NFATC2 (nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2)

2012-07-01   Sietse J Luk , Pancras CW Hogendoorn , Karoly Szuhai 

Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2330 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands (SJL, KS); Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2330 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands (PCWH)

Identity

HGNC
LOCATION
20q13.2
LOCUSID
ALIAS
NFAT1,NFATP
FUSION GENES

DNA/RNA

Atlas Image
Figure 1: Genomic organization of NFATC2. The NFATC2 gene is localized on the minus (-) strand of the 20q13.2 chromosome. Black boxes resemble untranslated regions (UTRs); colors of translated exons correspond to protein domains (see later); boxe sizes are in proportion to exon size.

Description

The NFATC2 gene consists of 11 exons of which the last is the biggest. There are five known transcripts, varying from 7525 to 620 base pairs of which the largest four lead to a protein product (ensembl, last viewed at 10-04-2012) (Macian, 2005).

Transcription

Transcription of the gene is from the - strand. Transcribed sequence contains both a 5and a 3-UTR region. The 5-UTR is located in exon 10 and the full exon 11 and is > 4500 bases in size. The large UTR indicates transcription control by small non-coding RNA and/or large non-coding RNA sequences (ensembl, last viewed at 10-04-2012).

Proteins

Atlas Image
Figure 2: The NFATC2 protein. NHR, NFAT homology region; RHR, REL-homology region; NLS, nuclear localization signal; SRR, serine rich region; TAD, trans activation domain (Macian, 2005; Szuhai et al., 2009).

Description

NFATc2 is part of the NFAT family of transcription factors. The conserved region of all NFAT proteins consists of two domains. The first is the NFAT Homology region (NHR) which is the regulatory domain. It contains a strong transactivation domain and many serine residues that are phosphorylated when the protein is inactive and resides in the cytoplasm. There are two serine rich regions (SRRs) and three SPXX-repeat motifs (SPs), where X stands for any amino acid. Calcineurin and NFAT kinases regulate the activity of the NFAT proteins by determining the phosphorylation status of the serine residues, interacting with NFAT proteins at the NHR.
Another, highly conserved region of the NFAT family is the DNA binding domain that is structurally related to the DNA binding domain of the Rel-Family of transcription factors. This domain, called the REL homology region (RHR) is also responsible for binding partner proteins like the AP1 complex.
There are three alternative splice variants of the NFATC2 protein, all of which occur in the C-terminal domain of the protein (Macian, 2005).

Expression

Inactive NFATC2 normally resides in the cytoplasm where the serine residues in the NHR are phosphorylated. This phosphorylated state of the NHR results in configuration changes of the protein shielding the nuclear localisation signal (NLS). Activation of NFATC2 is regulated by a pathway including calcium influx to the cytoplasm, calmodulin and calcineurin. In response to various stimuli, calcium enters the cytoplasm from the environment and intracellular stores. Calcium binds calmodulin and this complex activates calcineurin. The activated calcineurin will dephosphorylate the SRRs and SPs of the NHR, resulting in the exposure of the NLS and translocation of the protein to the nucleus. Translocated NFAT binds to consensus DNA sites (WGGAAANHN (H is not G, N is any of the four nucleotides)) and control gene transcription with the help of other nuclear complexes such as the AP1 protein complex (Macian, 2005).
Several kinases have been identified to rephosphorylate NFAT proteins at multiple sites, thereby controlling their nuclear shuttling. These kinases include glycogen-synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), casein kinase 1 (CK1), p38, and JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK). Some of them act as maintenance kinases, to keep the NFAT proteins in the cytosol in a fully phosphorylated state, preventing them from nuclear shuttling. Others act as export kinases; they rephosphorylate NFAT in the nucleus and thereby promote the nuclear export of NFAT, stopping the NFAT driven transcription after calcineurin activity declines.
Another regulatory mechanism has been discovered for NFAT proteins which uses a non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Functional analysis of ncRNAs found a Non-coding repressor of NFAT (NRON). When NRON was deactivated by small hairpin RNA (shRNA), a dramatic increase in NFAT activity was measured. NRON directly binds to 11 proteins, of which four are repressors of NFAT. NRON probably interacts with the nuclear shuttling of NFAT proteins which is demonstrated by an increase in nuclear localisation upon treatment with NRON shRNA (Rao et al., 1997; Willingham et al., 2005; Macian, 2005).
At this moment, 8 different microRNAs, which target 5 locations on the NFATC2 gene have been discovered (ensembl last viewed at 10-04-2012).

