Mechanisms of unphosphorylated STAT3 transcription factor binding to DNA

J Biol Chem. 2012 Apr 20;287(17):14192-200. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.323899. Epub 2012 Feb 29.

Abstract

Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) on a single tyrosine residue in response to growth factors, cytokines, interferons, and oncogenes activates its dimerization, translocation to the nucleus, binding to the interferon γ (gamma)-activated sequence (GAS) DNA-binding site and activation of transcription of target genes. STAT3 is constitutively phosphorylated in various cancers and drives gene expression from GAS-containing promoters to promote tumorigenesis. Recently, roles for unphosphorylated STAT3 (U-STAT3) have been described in response to cytokine stimulation, in cancers, and in maintenance of heterochromatin stability. However, the mechanisms underlying U-STAT3 binding to DNA has not been fully investigated. Here, we explore STAT3-DNA interactions by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. We observed that U-STAT3 molecules bind to the GAS DNA-binding site as dimers and monomers. In addition, we observed that U-STAT3 binds to AT-rich DNA sequence sites and recognizes specific DNA structures, such as 4-way junctions and DNA nodes, within negatively supercoiled plasmid DNA. These structures are important for chromatin organization and our data suggest a role for U-STAT3 as a chromatin/genome organizer. Unexpectedly, we found that a C-terminal truncated 67.5-kDa STAT3 isoform recognizes single-stranded spacers within cruciform structures that also have a role in chromatin organization and gene expression. This isoform appears to be abundant in the nuclei of cancer cells and, therefore, may have a role in regulation of gene expression. Taken together, our data highlight novel mechanisms by which U-STAT3 binds to DNA and supports U-STAT3 function as a transcriptional activator and a chromatin/genomic organizer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin / chemistry*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Subcellular Fractions

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Protein Isoforms
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • DNA