Expression and characterization of SUMO-conjugated metal-responsive transcription factor 1: SIM-dependent cross-interaction and distinct DNA binding activity.

Metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1) regulates a variety of genes involving in metal homeostasis and oxidative stress. We have shown that MTF-1 can be conjugated by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) and forms complexes with cellular factor(s) in a SUMO-interacting motif (SIM)-dependent manner. To investigate whether the interaction of MTF-1 and its SUMO conjugate occurs, we expressed and isolated MTF-1 and sumoylated MTF-1 (S-MTF-1) for functional studies. Various conditions were examined to optimize the expressions of MTF-1 and S-MTF-1. Results from affinity column chromatography demonstrated that the unmodified MTF-1 consistently co-eluted with the S-MTF-1. Mutations at the SIM did not reduce the level of MTF-1 sumoylation but the sumoylated product can then be purified to homogeneity. The presence of MTF-1 cross-interaction was further supported by in vitro pull-down assays. The ability of the purified proteins in binding metal-responsive element (MRE) was assessed with electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Noticeably, MTF-1 required the presence of cell extracts to render the binding activity. However, S-MTF-1 binds MRE in void of other cellular factors. The same characteristic was found for MTF-1 with SUMO fusion at the carboxyl terminus. These results indicate that the presence of SUMO moiety allows the protein to interact directly with MRE.