Localisation

In its inactive form, NFATC2 resides in the cytoplasm. When activated it translocates to the nucleus (Macian, 2005).

Function

NFATC2 is a transcription factor that forms complexes with other nuclear proteins including the AP-1 complex and regulates transcription of a large number of genes. It thereby regulates many processes including cell differentiation, migration and angiogenesis. It is, together with the other NFATs, essential for the development of multiple organ systems, including the nerve and immune system, the heart and skeletal muscles, the vasculature, the lungs and the skeletal structures. Because of their multiple functions, dysfunction of NFATs may play a role in pathobiology of cancer (Wu et al., 2007; Macian, 2005).

Homology

NFATC2 shows great similarity with the NFATC1, NFATC3 and NFATC4 proteins. The RHR shows great similarity with the DNA binding sites of proteins of the REL family of transcription factors (Hogan et al., 2003).

Implicated in

Entity name
Ewing sarcomalike small blue round cell tumour
Note
The NFATC2 gene was found to be involved in a chromosomal translocation found in an Ewing sarcomalike small blue round cell tumour. In this entity, the EWSR1 gene is fused in frame with the NFATC2 gene resulting in a chimera gene. In addition, an amplification of the chimera gene has been observed, something that hasnt been seen in other EWSR1 gene translocation tumours (Szuhai et al., 2007; Szuhai et al., 2009).
Atlas Image
Figure 3: Translocation at DNA level. Numbers correspond to exon numbers; black regions are untranslated regions; box sizes are in proportion to exon size; colors correspond to protein domains.
Fusion protein
In the chimera protein, the regulatory domain of the EWSR1 protein is fused with the functional domain of the NFATC2 gene. EWSR1 is a member of the TET family of proteins and has a predominantly nuclear localization. It contains a domain for nucleic acid binding and has, among others a function in RNA polymerase II- mediated transcription and premRNA splicing. In the chimera protein, the N-terminal regulatory domain of NFATC2 is completely replaced by the regulatory domain of the EWSR1 protein. In this way, the localization of the NFATC2 containing chimera is not under the control of the Ca2+ dependent calcineurin/calmodulin phosphorylation. Instead, the chimera gains the strong, highly conserved NLS of EWSR1 which leads to uncontrolled shuttling of the chimera to the nucleus. Also, because the transcription of the chimera is under control of the regulatory domain of EWSR1, the regulatory loop of NFATC2 is abrogated. The RHR of NFATC2, which is responsible for DNA binding and the complex formation with other proteins such as the AP-1 complex is completely retained in the chimera (Szuhai et al., 2009; Tan et al., 2009).
Atlas Image
Figure 4: Translocation at protein level. Yellow box corresponds to nuclear localisation signal.
Oncogenesis
Some homology can be seen between this recently described small blue round cell tumour and Ewing sarcoma. In Ewing Sarcoma, the EWSR1 gene forms a chimera with members of the ETS family. In this entity, the member of the ETS family is replaced by NFATC2. The consensus sequence for the ETS family contains a core domain of GGAW (W is a wobble for A or T), whereas the conserved core domain for NFAT is WGGAAANHN (H is not G, N is any of the four nucleotides). There is complete overlap between the core domain of ETS and NFAT for the GGAA sequence variant, which might be responsible for the similar histological features of tumors despite the involvement of different transcription factor families.
Both ETS family members, the EWS/FLI chimera and NFATC2 form complexes with AP-1. It has yet to be determined whether the EWSR1/NFATC2 chimera does this as well (Szuhai et al., 2009; Sankar et al., 2011).
Entity name
Non small cell lung cancer
Note
The expression of NFATC2 in non small cell lung cancer is positively correlated with progression in TNM stage: the higher the TNM stage, the higher the expression of NFATC2. High expression of NFATC2 is also a predictor for a low post-operative survival indicating that it promotes lung cancer and metastasis by serving as an oncogene (Chen et al., 2011).
Entity name
Breast cancer
Note
Stat 5 signalling.
Stat5, a member of the signal transducers and activators of transcription (stat) family of proteins, promotes tumor growth, but suppresses metastasis in breast cancer. NFATC2 has exactly the opposite effects; it inhibits tumor growth and promotes tumor metastasis. NFATC2 down regulates the Stat5 signaling pathway and vice versa. Also, the expression of the two genes is negatively correlated in a breast cancer progression tissue micro array (TMA). NFATC2 is expressed more in metastatic tissue than in normal tissue and primary tumor but Stat5 is the other way around (Zheng et al., 2011).
Entity name
Various cancers
Note
Regulation of tissue micro environment.
Experiments in mice have been performed to assess the influence of NFATC2 on metastasis formation and growth. Therefore NFATC2 null(-/-) mice were compared with NFATC2 normal(+/+) mice after intravenous injection of F16F10 melanoma cells. NFATC2-/- mice showed less and smaller metastases. Both the NFATC2 null(-/-) and wild type mice were treated with a wild type bone marrow transplantation to make sure differences were caused by the lack of NFATC2 in the lung parenchyma and not because of a dysfunction of the immune system (Werneck et al., 2011).
In hepatocellular carcinoma, colon carcinoma and breast cancer, NFATC2 plays an important role in regulating genes that affect tumoral phenotype such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-2 is a key regulator in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 and thereby of tumour invasion (Lara-Pezzi et al., 2002; Duque et al., 2005; Yiu et al., 2006).
Entity name
α6β4 integrin signalling
Note
NFAT signalling (including NFATC2 signalling) is part of the pathway that is activated in α6β4 integrin mediated cell invasion and migration. This pathway leads to the expression of autotoxin. It is suggested that α6β4 integrin mediated cell invasion is at least in part due to the increased expression of autotoxin (Jauliac et al., 2002; Chen et al., 2005).

Bibliography

Pubmed IDLast YearTitleAuthors
158978782005Integrin alpha6beta4 promotes expression of autotaxin/ENPP2 autocrine motility factor in breast carcinoma cells.Chen M et al
211928452011Expression and unique functions of four nuclear factor of activated T cells isoforms in non-small cell lung cancer.Chen ZL et al
156321462005Expression and function of the nuclear factor of activated T cells in colon carcinoma cells: involvement in the regulation of cyclooxygenase-2.Duque J et al
129753162003Transcriptional regulation by calcium, calcineurin, and NFAT.Hogan PG et al
120803492002The role of NFAT transcription factors in integrin-mediated carcinoma invasion.Jauliac S et al
124884332002The hepatitis B virus X protein promotes tumor cell invasion by inducing membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression.Lara-Pezzi E et al
159286792005NFAT proteins: key regulators of T-cell development and function.Macian F et al
91437051997Transcription factors of the NFAT family: regulation and function.Rao A et al
218728222011Promiscuous partnerships in Ewing's sarcoma.Sankar S et al
171753742007Detection and molecular cytogenetic characterization of a novel ring chromosome in a histological variant of Ewing sarcoma.Szuhai K et al
193184792009The NFATc2 gene is involved in a novel cloned translocation in a Ewing sarcoma variant that couples its function in immunology to oncology.Szuhai K et al
197835432009The TET family of proteins: functions and roles in disease.Tan AY et al
212252592011NFAT1 transcription factor is central in the regulation of tissue microenvironment for tumor metastasis.Werneck MB et al
161410752005A strategy for probing the function of noncoding RNAs finds a repressor of NFAT.Willingham AT et al
174938142007NFAT signaling and the invention of vertebrates.Wu H et al
165054802006NFAT induces breast cancer cell invasion by promoting the induction of cyclooxygenase-2.Yiu GK et al
219645952011Negative cross talk between NFAT1 and Stat5 signaling in breast cancer.Zheng J et al

Other Information

Locus ID:

NCBI: 4773
MIM: 600490
HGNC: 7776
Ensembl: ENSG00000101096

Variants:

dbSNP: 4773
ClinVar: 4773
TCGA: ENSG00000101096
COSMIC: NFATC2

RNA/Proteins

Gene IDTranscript IDUniprot
ENSG00000101096ENST00000371564Q13469
ENSG00000101096ENST00000396009Q13469
ENSG00000101096ENST00000414705Q13469
ENSG00000101096ENST00000609507Q13469
ENSG00000101096ENST00000609943Q13469
ENSG00000101096ENST00000610033Q13469

Expression (GTEx)

0
5
10
15

Pathways

PathwaySourceExternal ID
Wnt signaling pathwayKEGGko04310
Axon guidanceKEGGko04360
VEGF signaling pathwayKEGGko04370
Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicityKEGGko04650
T cell receptor signaling pathwayKEGGko04660
B cell receptor signaling pathwayKEGGko04662
Wnt signaling pathwayKEGGhsa04310
Axon guidanceKEGGhsa04360
VEGF signaling pathwayKEGGhsa04370
Natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicityKEGGhsa04650
T cell receptor signaling pathwayKEGGhsa04660
B cell receptor signaling pathwayKEGGhsa04662
Osteoclast differentiationKEGGko04380
Osteoclast differentiationKEGGhsa04380
HTLV-I infectionKEGGko05166
HTLV-I infectionKEGGhsa05166
Hepatitis BKEGGhsa05161
Oxytocin signaling pathwayKEGGhsa04921
Oxytocin signaling pathwayKEGGko04921
cGMP-PKG signaling pathwayKEGGhsa04022
cGMP-PKG signaling pathwayKEGGko04022
Immune SystemREACTOMER-HSA-168256
Innate Immune SystemREACTOMER-HSA-168249
Fc epsilon receptor (FCERI) signalingREACTOMER-HSA-2454202
FCERI mediated Ca+2 mobilizationREACTOMER-HSA-2871809
C-type lectin receptors (CLRs)REACTOMER-HSA-5621481
CLEC7A (Dectin-1) signalingREACTOMER-HSA-5607764
CLEC7A (Dectin-1) induces NFAT activationREACTOMER-HSA-5607763
Th1 and Th2 cell differentiationKEGGko04658
Th1 and Th2 cell differentiationKEGGhsa04658
Th17 cell differentiationKEGGko04659
Th17 cell differentiationKEGGhsa04659

Protein levels (Protein atlas)

Not detected
Low
Medium
High

PharmGKB

Entity IDNameTypeEvidenceAssociationPKPDPMIDs
PA33678PPP3CAGenePathwayassociated23922006
PA33679PPP3CBGenePathwayassociated23922006
PA33680PPP3CCGenePathwayassociated23922006
PA33681PPP3R1GenePathwayassociated23922006
PA33682PPP3R2GenePathwayassociated23922006
PA446155Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-LymphomaDiseaseClinicalAnnotationassociatedPD25987655
PA448492asparaginaseChemicalClinicalAnnotationassociatedPD25987655

References

Pubmed IDYearTitleCitations
189316842008Suppressed NFAT-dependent VEGFR1 expression and constitutive VEGFR2 signaling in infantile hemangioma.103
199131212009Gene-centric association signals for lipids and apolipoproteins identified via the HumanCVD BeadChip.85
151218402004A conserved docking motif for CK1 binding controls the nuclear localization of NFAT1.72
206093542010Wnt/Ca2+/NFAT signaling maintains survival of Ph+ leukemia cells upon inhibition of Bcr-Abl.67
178822632007Requirement for O-linked N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase in lymphocytes activation.66
203796142010Personalized smoking cessation: interactions between nicotine dose, dependence and quit-success genotype score.62
165054802006NFAT induces breast cancer cell invasion by promoting the induction of cyclooxygenase-2.60
174631692007Deficient CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T regulatory cells in acquired aplastic anemia.53
199004472010NFAT-induced histone acetylation relay switch promotes c-Myc-dependent growth in pancreatic cancer cells.51
158978782005Integrin alpha6beta4 promotes expression of autotaxin/ENPP2 autocrine motility factor in breast carcinoma cells.48

Citation

Sietse J Luk ; Pancras CW Hogendoorn ; Karoly Szuhai

NFATC2 (nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2)

Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. 2012-07-01

Online version: http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/gene/44004/nfatc2