AKT alters genome-wide estrogen receptor alpha binding and impacts estrogen signaling in breast cancer

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Dec;28(24):7487-503. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00799-08. Epub 2008 Oct 6.

Abstract

Estrogen regulates several biological processes through estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and ERbeta. ERalpha-estrogen signaling is additionally controlled by extracellular signal activated kinases such as AKT. In this study, we analyzed the effect of AKT on genome-wide ERalpha binding in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Parental and AKT-overexpressing cells displayed 4,349 and 4,359 ERalpha binding sites, respectively, with approximately 60% overlap. In both cell types, approximately 40% of estrogen-regulated genes associate with ERalpha binding sites; a similar percentage of estrogen-regulated genes are differentially expressed in two cell types. Based on pathway analysis, these differentially estrogen-regulated genes are linked to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), NF-kappaB, and E2F pathways. Consistent with this, the two cell types responded differently to TGF-beta treatment: parental cells, but not AKT-overexpressing cells, required estrogen to overcome growth inhibition. Combining the ERalpha DNA-binding pattern with gene expression data from primary tumors revealed specific effects of AKT on ERalpha binding and estrogen-regulated expression of genes that define prognostic subgroups and tamoxifen sensitivity of ERalpha-positive breast cancer. These results suggest a unique role of AKT in modulating estrogen signaling in ERalpha-positive breast cancers and highlights how extracellular signal activated kinases can change the landscape of transcription factor binding to the genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Estrogens / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genome
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • Response Elements
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogens
  • DNA
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt