-Myc/Pim-1 double knockdown in HeLa cells. Thus, we show, for the first time, that the protooncogene Pim-1 is part of the network that regulates transcription of the human miR-17-92 cluster.

MeSH terms

  • AT Rich Sequence / genetics
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genome, Human
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics
  • K562 Cells
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • CBX3 protein, human
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • MIR17HG, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • PIM1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1