Contribution of HIF-1α in 4E-BP1 gene expression

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is necessary for the translation of capped mRNAs into proteins. Cap-dependent mRNA translation can be however inhibited by the eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). The hypophosphorylated forms of 4E-BP1 indeed sequester eIF4E and thus block translation initiation and consequent protein synthesis. Different reports indicate that, in addition to hypophosphorylation, 4E-BP1 function can be also regulated at the level of protein expression. This is the case in contact-inhibited cells or in cells exposed to hypoxia. The molecular mechanisms responsible for 4E-BP1 protein accumulation in these conditions remain however unknown. In the present study, we found that 4E-BP1 gene promoter contains a hypoxia-responsive element (HRE) that mediates 4E-BP1 gene upregulation via the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) transcription factor. Gene reporter assays then revealed that the presence of such HRE in the promoter of 4E-BP1 gene is involved in 4E-BP1 accumulation in contact-inhibited cells and in cells exposed to hypoxia. We also reveal that the TGF-β-dependent transcription factor SMAD4 cooperates with HIF-1α to fully activate 4E-BP1 gene transcription under hypoxia. These data therefore suggest that HIF-1α contributes to 4E-BP1 gene expression under different conditions.