Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050645. Epub 2012 Nov 30.
Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved multifunctional transcription factor that is involved in a variety of cellular processes. Many YY1-regulated genes have crucial roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation. Numerous mechanisms have been shown to regulate the function of YY1, such as DNA binding affinity, subcellular localization, and posttranslational modification including phosphorylation. Polo-like kinase 1(Plk1) and Casein kinase 2α (CK2 α) were the first two kinases identified to phosphorylate YY1. In this study, we identify a third kinase. We report that YY1 is a novel substrate of the Aurora B kinase both in vitro and in vivo. Serine 184 phosphorylation of YY1 by Aurora B is cell cycle regulated and peaks at G2/M and is rapidly dephosphorylated, likely by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) as the cells enter G1. Aurora A and Aurora C can also phosphorylate YY1 in vitro, but at serine/threonine residues other than serine 184. We present evidence that phosphorylation of YY1 in the central glycine/alanine (G/A)-rich region is important for DNA binding activity, with a potential phosphorylation/acetylation interplay regulating YY1 function. Given their importance in mitosis and overexpression in human cancers, Aurora kinases have been identified as promising therapeutic targets. Increasing our understanding of Aurora substrates will add to the understanding of their signaling pathways.
阴阳 1(YY1)是一种广泛表达且高度保守的多功能转录因子,参与多种细胞过程。许多 YY1 调节的基因在细胞增殖、分化、凋亡和细胞周期调控中具有关键作用。已经有许多机制被证明可以调节 YY1 的功能,例如 DNA 结合亲和力、亚细胞定位和翻译后修饰,包括磷酸化。Polo 样激酶 1(Plk1)和酪蛋白激酶 2α(CK2α)是最初被鉴定为磷酸化 YY1 的两种激酶。在这项研究中,我们鉴定了第三种激酶。我们报告说,YY1 是 Aurora B 激酶在体外和体内的一种新底物。Aurora B 对 YY1 的丝氨酸 184 磷酸化是细胞周期调节的,在 G2/M 时达到峰值,并迅速去磷酸化,可能是通过蛋白磷酸酶 1(PP1),因为细胞进入 G1。Aurora A 和 Aurora C 也可以在体外磷酸化 YY1,但不是丝氨酸 184 以外的丝氨酸/苏氨酸残基。我们提出的证据表明,YY1 中富含甘氨酸/丙氨酸(G/A)的中心区域的磷酸化对于 DNA 结合活性很重要,磷酸化/乙酰化相互作用可能调节 YY1 的功能。鉴于它们在有丝分裂中的重要性和在人类癌症中的过表达,Aurora 激酶已被确定为有前途的治疗靶点。增加对 Aurora 底物的理解将有助于理解它们的信号通路。