Abstract
Biallelic inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene (VHL) is linked to the development of hereditary (VHL-associated) and sporadic clear-cell renal carcinomas as well as other abnormalities. The VHL gene product, pVHL, is part of an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that targets the alpha subunits of the heterodimeric transcription factor HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) for degradation in the presence of oxygen. Here we report that a HIF2alpha variant lacking both of its two prolyl hydroxylation/pVHL-binding sites prevents tumor inhibition by pVHL in a DNA-binding dependent manner. Conversely, downregulation of HIF2alpha with short hairpin RNAs is sufficient to suppress tumor formation by pVHL-defective renal carcinoma cells. These results establish that tumor suppression by pVHL is linked to regulation of HIF target genes.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / genetics
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Alleles
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology
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Binding Sites
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Proliferation
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Dimerization
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Down-Regulation
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
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Gene Silencing
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Genetic Variation
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Humans
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Immunoblotting
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Kidney Neoplasms / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Nude
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Neoplasm Transplantation
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Oxygen / metabolism
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Plasmids / metabolism
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Protein Binding
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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RNA / chemistry
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RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
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Retroviridae / genetics
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Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / physiology
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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RNA, Small Interfering
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endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1
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RNA
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Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
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VHL protein, human
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Oxygen