Not4 enhances JAK/STAT pathway-dependent gene expression in Drosophila and in human cells

FASEB J. 2012 Mar;26(3):1239-50. doi: 10.1096/fj.11-195875. Epub 2011 Dec 8.

Abstract

The JAK/STAT pathway is essential for organogenesis, innate immunity, and stress responses in Drosophila melanogaster. The JAK/STAT pathway and its associated regulators have been highly conserved in evolution from flies to humans. We have used a genome-wide RNAi screen in Drosophila S2 cells to identify regulators of the JAK/STAT pathway, and here we report the characterization of Not4 as a positive regulator of the JAK/STAT pathway. Overexpression of Not4 enhanced Stat92E-mediated gene responses in vitro and in vivo in Drosophila. Specifically, Not4 increased Stat92E-mediated reporter gene activation in S2 cells; and in flies, Not4 overexpression resulted in an 8-fold increase in Turandot M (TotM) and in a 4-fold increase in Turandot A (TotA) stress gene activation when compared to wild-type flies. Drosophila Not4 is structurally related to human CNOT4, which was found to regulate interferon-γ- and interleukin-4-induced STAT-mediated gene responses in human HeLa cells. Not4 was found to coimmunoprecipitate with Stat92E but not to affect tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat92E in Drosophila cells. However, Not4 is required for binding of Stat92E to its DNA recognition sequence in the TotM gene promoter. In summary, Not4/CNOT4 is a novel positive regulator of the JAK/STAT pathway in Drosophila and in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / cytology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / genetics*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics*
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-4 / pharmacology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Janus Kinases / genetics
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA Interference
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • STAT Transcription Factors / genetics
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / genetics
  • Tyrosine / metabolism

Substances

  • CNOT4 protein, human
  • Cnot4 protein, Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Stat92E protein, Drosophila
  • TotA protein, Drosophila
  • TotM protein, Drosophila
  • Transcription Factors
  • Interleukin-4
  • Tyrosine
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Janus Kinases