PIASy-deficient mice display modest defects in IFN and Wnt signaling

J Immunol. 2004 Nov 15;173(10):6189-99. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.10.6189.

Abstract

Protein inhibitors of activated STATs (PIAS) represent a small family of nuclear proteins that modulate the activity of many transcription factors and act as E3 ligases for covalent modification of proteins with the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). In particular, PIASy has been shown to inhibit the activation of gene expression by the IFN-responsive transcription factor STAT1 and the Wnt-responsive transcription factor LEF1. To assess the function of PIASy in vivo, we generated and analyzed mice carrying a targeted mutation of the Piasy gene. We find that homozygous mutant mice have no obvious morphological defects and have a normal distribution of lymphocyte populations. Molecular analysis of signaling in response to IFN-gamma and Wnt agonists revealed a modest reduction in the activation of endogenous and transfected target genes. Two-dimensional analysis of total proteins and SUMO-modified proteins in transformed pre-B cells showed no significant differences between wild-type mice and homozygous mutant mice. Taken together, our data indicate that PIASy has a modest effect on cytokine and Wnt signaling, suggesting a redundancy with other members of the family of PIAS proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / physiology
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Gene Silencing
  • Hematopoiesis / genetics
  • Hematopoiesis / immunology
  • Homozygote
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Interferons / physiology*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / deficiency*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology
  • Lac Operon
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional / methods
  • Protein Inhibitors of Activated STAT
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Wnt Proteins

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Piasy protein, mouse
  • Protein Inhibitors of Activated STAT
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Interferons