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Down syndrome (DS) is the most common cause of mental retardation. Many neural phenotypes are shared between DS individuals and DS mouse models; however, the common underlying molecular pathogenetic mechanisms remain unclear. Using a transchromosomic model of DS, we show that a 30%-60% reduced expression of Nrsf/Rest (a key regulator of pluripotency and neuronal differentiation) is an alteration that persists in trisomy 21 from undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells to adult brain and is reproducible across several DS models. Using partially trisomic ES cells, we map this effect to a three-gene segment of HSA21, containing DYRK1A. We independently identify the same locus as the most significant eQTL controlling REST expression in the human genome. We show that specifically silencing the third copy of DYRK1A rescues Rest levels, and we demonstrate altered Rest expression in response to inhibition of DYRK1A expression or kinase activity, and in a transgenic Dyrk1A mouse. We reveal that undifferentiated trisomy 21 ES cells show DYRK1A-dose-sensitive reductions in levels of some pluripotency regulators, causing premature expression of transcription factors driving early endodermal and mesodermal differentiation, partially overlapping recently reported downstream effects of Rest +/-. They produce embryoid bodies with elevated levels of the primitive endoderm progenitor marker Gata4 and a strongly reduced neuroectodermal progenitor compartment. Our results suggest that DYRK1A-mediated deregulation of REST is a very early pathological consequence of trisomy 21 with potential to disturb the development of all embryonic lineages, warranting closer research into its contribution to DS pathology and new rationales for therapeutic approaches.

Class II transactivator (CIITA), the master regulator of MHC class II (MHC-II) gene transcription, shows a complex behavior in terms of self-association, nucleo-cytoplasmic transport and MHC-II gene transactivation. Here, we analyzed the mechanisms of dominant-negative function and nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of CIITA with emphasis on the role of the C-terminal leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) region in these processes. First, we determined nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of endogenous CIITA and thus validated results obtained with epitope-tagged CIITA constructs. LRR mutations in potential protein-protein contact positions lead to either completely blocked or reduced nuclear import, but can also give rise to increased nuclear export. Surprisingly, N-terminally truncated CIITA mutants show dominant-negative inhibition of wild-type CIITA, whether they are located in the nucleus or in the cytoplasm. Integrity of the LRR is necessary for the dominant-negative function of both types of mutants. LRR mutations are dominant over the effect of an exogenously added N-terminal nuclear localization signal (NLS) leading to cytoplasmic localization. Taken together, our results show that the LRR regulate the function of one or several NLS within CIITA, and control both nuclear import and export. Self-association is not affected in these mutants; we therefore suggest that interaction of the LRR with an unknown protein partner may be necessary for import and transactivation function of CIITA.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules play an essential role for the cellular immune response by presenting peptide antigens to CD4(+) T cells. MHC class II molecules and genes show a highly complex expression pattern, which is orchestrated through a master regulatory factor, called CIITA (class II transactivator). CIITA controls MHC class II expression not only qualitatively, but also quantitatively, and has therefore a direct influence on the CD4 T cell-dependent immune response. CIITA is itself tightly regulated not only on the transcriptional level, but as we show here also on the protein level. CIITA is subjected to a very rapid protein turnover and shows a half-life of about 30 min. Inhibition of degradation by proteasome inhibitors and the identification of ubiquitylated CIITA intermediates indicate that the degradation of CIITA is mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We identified two regions mediating degradation within the N-terminal domain of CIITA. N-terminal fusions or deletions stabilized CIITA, indicating that the N termini contribute to degradation. Several non-functional CIITA mutants are partially stabilized, but we provide evidence that transcriptional activity of CIITA is not directly linked to degradation.