Cellular localization of ATBF1 protein and its functional implication in breast epithelial cells

ATBF1, a large transcription factor, was normally localized in nuclei, and its mislocalization to cytoplasm was reported in multiple cancers. However, localization of ATBF1 in breast epithelial cells and its potential functions were unknown. Here, we investigated ATBF1 localization via immunofluorescence staining in different kinds of breast epithelial cells. In MCF10A cells and normal mice mammary gland tissues, ATBF1 was mainly localized in nuclei. Knockdown of ATBF1 expression in MCF10A cells by siRNA promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, ATBF1 was co-localized with chromosome during mitosis, indicating its potential function in mitosis. In an estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell line (MCF7), estrogen induced ATBF1 translocation from cytoplasm to nuclei in an ER dependent pathway. In ER-negative cells (Hs578T and MDA-MB-231), ATBF1 was co-localized with GM130 in cytoplasm, indicating ATBF1 localization was associated with protein modification in golgi body. The results were beneficial for intensive investigation of ATBF1's function with different cellular localization in breast cancer.