Regulation of Her2/neu promoter activity by the ETS transcription factor, ER81

Overexpression of the HER2/Neu receptor is correlated to a poor prognosis in tumor patients and leads to stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, which in turn activate transcription factors, such as the ETS protein ER81. Here, we have analyzed whether, on the other hand, ER81 may regulate the Her2/neu gene. Indeed, ER81, together with its co-activators, p300 and CBP, activates the Her2/neu promoter, and this activation is enhanced upon stimulation of MAPK pathways as well as by oncogenic HER2/Neu protein. Furthermore, ER81 interacts with one ETS binding site in the Her2/neu promoter, whose mutation decreases ER81-mediated transcription. Activation of the Her2/neu promoter is also diminished upon mutation of MAPK-dependent phosphorylation sites in ER81 or upon deletion of ER81 transactivation domains. In addition, the ER81 DNA-binding domain on its own functions as a dominant-negative molecule, effectively repressing any stimulation of the Her2/neu promoter. Altogether, our results show that ER81 is a component of a positive regulatory feedback loop, in which the HER2/Neu protein activates ER81, as well as p300/CBP via MAPKs causing the upregulation of the Her2/neu gene.