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Mol. Cell. Biol., 04 1997, 1860-1867, Vol 17, No. 4
I Dussault and V Giguere
ROR alpha1 and RVR are orphan members of the superfamily of nuclear hormone
receptors which constitutively activate and repress, respectively, gene
transcription by binding to a common DNA sequence. In an attempt to
understand the physiological functions of these two transcription factors,
we aimed to identify target genes. We have identified a consensus binding
site for ROR alpha1 and RVR in the first intron of the N-myc gene that we
designated N-myc RORE (ROR response element). Unlike most of the intronic
sequence, the region encompassing the N-myc RORE is highly conserved
between human and mouse, underscoring its importance. Our studies revealed
that ROR alpha1 and RVR specifically bind to the human and mouse N-myc
ROREs and transactivate and transrepress, respectively, reporter constructs
containing the ROREs. Moreover, Northern blot analysis demonstrated a
direct modulation of an exogenously introduced N-myc gene by ROR alpha1 and
RVR in COS-1 cells. This effect is mediated through the N-myc RORE, since
mutation of this site abolished the regulatory effects of both receptors.
While transfection of ROR alpha1 in P19 embryonic carcinoma cells had no
effect on the levels of endogenous N-myc mRNA, RVR down- regulated its
expression. The regulatory function of the N-myc RORE was further
demonstrated by the rat embryonic fibroblast (REF) transformation assay.
Mutation of the RORE increased the oncogenic potential of the N-myc gene in
the REF assay. The foci were more numerous and significantly larger with
the mutated than with the wild- type N-myc gene, regardless of ROR alpha1
or RVR expression. Moreover, concomitant expression of ROR alpha1 and
wild-type N-myc resulted in a twofold increase in the number of transformed
foci. In contrast, RVR expression resulted in the formation of foci that
could be established as permanent clones with a very low frequency compared
to foci transformed in its absence. These observations show that ablation
of the RORE results in a more oncogenic form of N-myc and suggest that
deregulation of the activity of the ROR alpha1 and RVR could contribute to
the initiation and progression of certain neoplasias.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Differential regulation of the N-myc proto-oncogene by ROR alpha and RVR, two orphan members of the superfamily of nuclear hormone receptors
Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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