Cited by 40Heat shock proteins researchGenomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressUbiquitin and proteasome pathways

Induction of ubiquitin C (UBC) gene transcription is mediated by HSF 1: role of proteotoxic and oxidative stress

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Bianchi, Marzia, Crinelli, Rita, Arbore, Vanessa, Magnani, Mauro·2018·FEBS Open Bio

Abstract

The polyubiquitin gene ubiquitin C (UBC) is considered a stress protective gene and is upregulated under various stressful conditions, which is probably a consequence of an increased demand for ubiquitin in order to remove toxic misfolded proteins. We previously identified heat shock elements (HSE s) within the UBC promoter, which are responsible for heat shock factor (HSF)1‐driven induction of the UBC gene and are activated by proteotoxic stress. Here, we determined the molecular players driving the UBC gene transcriptional response to arsenite treatment, mainly addressing the role of the nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)‐mediated antioxidant pathway. Exposure of HeLa cells to arsenite caused a time‐dependent increase of UBC mRNA, while cell viability and proteasome activity were not affected. Nuclear accumulation of HSF 1 and Nrf2 transcription factors was detected upon both arsenite and MG 132 treatment, while HSF 2 nuclear levels increased in MG 132‐treated cells. Notably, si RNA‐mediated knockdown of Nrf2 did not reduce UBC transcription under either basal or stressful conditions, but significantly impaired the constitutive and inducible expression of well‐known antioxidant response element‐dependent genes. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay consistently failed to detect Nrf2 binding to the UBC promoter sequence. By contrast, depletion of HSF 1, but not HSF 2, significantly compromised stress‐induced UBC expression. Critically, HSF 1‐mediated UBC trans‐activation upon arsenite exposure relies on transcription factor binding to previously mapped distal HSE s, as demonstrated to occur under proteasome inhibition. These data highlight HSF 1 as the pivotal transcription factor that translates different stress signals into UBC gene transcriptional induction.

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Crossref · 10.1002/2211-5463.12484

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  • Three genes overlapped between the microglial and astrocyte factors that were not part of consensus mouse gene lists (UBC, DDIT4 and HSPB1), and these are part of cellular stress and damage response machinery.

    “Finally, there were three genes that overlapped between the microglial and astrocyte factors that were not a part of consensus mouse gene lists (UBC, DDIT4 and HSPB1), but which unsurprisingly are also part of cellular stress and damage response machinery52–55.”

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Authors
Bianchi, M., Crinelli, R., Arbore, V., & Magnani, M.
Affiliations
University of Urbino (IT)
Corresponding author
Bianchi, Marzia
Venue
FEBS Open Bio
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-07-24
Volume
8
Issue
9
Pages
1471-1485
ISSN
2211-5463 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2809815475
Cited by
40
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
1.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FEBS Open Bio (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
FanoAteneo and University of Urbino
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Heat shock proteins research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ubiquitin and proteasome pathways
Keywords
heat shock factor 1, HSF2, heat shock element, Nrf2, arsenite, oxidative stress, proteotoxic stress, antioxidant response element, proteasome inhibition, MG132, stress response genes

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