Data from NAC-1 Controls Cell Growth and Survival by Repressing Transcription of Gadd45GIP1, a Candidate Tumor Suppressor

<div>Abstract<p>Cancer mortality and morbidity are primarily related to recurrent tumors, and characterization of recurrence-associated genes should illuminate fundamental properties of tumor progression and provide new therapeutic targets. We have previously identified <i>NAC-1</i>, a member of the BTB/POZ gene family and a transcription repressor, as a gene associated with recurrent ovarian carcinomas after chemotherapy. We further showed that homodimerization of NAC-1 proteins is essential for tumor growth and survival. In this study, we applied serial analysis of gene expression and identified growth arrest and DNA-damage–inducible 45-γ interacting protein (<i>Gadd45GIP1</i>) as one of the downstream genes negatively regulated by NAC-1. <i>NAC-1</i> knockdown in both SKOV3 and HeLa cells that expressed abundant endogenous NAC-1 induced Gadd45GIP1 expression transcriptionally; on the other hand, engineered expression of NAC-1 in NAC-1–negative RK3E and HEK293 cells suppressed endogenous Gadd45GIP1 expression. In NAC-1–expressing tumor cells, induction of dominant negative NAC-1 conferred a growth-inhibitory effect that can be partially reversed by <i>Gadd45GIP1</i> knockdown. Induced Gadd45GIP1 expression resulted in growth arrest in SKOV3 and HeLa cells both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. In summary, NAC-1 contributes to tumor growth and survival by at least inhibiting Gadd45GIP1 expression, which has a tumor suppressor effect in cancer cells. [Cancer Res 2007;67(17):8058–64]</p></div>