Transrepression Explained

In the field of molecular biology, transrepression is a process whereby one protein represses (i.e., inhibits) the activity of a second protein through a protein-protein interaction. Since this repression occurs between two different protein molecules (intermolecular), it is referred to as a trans-acting process.

The protein that is repressed is usually a transcription factor whose function is to up-regulate (i.e., increase) the rate of gene transcription. Hence the net result of transrepression is down regulation of gene transcription.

An example of transrepression is the ability of the glucocorticoid receptor to inhibit the transcriptional promoting activity of the AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors.^{[1] [2]} In addition to transactivation, transrepression is an important pathway for the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids.^{[3] [4]} Other nuclear receptors such as LXR and PPAR have been demonstrated to also have the ability to transrepress the activity of other proteins.^[5]

See also

• Selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist

Notes and References

1. Lucibello FC, Slater EP, Jooss KU, Beato M, Müller R . Mutual transrepression of Fos and the glucocorticoid receptor: involvement of a functional domain in Fos which is absent in FosB . EMBO J. . 9 . 9 . 2827–34 . September 1990 . 2118106 . 551994 . 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1990.tb07471.x.
2. 12130681. Aug 2002. Lin, Cw. Nakane, M. Stashko, M. Falls, D. Kuk, J. Miller, L. Huang, R. Tyree, C. Miner, Jn. Rosen, J. Kym, Pr. Coghlan, Mj. Carter, G. Lane, Bc. trans-Activation and repression properties of the novel nonsteroid glucocorticoid receptor ligand 2,5-dihydro-9-hydroxy-10-methoxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-5-(1-methylcyclohexen-3-y1)-1H-1benzopyrano3,4-fquinoline (A276575) and its four stereoisomers. 62. 2. 297–303. 0026-895X. Molecular Pharmacology. Free full text. 10.1124/mol.62.2.297.
3. Pascual G, Glass CK . Nuclear receptors versus inflammation: mechanisms of transrepression . Trends Endocrinol. Metab. . 17 . 8 . 321–7 . October 2006 . 16942889 . 10.1016/j.tem.2006.08.005 . 19612552 .
4. Newton R, Holden NS . Separating transrepression and transactivation: a distressing divorce for the glucocorticoid receptor? . Mol. Pharmacol. . 72 . 4 . 799–809 . October 2007 . 17622575 . 10.1124/mol.107.038794 . 52803631 .
5. Ghisletti S, Huang W, Ogawa S, Pascual G, Lin ME, Willson TM, Rosenfeld MG, Glass CK . Parallel SUMOylation-dependent pathways mediate gene- and signal-specific transrepression by LXRs and PPARγ . Mol. Cell . 25 . 1 . 57–70 . January 2007 . 17218271 . 1850387 . 10.1016/j.molcel.2006.11.022 .