Id proteins play important roles in osteogenic differentiation; however, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we established that inhibitor of differentiation (Id) proteins, including Id1, Id2, and Id3, associate with core binding factor ␣-1 (Cbfa1) to cause diminished transcription of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCL) gene, leading to less ALP activity and osteocalcin (OCL) production. Id acts by inhibiting the sequence-specific binding of Cbfa1 to DNA and by decreasing the expression of Cbfa1 in cells undergoing osteogenic differentiation. p204, an interferon-inducible protein that interacts with both Cbfa1 and Id2, overcame the Id2-mediated inhibition of Cbfa1-induced ALP activity and OCL production. We show that 1) p204 disturbed the binding of Id2 to Cbfa1 and enabled Cbfa1 to bind to the promoters of its target genes and 2) that p204 promoted the translocation from nucleus to the cytoplasm and accelerated the degradation of Id2 by ubiquitin-proteasome pathway during osteogenesis. Nucleus export signal (NES) of p204 is required for the p204-enhanced cytoplasmic translocation and degradation of Id2, because a p204 mutant lacking NES lost these activities. Together, Cbfa1, p204, and Id proteins form a regulatory circuit and act in concert to regulate osteoblast differentiation.
INTRODUCTIONThe differentiation of uncommitted mesenchymal cells to osteoblasts is a fundamental process in embryonic development and bone repair. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important regulators of this process (Heldin et al., 1997;Miyazono et al., 2000). They function by binding cell surface receptors; signaling by Smad proteins; and activating bone-specific genes, including core binding factor ␣-1 (Cbfa1) (Ducy, 2000;Miyazono et al., 2001;Attisano and Wrana, 2002). This process is positively or negatively regulated by a variety of coactivators and corepressors (Ducy et al., 2000;Miyazono et al., 2001;Attisano and Wrana, 2002). Cbfa1, also known as Runx2, PeBP2␣A, Osf2, or AML3, is a member of the runt family of transcription factors. It is an essential transcription factor of osteoblast and bone formation (Ducy, 2000). During skeletal development, Cbfa1 is observed first in early mesenchymal condensations, and it is then principally expressed in osteoblasts . Cbfa1 Ϫ/Ϫ mice exhibit a complete lack of ossification, and they die immediately after birth (Komori et al., 1997). Cbfa1 maintains osteoblastic function by regulating the expression of several bone-specific genes such as osteopontin and osteocalcin and by controlling bone extracellular matrix deposition (Ducy, 2000). Mutations in Cbfa1 are found in 65-80% of individuals with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) (Lee et al., 1997;Mundlos and Olsen, 1997;Zhou et al., 1999). The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CCD are not completely defined. Some mutations of Cbfa1 abolish its DNA binding activity (Lee et al., 1997;Zhou et al., 1999) and others disturb the association of Cbfa1 to its binding partners, including Sma...