Daxx-β and Daxx-γ, Two Novel Splice Variants of the Transcriptional Co-repressor Daxx

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry 2011-06, Vol.286 (22), p.19576-19588
• Main Authors: Wethkamp, Nils, Hanenberg, Helmut, Funke, Sarah, Suschek, Christoph V., Wetzel, Wiebke, Heikaus, Sebastian, Grinstein, Edgar, Ramp, Uwe, Engers, Rainer, Gabbert, Helmut E., Mahotka, Csaba
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - biosynthesis; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics; Alternative Splicing - physiology; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - physiology; Cell Biology; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Co-Repressor Proteins; HEK293 Cells; HeLa Cells; Humans; Molecular Chaperones; Nuclear Organization; Nuclear Proteins - biosynthesis; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; p53; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein; Protein Isoforms - biosynthesis; Protein Isoforms - genetics; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Repressor Proteins - biosynthesis; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Signal Transduction; Transcription; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M110.196311

Daxx is involved in transcriptional control and apoptosis. It comprises several domains, including a regulatory C terminus that is responsible for the interaction with numerous proteins such as p53, promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML), and Hsp27. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of two novel variants of Daxx termed Daxx-β and Daxx-γ, which are generated by alternative splicing. Alternative splicing results in a truncated regulatory C terminus in both proteins. As a consequence, Daxx-β and Daxx-γ show a markedly decreased affinity to PML, which in turn is associated with a different subnuclear localization of these proteins compared with Daxx. Although Daxx is localized mainly in PML-oncogenic domains (PODs) Daxx-β and Daxx-γ display a distinct distribution pattern. Furthermore, Daxx-β and Daxx-γ show a decreased affinity to p53 also due to the truncated C terminus. We provide evidence that the p53 recruitment into PODs is Daxx isoform-dependent. The decreased affinity of Daxx-β/-γ to p53 and PML results in a diffuse localization of p53 throughout the nucleus. In contrast to Daxx, Daxx-β and Daxx-γ are unable to repress p53-mediated transcription. Therefore, alternative splicing of Daxx might indicate an additional level in the cellular apoptosis network.