Insulin-like growth factor 1 activates methionine adenosyltransferase 2A transcription by multiple pathways in human colon cancer cells.

We have previously reported that the expression of MAT2A (methionine adenosyltransferase 2A) is increased in human colon cancer and in colon cancer cells treated with IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), which was required for its mitogenic effect. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of IGF-1-mediated MAT2A induction. Nuclear run-on analysis confirmed that the increase in MAT2A expression lies at the transcriptional level. DNase I footprinting of the MAT2A promoter region revealed a similar protein-binding pattern in colon cancer and IGF-1-treated RKO cells. IGF-1 induced MAT2A promoter activity and increased nuclear protein binding to USF (upstream stimulatory factor)/c-Myb, YY1 (Yin and Yang 1), E2F, AP-1 (activator protein 1) and NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) consensus elements. IGF-1 increased the expression of c-Jun, FosB, MafG, p65, c-Myb, E2F-1 and YY1 at the pre-translational level. Knockdown of p65, MafG, c-Myb or E2F-1 lowered basal MAT2A expression and blunted the inductive effect of IGF-1 on MAT2A, whereas knockdown of YY1 increased basal MAT2A expression and had no effect on IGF-1-mediated MAT2A induction. Consistently, mutation of AP-1, NF-κB, E2F and USF/c-Myb elements individually blunted the IGF-1-mediated increase in MAT2A promoter activity, and combined mutations completely prevented the increase. In conclusion, IGF-1 activates MAT2A transcription by both known and novel pathways. YY1 represses MAT2A expression.