TCF-4 isoforms absent in TCF-4 mutated MSI-H colorectal cancer cells colocalize with nuclear CtBP and repress TCF-4-mediated transcription

Oncogene. 2006 Jul 27;25(32):4441-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209471. Epub 2006 Mar 20.

Abstract

TCF-4 is the main effector of the Wnt/Wingless signalling pathway. As with other TCF/LEF factors, numerous alternative splicings at its 3' end affect its expression. Such a mechanism leads to the synthesis of numerous TCF-4 isoforms among which some contain binding domains for CtBP, an ubiquitous transcriptional corepressor. Of interest, we described a frequent TCF-4 frameshift mutation in mismatch-repair deficient colorectal cancers (MSI-H cancers) that leads to the selective loss of TCF-4 isoforms with CtBP binding abilities. We provide here data that argue for a partial colocalization of CtBP with TCF-4 isoforms containing CtBP binding domains in cellulo, and for a functional role of CtBP in repressing TCF-4 mediated transcription. We also demonstrate that such a colocalization is not observed in MSI-H colorectal cancer cells that harbour the TCF-4 frameshift mutation, and that CtBP is not able to repress TCF-4-mediated transcription in this context. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that CtBP would play a role in regulating TCF-4 mediated transcription upon its binding with some TCF-4 isoforms encoded by alternatively spliced mRNA. They also suggest a role for TCF-4 frameshift mutation during MSI-H colorectal tumour progression, by regulating the relative proportion of the different TCF-4 isoforms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / physiology
  • Alternative Splicing / physiology
  • Base Pair Mismatch
  • Cell Line
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Frameshift Mutation*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nuclear Proteins / deficiency
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • Protein Isoforms / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Isoforms / deficiency
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / physiology*
  • TCF Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TCF Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • TCF Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • TCF Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • C-terminal binding protein