Evidence that Myc isoforms transcriptionally repress caveolin-1 gene expression via an INR-dependent mechanism

Biochemistry. 2001 Mar 20;40(11):3354-62. doi: 10.1021/bi002787b.

Abstract

The c-Myc oncoprotein contributes to oncogenesis by activating and repressing a repertoire of genes involved in cellular proliferation, metabolism, and apoptosis. Increasing evidence suggests that the repressor function of c-Myc is critical for transformation. Therefore, identifying and characterizing Myc-repressed genes is imperative to understanding the mechanisms of Myc-induced tumorigenesis. Here, we employ NIH 3T3 cell lines harboring c-Myc-ER or N-Myc-ER to dissect the relationship between Myc activation and caveolin-1 expression. In this well-established inducible system, treatment with estrogen like molecules, such as tamoxifen, leads to activation of Myc, but in a tightly controlled fashion. Using this approach, we show that Myc activation induces the repression of caveolin-1 expression at the transcriptional level. We also provide two independent lines of evidence suggesting that caveolin-1 is a direct target of Myc: (i) the effect of Myc activation on caveolin-1 expression is independent of new protein synthesis, as revealed through the use of cycloheximide; and (ii) Myc-mediated repression of the caveolin-1 promoter is dependent on an intact INR sequence. Moreover, we show that expression of caveolin-1, via an adenoviral vector approach, can suppress cell transformation that is mediated by Myc activation. In support of these observations, treatment with an adenoviral vector harboring anti-sense caveolin-1 specifically potentiates transformation induced by Myc activation. Taken together, our results indicate that caveolin-1 is a direct target of Myc repression, and they also provide evidence for an additional mechanism by which Myc repression can elicit a malignant phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • 5' Untranslated Regions / antagonists & inhibitors
  • 5' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Animals
  • Caveolin 1
  • Caveolins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Caveolins / biosynthesis
  • Caveolins / genetics*
  • Caveolins / physiology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Phenotype
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • Cav1 protein, mouse
  • Caveolin 1
  • Caveolins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Repressor Proteins