YB-1 acts as a ligand for Notch-3 receptors and modulates receptor activation

J Biol Chem. 2009 Sep 25;284(39):26928-40. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.046599. Epub 2009 Jul 29.

Abstract

Y-box (YB) protein-1 is secreted by mesangial and immune cells after cytokine challenge, but extracellular functions are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular YB-1 associates with outer cell membrane components and interacts with extracellular Notch-3 receptor domains. The interaction appears to be specific for Notch-3, as YB-1-green fluorescent protein binds to the extracellular domains and full-length forms of Notch-3 but not to Notch-1. YB-1-green fluorescent protein and Notch-3 proteins co-localize at cell membranes, and extracellular YB-1 activates Notch-3 signaling, resulting in nuclear translocation of the Notch-3 intracellular domain and up-regulation of Notch target genes. The YB-1/Notch-3 interaction may be of particular relevance for inflammatory mesangioproliferative disease, as both proteins co-localize in an experimental nephritis model and receptor activation temporally and spatially correlates with YB-1 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / genetics
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / metabolism
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / pathology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptor, Notch3
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Notch3 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Notch3
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Transcription Factors
  • YB-1 protein, mouse
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins