Academic literature on the topic 'ATF4'

Mammalian cells respond to amino acid deprivation through multiple signaling pathways referred to as the amino acid response (AAR). Transcription factors mediate the AAR after their activation by several mechanisms; examples include translational control (activating transcription factor 4, ATF4), phosphorylation (p-cJUN), and transcriptional control (ATF3). ATF4 induces ATF3 transcription through a promoter-localized C/EBP-ATF response element (CARE). The present report characterizes an ATF/CRE site upstream of the CARE that also contributes to AAR-induced ATF3 transcription. ATF4 binds to the ATF/CRE and CARE sequences and both are required for a maximal response to ATF4 induction. ATF3, which antagonizes ATF4 and represses its own gene, also exhibited binding activity to the ATF/CRE and CARE sequences. The AAR resulted in elevated total cJUN and p-cJUN protein levels and both forms exhibited binding activity to the ATF/CRE and CARE ATF3 sequences. Knockdown of AAR-enhanced cJUN expression blocked induction of the ATF3 gene and mutation of either the ATF/CRE or the CARE site prevented the cJUN-dependent increase in ATF3-driven luciferase activity. The results indicate that both increased cJUN and the cis-acting ATF/CRE sequence within the ATF3 promoter contribute to the transcriptional activation of the gene during the AAR.

Abstract The transcription factor cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and activating transcription factors (ATFs) are downstream components of the insulin/IGF cascade, playing crucial roles in maintaining cell viability and embryo survival. One of the CREB target genes is adiponectin, which acts synergistically with insulin. We have studied the CREB-ATF-adiponectin network in rabbit preimplantation development in vivo and in vitro. From the blastocyst stage onwards, CREB and ATF1, ATF3, and ATF4 are present with increasing expression for CREB, ATF1, and ATF3 during gastrulation and with a dominant expression in the embryoblast (EB). In vitro stimulation with insulin and IGF-I reduced CREB and ATF1 transcripts by approximately 50%, whereas CREB phosphorylation was increased. Activation of CREB was accompanied by subsequent reduction in adiponectin and adiponectin receptor (adipoR)1 expression. Under in vivo conditions of diabetes type 1, maternal adiponectin levels were up-regulated in serum and endometrium. Embryonic CREB expression was altered in a cell lineage-specific pattern. Although in EB cells CREB localization did not change, it was translocated from the nucleus into the cytosol in trophoblast (TB) cells. In TB, adiponectin expression was increased (diabetic 427.8 ± 59.3 pg/mL vs normoinsulinaemic 143.9 ± 26.5 pg/mL), whereas it was no longer measureable in the EB. Analysis of embryonic adipoRs showed an increased expression of adipoR1 and no changes in adipoR2 transcription. We conclude that the transcription factors CREB and ATFs vitally participate in embryo-maternal cross talk before implantation in a cell lineage-specific manner. Embryonic CREB/ATFs act as insulin/IGF sensors. Lack of insulin is compensated by a CREB-mediated adiponectin expression, which may maintain glucose uptake in blastocysts grown in diabetic mothers.

Disturbances in protein folding and membrane compositions in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) elicit the unfolded protein response (UPR). Each of three UPR sensory proteins—PERK (PEK/EIF2AK3), IRE1, and ATF6—is activated by ER stress. PERK phosphorylation of eIF2 represses global protein synthesis, lowering influx of nascent polypeptides into the stressed ER, coincident with preferential translation of ATF4 (CREB2). In cultured cells, ATF4 induces transcriptional expression of genes directed by the PERK arm of the UPR, including genes involved in amino acid metabolism, resistance to oxidative stress, and the proapoptotic transcription factor CHOP (GADD153/DDIT3). In this study, we characterize whole-body and tissue-specific ATF4-knockout mice and show in liver exposed to ER stress that ATF4 is not required for CHOP expression, but instead ATF6 is a primary inducer. RNA-Seq analysis indicates that ATF4 is responsible for a small portion of the PERK-dependent UPR genes and reveals a requirement for expression of ATF4 for expression of genes involved in oxidative stress response basally and cholesterol metabolism both basally and under stress. Consistent with this pattern of gene expression, loss of ATF4 resulted in enhanced oxidative damage, and increased free cholesterol in liver under stress accompanied by lowered cholesterol in sera.

The stress response and cell survival are necessary for normal pancreatic β-cell function, glucose homeostasis, and prevention of diabetes. The homeodomain transcription factor and human diabetes gene pancreas/duodenum homeobox protein 1 (Pdx1) regulates β-cell survival and endoplasmic reticulum stress susceptibility, in part through direct regulation of activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4). Here we show that Atf5, a close but less-studied relative of Atf4, is also a target of Pdx1 and is critical for β-cell survival under stress conditions. Pdx1 deficiency led to decreased Atf5 transcript, and primary islet ChIP-sequencing localized PDX1 to the Atf5 promoter, implicating Atf5 as a PDX1 target. Atf5 expression was stress inducible and enriched in β cells. Importantly, Atf5 deficiency decreased survival under stress conditions. Loss-of-function and chromatin occupancy experiments positioned Atf5 downstream of and parallel to Atf4 in the regulation of eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4ebp1), a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway component that inhibits protein translation. Accordingly, Atf5 deficiency attenuated stress suppression of global translation, likely enhancing the susceptibility of β cells to stress-induced apoptosis. Thus, we identify ATF5 as a member of the transcriptional network governing pancreatic β-cell survival during stress.

The adaptive response to amino acid limitation in mammalian cells inhibits global protein synthesis and promotes the expression of proteins that protect cells from stress. The arginine/lysine transporter, cat-1, is induced during amino acid starvation by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. It is shown in the present study that the transient induction of cat-1 transcription is regulated by the stress response pathway that involves phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor, eIF2 (eukaryotic initiation factor-2). This phosphorylation induces expression of the bZIP (basic leucine zipper protein) transcription factors C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein)-β and ATF (activating transcription factor) 4, which in turn induces ATF3. Transfection experiments in control and mutant cells, and chromatin immunoprecipitations showed that ATF4 activates, whereas ATF3 represses cat-1 transcription, via an AARE (amino acid response element), TGATGAAAC, in the first exon of the cat-1 gene, which functions both in the endogenous and in a heterologous promoter. ATF4 and C/EBPβ activated transcription when expressed in transfected cells and they bound as heterodimers to the AARE in vitro. The induction of transcription by ATF4 was inhibited by ATF3, which also bound to the AARE as a heterodimer with C/EBPβ. These results suggest that the transient increase in cat-1 transcription is due to transcriptional activation caused by ATF4 followed by transcriptional repression by ATF3 via a feedback mechanism.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type lymphoma and the standard therapy R-CHOP regimen has made most patients complete remission, however, 30-40% patients still remains be refractory or relapsed and have a dismal outcome, indicating standard cytotoxic therapy also has limits in these patients. Therefore, it is essential to identify novel therapeutic targets and agents to understand the depth molecular pathogenesis mechanism of DLBCL and overcome the relapsed/refractory. EHMT2 abnormally expression has been discovered in various kinds of malignant cells, and its higher expression may be concerned with poor prognostic of these cancers. BIX-01294 is a small molecule compound which specifically inhibits EHMT2 activity and induces demethylation of H3K9. However, the role of BIX-01294 and the involvement of EHMT2 in DLBCL is not well study now. In the present study, we first examined the expression of EHMT2 and found EHMT2 were downregulated both in protein and mRNA levels. To determine the effect of BIX-01294 on DLBCL cells growth status, CCK-8 assay was preformed to detect the viability. BIX-01294 exhibited notable proliferation suppression in a dose-dependent manner in DLBCL cells, no matter the ABC type or GCB type cells. Then flow cytometry analysis was carried out to investigate the cell cycle distribution when treated with BIX-01294. The cells in G1 phase were increased in a dose-dependent fashion both in U2932 and SUDHL2 cells, and accompanied by the population in S phase was decreased. Furthermore, we preformed flow cytometric assay to elucidate apoptotic effect and found that BIX-01294 treatment induced U2932 and SUDHL2 apoptosis. By western blot and RT-qPCR, we also showed that the expression of anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP was decreased and the level of DR4 and DR5 was upregulated. Conformably, BIX-01294 down-regulated anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 expression and up-regulated pro-apoptotic protein Bax level, indicating BIX-01294 activates exogenous and endogenous apoptotic signaling pathway in human DLBCL cells. We also showed both protein and mRNA levels of LC3B increased when cells treated with BIX-01294 in DLBCL cells, proves BIX-01294 also triggers autophagy. To elucidate the mechanism of BIX-01294-induced apoptosis and autophagy in DLBCL cells, we studied the active stage of ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress. We examined the expression of GRP78, CHOP, ATF3 and ATF4, which were regarded as important protein markers of ER stress and found that their expression were all enhanced in a dose-dependent fashion, indicate BIX-01294 activates ER stress. We then wondered whether ATF3 and ATF4 influenced apoptosis and autophagy induced by BIX-01294. We conducted shRNA to inhibit ATF3 or ATF4 expression and found inhibition of ATF3 or ATF4 upregulation decreased the expression of LC3B, indicating ATF3 and ATF4 were contributed to BIX-01294 induced autophagy. CCK8 assay showed that the viability was increased in ATF3 or ATF4 abrogated cells after exposure to BIX-01294. Consistently, the percentage of apoptosis was significantly decreased in ATF3 or ATF4 knockdown cells than control cells by Annexin-V staining flow cytometry. In our experiments, we also showed that suppressed ATF4 expression inhibited ATF3 and CHOP expression in DLBCL cells. In conclusion, we showed that with the increased concentration of BIX-01294, the cell survival rate of DLBCL was obviously inhibited and cell cycle was arrested in G1 phase. BIX-01294 induced DLBCL cells apoptosis and autophagy. Furtherly, we explored one of the underlying mechanisms is through activating the ER stress pathway. We speculated that BIX-01294 treatment induces ATF4 upregulation, and then promotes ATF3 and CHOP expression, subsequently contributes to BIX-01294-mediated autophagy and apoptosis. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Environmental stresses that disrupt protein homeostasis induce phosphorylation of eIF2, triggering repression of global protein synthesis coincident with preferential translation of ATF4, a transcriptional activator of the integrated stress response (ISR). Depending on the extent of protein disruption, ATF4 may not be able to restore proteostatic control and instead switches to a terminal outcome that features elevated expression of the transcription factor CHOP (GADD153/DDIT3). The focus of this study is to define the mechanisms by which CHOP directs gene regulatory networks that determine cell fate. We find that in response to proteasome inhibition, CHOP enhances the expression of a collection of genes encoding transcription regulators, including ATF5, which is preferentially translated during eIF2 phosphorylation. Transcriptional expression of ATF5 is directly induced by both CHOP and ATF4. Knockdown of ATF5 increases cell survival in response to proteasome inhibition, supporting the idea that both ATF5 and CHOP have proapoptotic functions. Transcriptome analysis of ATF5-dependent genes reveals targets involved in apoptosis, including NOXA, which is important for inducing cell death during proteasome inhibition. This study suggests that the ISR features a feedforward loop of stress-induced transcriptional regulators, each subject to transcriptional and translational control, which can switch cell fate toward apoptosis.

The UPR (unfolded protein response) pathway comprises three signalling cascades mediated by the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress-sensor proteins PERK [PKR (double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase)-like ER kinase], IRE1 (inositol-requiring kinase 1) and ATF6 (activating transcription factor 6). The present study shows that ASNS (asparagine synthetase) transcription activity was up-regulated in HepG2 cells treated with the UPR activators thapsigargin and tunicamycin. ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) analysis demonstrated that during ER stress, ATF4, ATF3 and C/EBPβ (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β) bind to the ASNS proximal promoter region that includes the genomic sequences NSRE (nutrient-sensing response element)-1 and NSRE-2, previously implicated by mutagenesis in UPR activation. Consistent with increased ASNS transcription, ChIP analysis also demonstrated that UPR signalling resulted in enhanced recruitment of general transcription factors, including RNA Pol II (polymerase II), to the ASNS promoter. The ASNS gene is also activated by the AAR (amino acid response) pathway following amino acid deprivation of tissue or cells. Immunoblot analysis of HepG2 cells demonstrated that simultaneous activation of the AAR and UPR pathways did not further increase the ASNS or ATF4 protein abundance when compared with triggering either pathway alone. In addition, siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated knockdown of XBP1 (X-box-binding protein 1), ATF6α or ATF6β expression did not affect ASNS transcription, whereas siRNA against ATF4 suppressed ASNS transcription during UPR activation. Collectively, these results indicate that the PERK/p-eIF2α (phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α)/ATF4 signalling cascade is the only arm of the UPR that is responsible for ASNS transcriptional induction during ER stress. Consequently, ASNS NSRE-1 and NSRE-2, in addition to ERSE (ER stress response element)-I, ERSE-II and the mUPRE (mammalian UPR element), function as mammalian ER-stress-responsive sequences.

Infants diagnosed with KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2Ar) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a poor prognosis with an event free survival of 23-44%. To identify new treatment approaches we previously performed in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate the activity of FDA approved compounds in 15 primary KMT2Ar infant leukemia samples. Three classes of agents were found to be active in these assays: proteasome inhibitors, anthracyclines, and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). KMT2Ar infant leukemia samples were exquisitely sensitive to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, requiring 10-100 fold less drug to achieve 50% toxicity when compared to non-KMT2Ar childhood ALL. Bortezomib is FDA approved for multiple myeloma and laboratory studies using this model system have previously demonstrated responses to be mediated through several mechanisms including NFKB inhibition, stabilization of cell cycle regulatory proteins, and perhaps most importantly the induction of an unfolded protein response (UPR) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress-induced apoptosis. To evaluate global protein dynamics in KMT2Ar ALL cells treated with bortezomib, we performed tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative mass spectrometry on synchronized SEM cells exposed to either 50nM of bortezomib or DMSO at 0 hours (hr), 6hr, 12hr, 16hr, and 20hr. Applying pairwise comparison for 9232 unique proteins measured over the time course compared to untreated controls, we identified 1593 proteins with a log2 fold change >1.5 in bortezomib treated cells compared to 101 proteins in the DMSO control (FDR<0.01). Several proteins associated with ER-stress-induced apoptosis including ATF4, DDIT4, ATF3, TSC22D3 (GILZ), and PMAIP1 (NOXA) were upregulated more than 3-fold between 6 and 20hr, suggesting this pathway may play a role in bortezomib induced apoptosis of KMT2Ar cells (p<0.05 and log2 fold change of +/- 0.58). To validate this finding and further understand the role of the UPR and ER-stress-induced apoptosis, we evaluated seven key mediators of this pathway by western blot following bortezomib exposure on synchronized SEM cells over a 12 hour time course including ATF4, ATF6, CHOP, PERK, GADD34, CReP, and eIF2α as well as phosphorylated PERK (p-PERK) and eIF2α (p-eIF2α). This demonstrated a critical time point at 6hr where an increase in ATF4 (3.5 fold), CHOP (1.6 fold), and CReP (2.9 fold) protein levels was accompanied by a decrease in p-PERK (0.7 fold), and p-eIF2α (0.8 fold) whereas GADD34 levels remained constant. Although full-sized ATF6 (ATF6a) protein showed a considerable increase (1.9 fold), the levels of cleaved ATF6 (ATF6f) were only slightly increased (1.2 fold) consistent with ATF4-mediated upregulation of CHOP leading to increased protein synthesis along with ATP depletion, oxidative stress, and cell death. While GADD34 has been shown to be the main phosphatase that functions in a negative feedback loop to resolve cell stress, recent data suggests that stabilization of CReP mRNA by ER stress is able to reverse eIF2α phosphorylation at later stages of UPR leading to re-expression of key UPR proteins. Further, p-eIF2α-attenuated protein synthesis, and not ATF4 mRNA translation has been shown to promote cell survival. Our data support a model whereby the UPR and ER-stress in KMT2Ar ALL cells is induced upon exposure to bortezomib leading to increased levels of ATF4 and CHOP. Attenuation of p-eIF2α by CReP further contributes to cell death through the recovery of protein synthesis in a setting of limited protein folding capacity. These results support the use of proteasome inhibitors in KMT2Ar leukemia which is currently being formally evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial for newly diagnosed patients with infant ALL (NCT02553460). Disclosures Gruber: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy.