Friend of GATA-1–independent transcriptional repression: a novel mode of GATA-1 function

FOG-1 is an essential coregulator of GATA-1 during hematopoiesis, mediating both transcriptional activation and repression.^1–3  The importance of FOG-1 is underscored by the finding that FOG-1–deficient mice die from anemia with defects resembling loss of GATA-1.³  A substitution mutation at valine 205 within the amino-terminal zinc finger of GATA-1 that impairs the association with FOG-1¹  occurs in patients with anemia.⁴  In the GATA-1–null erythroid precursor cell line G1E,⁵  valine 205 mutations prevent GATA-1 from rescuing the maturation block.²  A compensatory FOG-1 mutation, which restores the interaction with GATA-1 (V205) mutants, rescues the G1E differentiation defects, demonstrating the specificity of the GATA-1 (V205) mutation for FOG-1. Repression by GATA-1 can involve FOG-1–dependent recruitment of the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase (NuRD) complex to GATA-1 target genes.⁶  However, complementation studies in FOG-1^−/− cells indicate that the NuRD binding domain of FOG-1 is required for megakaryocytic but not erythroid differentiation.⁷ 

Despite the importance of FOG-1 as a GATA-1 coregulator, examples of FOG-1–independent transcriptional activation by GATA-1 have been reported. Expression of ER–GATA-1(V205G) in G1E cells induced transcripts for erythroid Kruppel-like factor (Eklf), heme-regulated eIF-α-kinase (HRI), and Fog1.²  We described FOG-1–independent activation of Tac2, which encodes a neurokinin-B precursor.^8,9  ER–GATA-1–mediated Tac2 expression was biphasic, with FOG-1–independent activation followed by FOG-1–dependent repression. Abrogating the GATA-1 interaction with FOG-1 enhanced the ability of GATA-1 to occupy a Tac2 regulatory region and to activate Tac2 transcription and prevented the late repression phase. Whereas the aforementioned genes are induced by GATA-1 independently of FOG-1, herein we describe a novel mode of GATA-1 repression, operational at target genes in mouse and human systems, in which FOG-1 is absolutely not required.

G1E cells were cultured as described in Document S1 (available on the Blood website; see the Supplemental Materials link at the top of the online article). Human primary erythroid progenitors were derived by in vitro culture of CD34⁺ cells isolated from growth factor–mobilized peripheral blood¹⁰  as described in Document S1.

cDNAs were prepared from RNA purified with Trizol (GIBCO/BRL, Carlsbad, CA) as described.¹¹  Primers are described in Document S1.

ChIP analysis was conducted as described.⁹  Primers and antibodies are described in Document S1.

Transcriptional regulation by GATA-1 has been extensively studied in G1E cells using a ligand-activated estrogen receptor hormone binding domain fusion to GATA-1 (ER–GATA-1).^9,11,12  As a discovery tool to identify GATA-1 target genes regulated independently of FOG-1, we conducted expression profiling in a G1E clone expressing the ER–GATA-1 (V205G) mutant. Genes identified on the array as being repressed by ER–GATA-1(V205G) upon β-estradiol treatment (Figure S1) were validated by real-time RT-PCR. Wild-type ER–GATA-1 and ER–GATA-1(V205G) repressed several genes similarly (Figure 1A). Of the targets identified, only lymphoblastic leukemia (Lyl1) has been described as a GATA-1–repressed gene.¹³ Lyl1 is expressed in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and in all hematopoietic lineages except T cells.^14,15 Lyl1 overexpression is associated with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia¹⁶  and acute myeloblastic leukemia.¹⁷  Regulator of G-protein signaling 18 (Rgs18) is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and to a lesser extent in more committed hematopoietic progenitors¹⁸  and is abundant in megakaryocytes.¹⁹ Rgs13 is expressed in germinal center B lymphocytes and is implicated in regulating chemokine response.²⁰  Although not identified on the array, Rgs1, positioned between Rgs13 and Rgs18 on chromosome 1, was also down-regulated in G1E cells by ER–GATA-1(V205G). Rgs1 is expressed in B cells^21,22  and monocytes.²³ Treml2, a member of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells gene cluster, is expressed in B cells, neutrophils, and macrophages.²⁴ Clec4d (Mpcl/mcl/mMCL/Clecsf8) is a C-type lectin with restricted expression in the monocyte/macrophage lineage.²⁵ Adamts5, a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5, is an aggrecanase present in cartilage.²⁶ Tmem44, a putative transmembrane protein, has not been studied. Whereas the genes identified herein were efficiently repressed by ER–GATA-1(V205G), Gata2, a known FOG-1–dependent GATA-1 target,^2,11  was not repressed in these clones. Furthermore, none of the genes were repressed in β-estradiol–treated G1E cells that lacked an ER–GATA-1 chimera, demonstrating that repression is not due to β-estradiol treatment (Figure S2).

As the V205G mutation may not completely abrogate the GATA-1:FOG-1 interaction⁴  in the G1E cell system, we used clones of a FOG-1^−/− hematopoietic precursor cell line⁷  stably expressing ER–GATA-1. Upon β-estradiol treatment, Lyl1, Rgs1, Rgs18, Treml2, and Clec4d were repressed (Figure 1B). Repression of Rgs13, Adamts5, and Tmem44 was not measured, as the respective mRNA levels were extremely low in FOG-1^−/− cells, perhaps due to repression by endogenous GATA-1. Whereas ER–GATA-1 repressed Gata2 in G1E cells 15- and 30-fold, Gata2 mRNA in FOG-1^−/− clones decreased only 2- to 4-fold, which represents an 86% reduction in the magnitude of repression, despite high-level ER–GATA-1 expression. Although it is unclear why low-level Gata2 repression occurs in FOG-1^−/− cells but not G1E cells, many GATA-1 targets are not absolutely FOG-1 dependent but can be regulated by GATA-1 to a certain degree independently of FOG-1 (data not shown).

To assess whether the novel FOG-1–independent GATA-1 targets are down-regulated during erythropoiesis, we measured their expression during ex vivo differentiation of human peripheral blood CD34⁺ erythroid progenitors. Gata1 and Gata2 are up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, in this system.⁸  In 2 independent samples, LYL1, RGS1, RGS18, TREML2, CLEC4D, and TMEM44 were down-regulated, whereas the mRNA levels of the Lyl1 paralog TAL1 were largely unchanged until day 14, in which small increases were evident.

In G1E and FOG-1^−/− cells, repression was measured 24 hours after induction of ER–GATA-1 activity by β-estradiol. As such, the ER–GATA-1(V205G) repression kinetics may differ from that of ER–GATA-1. However, mRNA loss rates were nearly identical for Lyl1, Rgs1, and Rgs18 in G1E clones (Figure 2A). Only Rgs13 repression was delayed by the V205G mutation.

GATA-2 occupies conserved GATA motifs within the Lyl1 promoter,²⁷  and a 464-bp region of the promoter that includes the GATA motifs is sufficient to drive Lyl1 expression in endothelial and hematopoietic cells.²⁸  GATA-1 occupancy of the Lyl1 locus had not been studied previously. In G1E cells, ChIP analysis revealed GATA-2 occupancy at the Lyl1 promoter and reduced levels within intron 3 containing a nonconserved WGATAR motif. Little to no occupancy was detected at other WGATAR motifs between Trmt1 and Nfix that flank Lyl1 or at conserved (mouse to human) NGATAR and WGATAN motifs within the same region (Figure 2B). Similar to GATA-2, ER–GATA-1 occupied both the promoter and intron 3 upon ER–GATA-1 activation. These sites were also occupied by GATA-1 and -2 in day-4 embryoid bodies (Figure S3). We also tested whether GATA-1 and GATA-2 occupy the Rgs18 locus. Maximal ER–GATA-1 and GATA-2 occupancy occurred at conserved GATA motifs within the promoter (Figure 2C). Little to no occupancy was detected at other conserved GATA motifs within Rgs18. These results provide strong evidence that Lyl1 and Rgs18 repression occurs via direct ER–GATA-1 occupancy at these loci.

FOG-1–independent repression represents an entirely new mode of GATA-1 activity, expanding the repertoire of mechanisms by which GATA-1 regulates transcription (Figure 2D). The segregation of GATA-1 target genes into distinct mechanistic categories lays the groundwork for the identification of new mediators of GATA-1 function and hematopoiesis. It will be particularly instructive to determine whether target genes residing within a single category function in a common biologic pathway or if the mechanistic diversity reflects the need to contend with a spectrum of chromosomal environments.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants DK55700 (E.H.B.), DK68634 (E.H.B.), and DK069488 (K.D.J.).

National Institutes of Health

Contribution: K.D.J. designed and performed research, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript; M.E.B., J.-A.K., and A.W. performed research; A.B.C. provided a vital reagent; and E.H.B. designed the research and wrote the manuscript.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Correspondence: Emery H. Bresnick, 385 Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; e-mail, ehbresni@wisc.edu.