Kaiso is the first member of the POZ family of zinc finger transcription factors reported to bind DNA with dual-specificity in both a sequence- and methyl-CpG-specific manner. Here, we report that Kaiso associates with and regulates the cyclin D1 promoter via the consensus Kaiso binding site (KBS), and also via methylated CpG-dinucleotides. The methyl-CpG sites appear critical for Kaiso binding to the cyclin D1 promoter, while a core KBS in close proximity to the methyl-CpGs appears to stabilize Kaiso DNA binding. Kaiso’s binding to both sites was demonstrated in vitro using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and in vivo using Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). To elucidate the functional relevance of Kaiso’s binding to the cyclin D1 promoter, we assessed Kaiso overexpression effects on a minimal cyclin D1 promoter-reporter that contains both KBS and CpG sites. Kaiso repressed this minimal cyclin D1 promoter-reporter in a dose-dependent manner and transcriptional repression occurred in a KBS-specific and methyl-CpG-dependent manner. Collectively our data validates cyclin D1 as a Kaiso target gene and demonstrates a mechanism for Kaiso binding and regulation of the cyclin D1 promoter. Our data also provides a mechanistic basis for how Kaiso may regulate other target genes whose promoters possess both KBS and methyl-CpG sites.

LysR-type transcriptional regulators represent one of the largest groups of prokaryotic regulators described to date. In the gram-negative legume endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, enzymes involved in the protocatechuate branch of the ␤-ketoadipate pathway are encoded within the pcaDCHGB operon, which is subject to regulation by the LysR-type protein PcaQ. In this work, purified PcaQ was shown to bind strongly (equilibrium dissociation constant, 0.54 nM) to a region at positions ؊78 to ؊45 upstream of the pcaD transcriptional start site. Within this region, we defined a PcaQ binding site with dyad symmetry that is required for regulation of pcaD expression in vivo and for binding of PcaQ in vitro. We also demonstrated that PcaQ participates in negative autoregulation by monitoring expression of pcaQ via a transcriptional fusion to lacZ. Although pcaQ homologues are present in many ␣-proteobacteria, this work describes the first reported purification of this regulator, as well as characterization of its binding site, which is conserved in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Rhizobium etli, and Mesorhizobium loti.In a soil environment, plant-derived aromatic acids represent significant carbon and energy sources. The first step in the metabolism of these compounds involves their conversion into either protocatechuate or catechol, which is subsequently metabolized to tricarboxylic acid intermediates via the ␤-ketoadipate pathway (18). This metabolic pathway has been documented in many members of the family Rhizobiaceae (23,35,(38)(39)(40), suggesting that the ␤-ketoadipate pathway is important for the survival of these soil-dwelling microorganisms.Sinorhizobium meliloti is a gram-negative, soil-dwelling bacterium that participates in a symbiotic relationship with the legume alfalfa through the establishment of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Enzymes involved in the protocatechuate branch of the ␤-ketoadipate pathway in S. meliloti are encoded within the pcaDCHGB and pcaIJF operons, which are subject to regulation by products encoded by pcaQ and pcaR, respectively (23). The regulator encoded by pcaQ is a member of the LysR-type transcriptional regulator (LTTR) superfamily, and PcaQ homologues are present in many species of ␣-proteobacteria (3,4,7,23,34,36,37).LysR-type regulators comprise one of the largest groups of prokaryotic transcriptional regulators characterized to date; these proteins regulate a diverse range of regulons, including genes whose products are involved in nitrogen and carbon fixation, biofilm formation, the oxidative stress response, bacterial virulence, and the catabolism of various compounds, including aromatic acids (10,16,19,22,23,28,34,46,47,51,55,57). LTTR proteins consist of a conserved helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif located in the N-terminal portion of the polypeptide, whereas the C terminus includes an inducer binding site. As a general rule, LTTRs act as transcriptional activators by inducing expression of a target gene(s) upon interaction with a coeffector molecule,...

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