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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 282, Issue 9, 6716-6725, March 2, 2007
Activation of Multifarious Transcription of an Adhesion Protein ap65-1 Gene by a Novel Myb2 Protein in the Protozoan Parasite Trichomonas vaginalis*![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 1
From the
Received for publication, November 10, 2006 , and in revised form, December 22, 2006.
Multifarious transcription of the adhesion protein ap65-1 gene in the human pathogen, Trichomonas vaginalis, is critically regulated by the coordination of two similar but opposite oriented DNA regulatory regions, MRE-1/MRE-2r and MRE-2f, both of which are binding sites for multiple Myb-like proteins. In the present study, MRE-1/MRE-2r was demonstrated to be composed of multiple overlapping promoter elements, among which the entire region is required for growth-related ap65-1 transcription, and the 5'-MRE-1 antagonizes the suppressive activity of the 3'-MRE-2r in iron-inducible transcription. The recombinant Myb2 protein derived from a previously identified myb2 gene was demonstrated to recognize distinct sequence contexts in MRE-2r and MRE-2f, whereas Myb2 in the nuclear lysate preferentially binds to MRE-2f to MRE-2r. Iron repletion resulted in persistent repression of the myb2 gene, and temporal activation/deactivation of Myb2 promoter entry, which was also activated by prolonged iron depletion. The hemagglutinintagged Myb2 when overexpressed during iron-depleted conditions facilitated basal and growth-related ap65-1 transcription to a level that was achieved in iron-replete cells, whereas ironinducible ap65-1 transcription was abolished with knockdown of Myb2. These findings demonstrated that Myb2 is involved in activation of growth-related and iron-inducible transcription of the ap65-1 gene, possibly through differential promoter selection in competition with other Myb proteins.
Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite that causes the most common sexually transmitted disease of nonviral origin in humans. The disease poses an imminent threat to public health as revealed by recent findings that transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus increases in patients with trichomoniasis (1). The parasite persistently inhabits the human urogenital tract without an alternating life stage outside of the host. Cytoadherence, which is crucial for T. vaginalis to establish an infection, has been shown to involve multiple surface adhesion proteins and lipophosphoglycans (2-4). The iron supply, which undergoes periodic fluctuations in the human vagina, is one of the principle determinants modulating cytoadherence of the parasite toward human vaginal epithelial cells (5, 6), possibly through transcriptional regulation of some of the adhesion protein (ap)2 genes, especially those in the ap65 family (7, 8), which encode proteins identical to malic enzymes (9, 10). Iron has also been implicated in modulating phenotypic variation of the parasite as well as its resistance to complement lysis (11, 12). These observations underscore the importance of iron in modulating expression of parasite virulence.
Gene transcription in T. vaginalis is monocistronic with only a few intron-containing genes capable of undergoing RNA splicing (13). Transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II is thus a key step in controlling expression of the protein coding genes in the parasite. Using transcription of the ap65-1 gene as a model system, we have been studying transcription machinery that controls parasitic gene expression in coping with rapid changes in the growth environment (14-16). The ap65-1 promoter was demonstrated to comprise a simple core promoter that only contains a ubiquitous initiator element spanning the transcription initiation site (+1) (14, 17), a proximal promoter (-132 to -37) that controls iron-inducible as well as growth-related promoter activities (14, 15), and a distal regulatory region (16). The proximal promoter region contains eight closely spaced promoter elements (15), among which three Myb recognition elements (MRE), MRE-1/MRE-2r which overlap, and MRE-2f, are the binding sites for several Myb-like DNA binding transcription factors (14-16). The promoter distal region, which is essential for optimal promoter activity,3 also contains two additional clusters of MRE-1/MRE-2r- and MRE-2f-like DNA sequences (16).
The MRE-1/MRE-2r and MRE-2f regions share similar but opposite oriented DNA sequences, ATAACGATA and TATCGTC, respectively, each of which is also the binding site for multiple nuclear DNA-binding proteins (15). Both DNA regions are required for optimal growth-related transcription, but MRE-1/MRE-2r counteracts MRE-2f positive action on iron-inducible transcription (16). Southwestern screening of a T. vaginalis cDNA expression library revealed two MRE-2f-binding protein genes, myb1 and myb2, which encode 24-kDa and 21-kDa open reading frames, respectively (16). The Myb1 protein displays dual DNA binding specificity with higher affinity binding to MRE-1/MRE-2r than to MRE-2f. Myb1, when overexpressed in the transgenic parasite to a level similar to endogenous Myb1, can differentially select three defined sites, each of which contains a cluster of MRE-1/MRE-2r- and MRE-2f-like elements (see Fig. 7A), in the ap65-1 promoter in a growth-related manner, and repress basal or iron-inducible, but enhance growth-related, ap65-1 transcription (16). In the present study, we found that the MRE-1/MRE-2r regulatory region is composed of multiple overlapping promoter elements, and that the entire region is required for growth-related activity, while 5'-MRE-1 antagonizes the suppressive activity of 3'-MRE-2r on iron-inducible activity of the ap65-1 promoter. The Myb2 protein encoded by the myb2 gene was found to interact with specific sequence contexts spanning MRE-2r and MRE-2f and which are distinct from those recognized by Myb1. Further biochemical and functional studies suggested that Myb2 is involved in activation of both iron-inducible and growth-related transcription of the ap65-1 gene. Information derived from the current study will be useful for further elucidating signaling pathways and regulatory circuits potentially leading to iron-inducible gene regulation in T. vaginalis.
CulturesT. vaginalis T1 cells were maintained as previously described (14). Iron repletion or depletion was achieved with the addition of 250 µM ferrous ammonium sulfate or 50 µM of an iron-chelator, 2, 2'-dipyridyl, respectively, in growth medium. A WT-13 cell line harboring a reporter plasmid, pAP65-1luc+/TUBneo, for the activity assay of the ap65-1 promoter was obtained from a previous study (15). DNA Transfection and Selection for Stable TransfectantsPlasmid DNA was electroporated into T. vaginalis for paromomycin selection of stable transfectants as previously described (15). Promoter AssayStable cell lines harboring the mutated reporter plasmid, pAPm(MRE-1) or pAPm(MRE-2r) (see below), are referred to as m(MRE-1) or m(MRE-2r), respectively. Luciferase activity in stable cells conferred by the expression of the luc+ reporter gene was measured as previously described (14). In the promoter assay, relative amounts of respective plasmids in cells from individual cell lines were determined by dot hybridization as previously described (15), and their promoter activities were normalized accordingly. OligonucleotidesSequences of the oligonucleotides used in the present study are either listed in Table 1 or were reported in a previous study (16).
Cloning of the Genomic myb2 GeneA T. vaginalis T1 genomic DNA library and a partial cDNA sequence of the myb2 gene were obtained from a previous study (16). The sequence flanking 5'-end of the myb2 gene was amplified from the genomic DNA library by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primer pair, T3 and myb2-3'-2. The amplified DNA was then cloned into pGEM_Teasy for DNA sequencing as described by the supplier (Promega). Construction of PlasmidsThe plasmid, pAP65-1luc+/TUBneo (Fig. 1A), was obtained from a previous study (15). A 5'-PCR product was amplified from pAP65-1luc+/TUBneo using tub90f as the 5'-primer and a 3'-antisense primer, m(-95/-94)-3' or m(-89/-88)-3', at the target site to create mutations in MRE-1 or MRE-2r, respectively. A 3'-PCR product was amplified from pAP65-1luc+/TUBneo using a 5'-primer, m(-95/-94)-5' or m(-89/-88)-5', at the target site and luc344r as the 3'-primer. The 5' and 3' PCR products were purified and mixed as templates for second round of the PCR using the primer pair tub90f and luc344r. The mutated plasmid, pAPm(MRE-1) or pAPm(MRE-2r), was obtained by replacing the SacII/HindIII fragment in pAP65-1luc+/TUB-neo with the final PCR product predigested with SacII and HindIII. To construct a gene overexpression system, a DNA fragment spanning the coding region of the myb2 gene was amplified from genomic DNA by PCR using the primer pair ha-myb2-5'nde1 and myb2-3'bgl2, and was then cloned into pGEM_Teasy to generate pTA-ha-myb2. A DNA fragment spanning the 5'-untranslated region (-324/+22) of the ap65-2 gene (9) was amplified using the primer pair, ap65-2.1-5'sac2 and ap65-2-3'nde1, and was then cloned into pGEM_Teasy to generate pTA-AP65-2.1. A DNA fragment spanning the 3'-untranslated region of the ap65-1 gene was amplified by PCR from genomic DNA using the primer pair, ap65-1-3'utr-blg2 and ap65-1-3'utr-nsi1. The DNA fragment was cloned into pGEM_Teasy to generate pTA-AP65-1-3'utr. The SacII/NdeI fragment from pTA-AP65-2.1, the NdeI/BglII fragment from pTA-ha-myb2, and the BglII/NsiI fragment from pTA-AP65-1-3'utr were cloned into pAP65-1luc+/TUBneo predigested with SacII and NsiI to generate the HA-Myb2 expression plasmid, pAP65-2.1-ha-myb2/TUBneo (Fig. 5A).
To construct an antisense gene knockdown system, a DNA fragment spanning the coding region of the myb2 gene was amplified from genomic DNA by PCR using a forward primer, To express recombinant protein, the coding region of the myb2 gene was amplified from genomic DNA by PCR using the primer pair lic-myb2-5' and lic-myb2-3'. The plasmid, pET30/Myb2, was generated by ligation of the PCR product with pET30 using a pET30EK/LIC vector kit as suggested by the supplier (Novagen).
Northern HybridizationCellular RNA was extracted from T. vaginalis using the TRIzol reagent (Invitrogen), and mRNA was purified using oligo(dT) cellulose chromatography. Probe labeling and Northern hybridization were performed as previously described (16). The [
Reverse Transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR)A semiquantitative RT-PCR assay was performed to examine expression levels of ap65-1,
Expression of the Recombinant Myb2 Protein (rMyb2)The rMyb2 protein expression vector, pET30/Myb2, was transformed into the Escherichia coli BL21-Codon Plus DE3-RIL strain (Stratagene) for the production of rMyb2. E. coli transformed with pET30/Myb2 in shaking cultures was incubated at 37 °C until the A600 reached 0.6. The induction was performed with the addition of 1 mM isopropylthio- Antibody ProductionPurified rMyb2 was used for rabbit immunization by a standard protocol (18), and antiserum was purified by protein A affinity chromatography as described by the supplier (Sigma).
Western BlottingCytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of T. vaginalis total lysate were prepared for the Western blotting and DNA binding assay described below using a cellular fractionation kit, NE-PERTM, as described by the supplier (Pierce). In some of the experiments, a semiquantitative Western blot assay using serially diluted protein samples from lysate equivalent to 105 Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)Subcellular localization of HA-Myb2 or the NEO selective marker was performed by IFA using a mouse anti-HA monoclonal antibody (200x) (HA-7, Sigma) or rabbit anti-NPT-II antibody (800x) (Upstate) as previously described (16). Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA)Probe labeling and EMSA were performed as previously described (14), except that in some of the binding reactions, the serially diluted anti-Myb2 antibody or normal rabbit serum was included. Signal intensity of the 32P isotope was measured using a Typhoon 9410 Variable Mode Imager (Amersham Biosciences).
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay (ChIP)A ChIP assay was performed as previously described (16, 20). In some of the reactions, an aliquot of supernatant recovered from the DNA shearing step was reacted with 20 µl of the anti-Myb2 antibody or normal rabbit serum followed by immunoprecipitation with protein A-agarose (Sigma). The DNA fragment spanning region I, II, or III of the
Overlapping DNA Elements in MRE-1/MRE-2rThe DNA sequence, ATAACGATA, spanning the MRE-1/MRE-2r overlap was found to be composed of three distinct nuclear protein-binding sites, ANAACGAT for Myb1 (16), and TAACGA (MRE-1) and CGATA (MRE-2r) for the reputed MRE-1-binding protein (MRE-1-BP) and MRE-2r-binding protein, respectively (15). To study whether MRE-1/MRE-2r comprises multiple, functionally distinct promoter elements in vivo, site-directed mutagenesis of the ap65-1 promoter was conducted using a reporter plasmid, pAP65-1luc+/TUBneo, and two related mutant plasmids (Fig. 1). The mutation of MRE-1 that retains intact MRE-2r resulted in diminished growth-related ap65-1 promoter activity from the original 15-fold to 2-fold, but without an effect on basal activity. The iron-inducible activity was also diminished from the original 6-fold to 2-fold. By contrast, only 20% of the original basal as well as growth-related ap65-1 promoter activity was detected in the mutation of MRE-2r that retains intact MRE-1, and the iron-inducible activity was activated to 24-fold from the original 6-fold. Consistent with the nuclear protein binding specificities (15, 16), these results suggest that the MRE-1/MRE-2r region is composed of multiple overlapping promoter elements, which display intricate relationship in regulating multifarious ap65-1 transcription.
Iron Repressive Expression of the myb2 GeneThe myb2 gene encodes an open reading frame of 176 amino acid residues, with a size estimated to be 21 kDa and a PI value of 8.01. Myb2 shares little homology with Myb1 in the protein sequence outside of the conserved R2R3 DNA-binding domain (Fig. 2A). Even in this conserved domain ( 60% similarity), only three out of eight base-contacting amino acid residues identified in the mammalian cMyb (21) were identical between the protein sequences of Myb1 and Myb2 (Fig. 2B).
The myb2 gene was expressed as a 0.6-kb mRNA species in T. vaginalis as revealed by Northern hybridization (Fig. 3A). The expression level of myb2 mRNA under iron-replete conditions was 2-fold lower than that under iron-depleted conditions as examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR (Fig. 3B). The expression level slightly varied in an 18-h period. The expression level of
A major 27-kDa band and several faster migrating minor bands with sizes between 21 and 25 kDa were detected in cell lysate from T. vaginalis by Western blotting using the anti-Myb2 antibody (Fig. 3, C and D). The 27-kDa band was distributed in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions to similar extents, but those faster migrating ones were only detected in the cytoplasmic fractions even when samples were overloaded to increase detection sensitivity (Fig. 3C). The purity of these cellular fractions was examined using an antibody against a cytosolic malic enzyme (22) or DNA Binding Specificity of Myb2The rMyb2 protein was purified (Fig. 4A) for use in EMSA. rMyb2 at as little as 2.5 ng was sufficient to form a major complex with the MRE-1/MRE-2r-containing [32P]IR probe (Fig. 4B, left panel), and two discernible DNA-protein complexes with the MRE-2f-containing [32P]IR3' probe (Fig. 4B, right panel), with similar activities. The DNA binding specificity of rMyb2 against [32P]IR was then tested in competition assays using a 250x molar excess of the cold IR or mutated sequences of the mIR series (Fig. 4C) as previously described (15). The DNA-protein complex was incompletely competed to various degrees with various mutant competitors. Similar results were observed in the reactions with [32P]IR3' in the competition assays (Fig. 4D). The signal intensity of the DNA-protein complexes in individual reactions was measured, revealing that CGATA, which resembles the target site of the reputed MRE-2r-binding proteins (15), and tAtCGTc spanning MRE-2f are the primary binding sites (upper and lowercase letters indicate strong or weak contact sites, respectively) of rMyb2. The DNA binding activity of Myb2 in the nuclear lysate was then examined. Two DNA-protein complexes (I and II) were detected in the binding reactions including 10 µg of nuclear proteins and either [32P]IR or [32P]IR3' (Fig. 4, E and F, respectively). Co-incubation with the serially diluted anti-Myb2 antibody only resulted in disruption of complex I in each binding reaction to a level dependent on the serum concentration, indicating that Myb2 is only one of the nuclear proteins targeting MRE-1/MRE-2r or MRE-2f. This interference effect was not observed with co-incubation of serially diluted normal rabbit serum. The signal intensity of the Myb2-DNA complex in the binding reactions revealed that nuclear Myb2 bound 6-fold as much [32P]IR as [32P]IR3' (Fig. 4G), suggesting that nuclear Myb2 preferentially binds MRE-2f over MRE-2r.
HA-Myb2 OverexpressionThe HA-Myb2 expression plasmid, pAP65-2.1ha-myb2/TUBneo (Fig. 5A), was used to overexpress a HA-tagged Myb2 protein in T. vaginalis. The HA signal was primarily detected in nuclei of more than 95% of transfected cells, but in none of the non-transfected cells, by IFA using the mouse anti-HA monoclonal antibody (Fig. 5B). A major 29-kDa band and a minor 27-kDa one were only detected in samples from transfected cells by Western blotting using the rat anti-HA monoclonal antibody (Fig. 5C), and only the major band was detected in the nuclear fraction. Both bands were also detected by the anti-Myb2 antibody, suggesting that the addition of the HA tag changes the mobility of the overexpressed Myb2 in SDS-PAGE. The signal intensity of the 29-kDa HA-Myb2 as detected by the anti-Myb2 antibody was equivalent to that of the 27-kDa Myb2 in samples from non-transfected cells, indicating that HA-Myb2 was overexpressed to a level similar to that of endogenous Myb2. Similar levels of overall Myb2 overexpression were detected in transfected cells under our test conditions (Fig. 5D). On the other hand, the signal intensity of the AP65 protein was 2.5-fold higher in samples from transfected cells than from non-transfected cells under iron-depleted conditions for 8 h, and a 2-fold growth-related increase was only detected in samples from non-transfected cells. Iron repletion for the same periods that facilitated a 2-fold increase in AP65 expression in non-transfected cells had little effect on transfected cells. The signal intensity of -tubulin in these samples only slightly varied.
With divergent promoter sequences in six members of the ap65 gene family (16), the effect of Myb2 overexpression on ap65-1 transcription was studied by semiquantitative RT-PCR (Fig. 5E). With iron depletion for 8 h, the signal intensity of ap65-1 mRNA was 4-fold higher in samples from transfected cells than from non-transfected cells. Growthrelated ap65-1 transcription was 4- and 2-fold higher in nontransfected and transfected cells, respectively. Iron repletion for 8 or 18 h that increased the ap65-1 transcription by 4 or 2-fold, respectively, in non-transfected cells had little effect on transfected cells. The signal intensity of
Myb2 KnockdownTo further study the role of Myb2 in iron-inducible transcription, the antisense knockdown strategy, which had been explored to successfully knockdown expression of the ap65 genes (7), was employed as described below.
T. vaginalis was transfected with the plasmid, pAP65-2.1- s-myb2/TUBneo (Fig. 6A), which overexpresses the antisense myb2 transcript in the transgenic parasite. More than 95% of transfected cells expressed the NEO protein as detected by IFA using the anti-NPT-II antibody (Fig. 6B). Protein expression in transfected cells was then assayed by semiquantitative Western blotting (Fig. 6C). At both 8 and 18 h of iron depletion or repletion, the signal intensity of Myb2 as detected by the anti-Myb2 antibody was 2-fold lower in samples from transfected cells than from non-transfected cells. With iron repletion, the signal intensity of AP65 was 2-fold lower in samples from transfected cells than from non-transfected cells. Iron depletion that repressed AP65 expression by 2-fold in non-transfected cells had only a slight repressive effect on transfected cells. The signal intensity of -tubulin in these samples only slightly varied.
Transcription of the ap65-1 gene in the knockdown parasite was examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR (Fig. 6D). Under iron-depleted conditions for 8 h, the signal intensity of ap65-1 mRNA in samples from transfected cells was similar to that in samples from non-transfected cells. Iron repletion for the same period that increased ap65-1 transcription by 4-fold in nontransfected cells had little effect on transfected cells. Similar results were obtained with prolonged treatments for 18 h. The signal intensity of
Differential Promoter Selection by Myb2The promoter region of the ap65-1 gene contains multiple potential entry sites for Myb2 (Fig. 7A). Promoter entry by the endogenous Myb2 protein in T. vaginalis was examined by exploring the efficacy of the anti-Myb2 antibody in ChIP (Fig. 7). In samples pulled down using the anti-Myb2 antibody, the PCR product amplified from region I, II, or III of the ap65-1 promoter was to 3- or 4-fold higher in samples from iron-replete than from iron-depleted conditions for 8 h, or in samples from iron-depleted conditions for 18 h compared with those for 8 h, respectively (Fig. 7B). By 18 h, the association of Myb2 with the ap65-1 promoter was 2-fold lower in samples from iron-replete than those from iron-depleted conditions. No PCR product was obtained from region IV in these samples or from three discrete promoter regions of the
We demonstrate herein that the MRE-1/MRE-2r region in the ap65-1 promoter is composed of multiple overlapping promoter elements (Fig. 1). In conjunction with an earlier study (16), we found that the growth-related promoter activity requires both the entire MRE-1/MRE-2r region and downstream MRE-2f, but it is down-regulated by either MRE-1 or MRE-2r. The MRE-1 also acts in synergy with MRE-2f to antagonize the suppressive role of MRE-2r on iron-inducible transcription. Moreover, either MRE-1/MRE-2r or MRE-2f is sufficient to repress transcription to the basal level, while MRE-1 alone further suppresses basal transcription. The roles of respective promoter elements described herein are summarized in Table 2. This intricate gene regulation and the binding of multiple Myb proteins to each of these DNA elements (Refs. 15 and 16, Fig. 4, E and F) suggest that regulation of ap65-1 transcription involves competition or coordination among multiple Myb proteins to gain access to the overlapping promoter sites. This postulation is supported by the biochemical characteristics and functional roles of Myb2 versus Myb1 (16, Table 3). Competition or coordination for access to the over-lapping promoter sites by two distinct DNA binding transcription factors is not unusual as also observed in other eukaryotic gene expression systems (23-27); however, the Myb proteins in T. vaginalis seem to act differently from animal A-Myb, B-Myb, and c-Myb, which exhibit similar DNA binding specificities but transactivate distinct sets of genes (28, 29).
DNA binding specificity is only one of the principle determinants for a DNA binding transcription factor to select its target genes. In this regard, rMyb2 was found to possess dual DNA binding specificity toward two distinct sequence contexts (Fig. 4, C and D), which deviate from those recognized by rMyb1 (16), in the MRE-1/MRE-2r and MRE-2f regions. The distinction may derive from the divergence of the protein sequences of the reputed base-contacting amino acids (Fig. 2A). Intriguingly, Myb2 is only one of the nuclear proteins targeting MRE-2r or MRE-2f (Fig. 4, E and F). Two myb2-like genes, which share six or seven of the eight reputed base-contacting amino acids in the R2R3 domain with the myb2 gene in the protein sequences (Fig. 2B), are candidates for testing whether it also encodes a Myb protein that compete with Myb2 in binding MRE-2r or MRE-2f. DNA binding specificity of Myb2 would only provide the recognition code for its promoter selection as suggested by the inability of Myb2 to enter the -tubulin promoter (Fig. 7). Timely and gene-specific promoter entry by Myb2 requires additional controls imposed at multiple cellular levels as discussed below.
Nuclear translocation is likely another critical step for the parasite to modulate the function of Myb2. Like Myb1 (16), Myb2 is expressed into multiple sizes in T. vaginalis with only the largest one capable of entering the nucleus (Fig. 3C). In general, small proteins such as Myb2 can passively diffuse through nuclear pores (30). T. vaginalis is no exception to this rule as suggested by a functional study of a 23-kDa bacterial Tet repressor overexpressed in the parasite (31). Exclusion of premature Myb2 from the nucleus implies that Myb2 may either self-oligomerize or interact with a protein inhibitor to form a larger protein complex for cytoplasmic retention, and that its nuclear import is likely to be activated by post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation or sumoylation, as in other eukaryotic systems (32-34). Unlike iron-activated nuclear localization of Myb1 (16), cellular distribution of Myb2 only slightly varied under our test conditions (Fig. 3D), indicating that the nuclear imports of Myb1 and Myb2 are likely activated by different signaling pathways. Iron exerted dual effects on Myb2 activity by persistent repression of Myb2 expression and temporal activation/deactivation of Myb2 promoter entry that may have variable impacts on multifarious ap65-1 transcription (Figs. 3 and 7). The level of ap65-1 transcription is partially attributable to Myb2 expression level as suggested by the transgenic assays, in which overexpression of HA-Myb2 was correlated with increased transcription under iron-depleted conditions (Fig. 5E), while knockdown of Myb2 was correlated with repression of iron-inducible transcription (Fig. 6D). Overexpression of HA-Myb2 under iron repletion did not further improve the transcription level of the ap65-1 gene in the transgenic parasite beyond that already achieved under iron-depleted conditions (Fig. 5E), implying that an additional rate-limiting factor or factors, such as that which binds MRE-1, is needed to corroborate Myb2 activity in iron-inducible ap65-1 transcription. This speculation is supported by synergistic actions of MRE-1 and MRE-2f in iron-inducible transcription in conjunction with preferential binding of the nuclear Myb2 to MRE-2f over MRE-2r (Table 2 and Fig. 4G). On the other hand, the Myb2 positive role in basal transcription as defined herein does not comply with our previous findings that either MRE-1/MRE-2r or MRE-2f is sufficient to suppress transcription to the basal level (16), indicating that another MRE-2-binding protein(s) (MRE-2-BP) (Fig. 4, E and F) may compete with Myb2 for promoter entry to repress transcription in the early phase of iron depletion. Intriguingly, the level of ap65-1 transcription correlates with the level of Myb2 promoter entry only in growth-related transcription and early phase of iron-inducible