Identification of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) as a novel krüppel-like factor 8-interactingand-regulating protein

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) regulates critical gene transcription and cellular events associated with cancer. However, KLF8-interacting proteins remain largely unidentified. Using co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), mass spectrometry, and GST pulldown assays,weidentifiedpoly(ADP-ribose)polymerase- 1(PARP-1)asa novel KLF8-interacting protein. Co-IP and Western blotting indicated that KLF8 is also a PARP-1 substrate. Mutation of the cysteines in the zinc finger domain of KLF8 abolished PARP-1 interaction. Surprisingly, immunofluorescent staining revealed a cytoplasmic mislocalization of KLF8 in PARP-1^-/- cells or when the interaction was disrupted. This mislocalization was prevented by either PARP-1 re-expression or inhibition of CRM1-dependent nuclearexport.Interestingly,co-IPindicatedcompetitionbetween PARP-1 and CRM1 for KLF8 binding. Cycloheximide chase assay showed a decrease in the half-life of KLF8 protein when PARP-1 expression was suppressed or KLF8-PARP-1 interaction was disrupted. Ubiquitination assays implicated KLF8 as a target of ubiquitination that was significantly higher in PARP-1^-/- cells. Promoter reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that KLF8 activation on the cyclin D1 promoter was markedly reduced when PARP-1 was deleted or inhibited or when KLF8-PARP-1 interaction was disrupted. Overall, this work has identified ARP-1 as a novel KLF8-binding and - regulating protein and provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying the regulation of KLF8 nuclear localization, stability, and functions.