Cdk2-dependent phosphorylation of the NF-Y transcription factor and its involvement in the p53-p21 signaling pathway

Recent studies have suggested that the NF-Y transcription factor is involved in transcription repression of the cell cycle regulatory genes in a response to p53 induction or DNA damage. Here we demonstrate the cdk2-dependent phosphorylation of NF-Y and its involvement in transcription repression by the p53-p21 signaling pathway. Cdk2 phosphorylates two serine residues near the DNA-binding domain of the YA subunit of NF-Y. Cyclin A-cdk2 appears to associate with NF-Y both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, YA protein is phosphorylated in parallel with a cell cycle-dependent activation of cdk2 kinase and cyclin A expression. YA phosphorylation is unnecessary for heterotrimer formation with the YB-YC dimer. However, NF-Y containing a phosphorylation-deficient mutant form of YA, YA-aa, has its DNA binding activity impaired. Consistently, YA-aa inhibits transcription activation of a NF-Y target promoter, cdc2, by cdk2. These results facilitate the elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of cell cycle progression involving the p21-cdk2-NF-Y signaling pathway.