An RNAi-based dimorphic genetic screen identified the double bromodomain protein BET-1 as a sumo-dependent attenuator of RAS-mediated signalling

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 10;8(12):e83659. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083659. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Attenuation of RAS/RAF/MAPK signalling is essential to prevent hyperactivation of this oncogenic pathway. In C. elegans, the sumoylation pathway and a combination of histone tail modifications regulate gene expression to attenuate the LET-60 (RAS) signalling pathway. We hypothesised that a number of chromatin regulators are likely to depend on sumoylation to attenuate the pathway. To reveal these, we designed an RNAi-based dimorphic genetic screen that selects candidates based on their ability to act as enhancers of a sumo mutant phenotype, such interactions would suggest that the candidates may be physically associated with sumoylation. We found 16 enhancers, one of which BET-1, is a conserved double bromodomain containing protein. We further characterised BET-1 and showed that it can physically associate with SMO-1 and UBC-9, and that it can be sumoylated in vitro within the second bromodomain at lysine 252. Previous work has shown that BET-1 can bind acetyl-lysines on histone tails to influence gene expression. In conclusion, our screening approach has identified BET-1 as a Sumo-dependent attenuator of LET-60-mediated signalling and our characterisation suggests that BET-1 can be sumoylated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • SUMO-1 Protein / genetics
  • SUMO-1 Protein / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Sumoylation / physiology*
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • BET-1 protein, C elegans
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SUMO-1 Protein
  • let-60 protein, C elegans
  • ras Proteins