transcription, whereas the late phase of iron-inducible transcription is inversely related to the level of Myb2 promoter entry (Fig. 7B). The significance is postulated below. These findings support the modulation of Myb2 promoter entry likely being a far more crucial step than modulation of Myb2 expression in transcriptional regulation of the ap65-1 gene. Information derived from these observations will be useful for investigation on the signaling pathways leading to Myb2 differential promoter selection. Moreover, with the roles of Myb2 in overall expression of the AP65 proteins (Figs. 5 and 6), the transgenic cell lines generated from this study will also be useful for testing the role of Myb2 in controlling cytoadherence of the parasite. Based on this and earlier studies (15, 16), we propose that transcription of the ap65-1 gene is regulated by coordination or competition of multiple Myb proteins to gain access to the MRE-1/MRE-2r and MRE-2f sites (Fig. 8). In this model, only a negligible fraction of Myb1 is available in the nucleus when T. vaginalis is exposed to limited iron (15). In the initial phase of iron depletion, a low level of MRE-1-BP may either compete or coordinate with MRE-2-BP to enter the MRE-1/MRE-2r site (Ref. 15 and Fig. 4E), whereas MRE-2-BP may also occupy the MRE-2f site in competition with Myb2 (Fig. 4F). Upon prolonged iron depletion, Myb2 may be modified at a specific site to facilitate promoter entry replacing the original MRE-2-BP on MRE-2f. Excessive Myb2 upon entering the ap65-1 promoter may then be redirected to MRE-2r to increase transcription in synergy with MRE-1-BP. When cells are initially exposed to ample iron supply, Myb2 may be modified at a different site to facilitate entry into MRE-2f, and then acts in synergy with MRE-1-BP to facilitate ap65-1 transcription. Increasing level of MRE-1-BP may enter the MRE-1 site upon prolonged iron repletion to further corroborate the action of Myb2 on MRE-2f. Iron may also activate nuclear import of Myb1 (15), which may compete with MRE-1-BP for access to MRE-1/MRE-2r to repress iron-inducible transcription. The model provides a working hypothesis for further study on the mechanism underlying iron-inducible ap65-1 transcription. It will also be useful for testing whether some of the components in this scheme control the global gene expression of the parasite in response to the changes in iron supply and some unidentified growth-derived factors. In summary, our results suggest that Myb2 plays an active role in various aspects of ap65-1 transcription, and that the Myb2 function is largely modulated at the level of promoter selection by iron and some growth-derived factor(s).
* This work was supported in part by Grants from the National Science Council (NSC92-2314-B-001-009 and NSC93-2314-B-001-003) and IBMS, Academia Sinica. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact. 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed: Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 11529. Tel.: 886-2-26523934; Fax: 886-2-27858847; E-mail: taijh{at}gate.sinica.edu.tw.
2 The abbreviations used are: ap, adhesion protein; ChIP, chromatin immunoprecipitation; EMSA, electrophoretic mobility shift assay; HA, hemagglutinin; IFA, immunofluorescence assay; MRE, Myb-recognition element; MRE-1-BP, MRE-1-binding protein; MRE-2-BP, MRE-2-binding protein; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; utr, untranslated region.
3 J. H. Tai, unpublished observations.
We thank Dan Chamberlin for editing of this manuscript. The monoclonal anti-malic enzyme antibody 15D7 and anti-cytosolic malic enzyme antibody were obtained from Dr. Guy Brugerolle at the Universite Blaise Pascal de Clermont-Ferrand, France, and Dr. Ivan Hrdy at Charles University, Czech Republic, respectively. We also wish to thank the Institute of Genomic Research (TIGR) for the use of preliminary T. vaginalis genome sequence data from the T. vaginalis Genome Sequence Project.
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