NKX3.1 homeodomain protein binds to topoisomerase I and enhances its activity

The prostate-specific homeodomain protein NKX3.1 is a tumor suppressor that is commonly down-regulated in human prostate cancer. Using an NKX3.1 affinity column, we isolated topoisomerase I (Topo I) from a PC-3 prostate cancer cell extract. Topo I is a class 1B DNA-resolving enzyme that is ubiquitously expressed in higher organisms and many prokaryotes. NKX3.1 interacts with Topo I to enhance formation of the Topo I-DNA complex and to increase Topo I cleavage of DNA. The two proteins interacted in affinity pull-down experiments in the presence of either DNase or RNase. The NKX3.1 homeodomain was essential, but not sufficient, for the interaction with Topo I. NKX3.1 binding to Topo I occurred independently of the Topo I NH₂-terminal domain. The binding of equimolar amounts of Topo I to NKX3.1 caused displacement of NKX3.1 from its cognate DNA recognition sequence. Topo I activity in prostates of Nkx3.1 ^+/- and Nkx3.1^-/- mice was reduced compared with wild-type mice, whereas Topo I activity in livers, where no NKX3.1 is expressed, was independent of Nkx3.1 genotype. Endogenous Topo I and NKX3.1 could be coimmunoprecipitated from LNCaP cells, where NKX3.1 and Topo I were found to colocalize in the nucleus and comigrate within the nucleus in response to either γ-irradiation or mitomycin C exposure, two DNA-damaging agents. This is the first report that a homeodomain protein can modify the activity of Topo I and may have implications for organ-specific DNA replication, transcription, or DNA repair.