The stem cell-associated transcription co-factor, ZNF521, interacts with GLI1 and GLI2 and enhances the activity of the Sonic hedgehog pathway

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Sep 26;10(10):715. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1946-x.

Abstract

ZNF521 is a transcription co-factor with recognized regulatory functions in haematopoietic, osteo-adipogenic and neural progenitor cells. Among its diverse activities, ZNF521 has been implicated in the regulation of medulloblastoma (MB) cells, where the Hedgehog (HH) pathway, has a key role in the development of normal cerebellum and of a substantial fraction of MBs. Here a functional cross-talk is shown for ZNF521 with the HH pathway, where it interacts with GLI1 and GLI2, the major HH transcriptional effectors and enhances the activity of HH signalling. In particular, ZNF521 cooperates with GLI1 and GLI2 in the transcriptional activation of GLI (glioma-associated transcription factor)-responsive promoters. This synergism is dependent on the presence of the N-terminal, NuRD-binding motif in ZNF521, and is sensitive to HDAC (histone deacetylase) and GLI inhibitors. Taken together, these results highlight the role of ZNF521, and its interaction with the NuRD complex, in determining the HH response at the level of transcription. This may be of particular relevance in HH-driven diseases, especially regarding the MBs belonging to the SHH (sonic HH) subgroup where a high expression of ZNF521 is correlated with that of HH pathway components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Hedgehog Proteins / agonists
  • Hedgehog Proteins / genetics
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism*
  • Histone Deacetylases / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Multigene Family
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Up-Regulation
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / genetics
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / metabolism*
  • Zinc Finger Protein Gli2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Zinc Finger Protein Gli2 / genetics
  • Zinc Finger Protein Gli2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GLI1 protein, human
  • GLI2 protein, human
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
  • Zinc Finger Protein Gli2
  • zinc finger protein 521, human
  • Histone Deacetylases