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Mol. Cell. Biol., May 1997, 2550-2558, Vol 17, No. 5
I Han and JE Kudlow
Sp1 is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that is particularly
important for the regulation of TATA-less genes that encode housekeeping
proteins. Most growth factors and receptors are also encoded by such genes.
Sp1 is multiply O glycosylated by covalent linkage of the monosaccharide
N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to serine and threonine residues. Based on
an earlier observation that growth factor gene transcription can be
regulated by glucose and glucosamine in vascular smooth muscle cells, we
determined whether Sp1 glycosylation could be regulated and if this
modification altered Sp1 function. We found that Sp1 becomes
hyperglycosylated when cells are exposed to 5 mM glucosamine, whereas under
glucose starvation, stimulation with cyclic AMP (cAMP) results in nearly
complete deglycosylation of this protein. Correlating with this
hypoglycosylated state, Sp1 is rapidly proteolytically degraded by an
enzyme(s) that can be inhibited by specific proteasome inhibitors,
lactacystin and LLnL. Treatment of cells with glucose or glucosamine
protects Sp1 from cAMP- mediated degradation, whereas blockade of
glucosamine synthesis abrogates glucose but not glucosamine protection.
This effect on Sp1 is specific, in that the Stat-3 and E2F transcription
factors did not undergo degradation under these conditions. The O-GlcNAc
modification of Sp1 may play a role as a nutritional checkpoint. In the
absence of adequate nutrition, Sp1 becomes hypoglycosylated and thereby
subject to proteasome degradation. This process could potentially result in
reduced general transcription, thereby conserving nutrients.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Reduced O glycosylation of Sp1 is associated with increased proteasome susceptibility
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
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