Interaction with factor inhibiting HIF-1 defines an additional mode of cross-coupling between the Notch and hypoxia signaling pathways

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Mar 4;105(9):3368-73. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0711591105. Epub 2008 Feb 25.

Abstract

Cells adapt to hypoxia by a cellular response, where hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) becomes stabilized and directly activates transcription of downstream genes. In addition to this "canonical" response, certain aspects of the pathway require integration with Notch signaling, i.e., HIF-1alpha can interact with the Notch intracellular domain (ICD) to augment the Notch downstream response. In this work, we demonstrate an additional level of complexity in this cross-talk: factor-inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH-1) regulates not only HIF activity, but also the Notch signaling output and, in addition, plays a role in how Notch signaling modulates the hypoxic response. We show that FIH-1 hydroxylates Notch ICD at two residues (N(1945) and N(2012)) that are critical for the function of Notch ICD as a transactivator within cells and during neurogenesis and myogenesis in vivo. FIH-1 negatively regulates Notch activity and accelerates myogenic differentiation. In its modulation of the hypoxic response, Notch ICD enhances recruitment of HIF-1alpha to its target promoters and derepresses HIF-1alpha function. Addition of FIH-1, which has a higher affinity for Notch ICD than for HIF-1alpha, abrogates the derepression, suggesting that Notch ICD sequesters FIH-1 away from HIF-1alpha. In conclusion, the data reveal posttranslational modification of the activated form of the Notch receptor and an intricate mode of cross-coupling between the Notch and hypoxia signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Chick Embryo
  • Humans
  • Hydroxylation
  • Hypoxia / metabolism*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • Muscle Development
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptor Cross-Talk*
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Notch2 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Notch3
  • Receptor, Notch4
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transcription Factors / pharmacology
  • Transfection

Substances

  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Notch1 protein, mouse
  • Notch2 protein, mouse
  • Notch3 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Receptor, Notch2
  • Receptor, Notch3
  • Receptor, Notch4
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Notch4 protein, mouse
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • HIF1AN protein, human