Control of cell cycle exit and entry by protein kinase B-regulated forkhead transcription factors

Mol Cell Biol. 2002 Apr;22(7):2025-36. doi: 10.1128/MCB.22.7.2025-2036.2002.

Abstract

AFX-like Forkhead transcription factors, which are controlled by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB) signaling, are involved in regulating cell cycle progression and cell death. Both cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis are mediated in part by transcriptional regulation of p27(kip1). Here we show that the Forkheads AFX (FOXO4) and FKHR-L1 (FOXO3a) also directly control transcription of the retinoblastoma-like p130 protein and cause upregulation of p130 protein expression. Detailed analysis of p130 regulation demonstrates that following Forkhead-induced cell cycle arrest, cells enter G(0) and become quiescent. This is shown by a change in phosphorylation of p130 to G(0)-specific forms and increased p130/E2F-4 complex formation. Most importantly, long-term Forkhead activation causes a sustained but reversible inhibition of proliferation without a marked increase in apoptosis. As for the activity of the Forkheads, we also show that protein levels of p130 are controlled by endogenous PI3K/PKB signaling upon cell cycle reentry. Surprisingly, not only nontransformed cells, but also cancer cells such as human colon carcinoma cells, are forced into quiescence by Forkhead activation. We therefore propose that Forkhead inactivation by PKB signaling in quiescent cells is a crucial step in cell cycle reentry and contributes to the processes of transformation and regeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Blood Proteins / genetics
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle*
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cyclin E
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Proteins*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130
  • Signal Transduction
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Cdkn1b protein, mouse
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin E
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • FOXO1 protein, human
  • FOXO4 protein, human
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RBL2 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rbl2 protein, mouse
  • Retinoblastoma-Like Protein p130
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases