NRF-1 and HIF-1α contribute to modulation of human VDAC1 gene promoter during starvation and hypoxia in HeLa cells

VDAC (Voltage Dependent Anion Channel) is a family of pore forming protein located in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Its channel property ensures metabolites exchange between mitochondria and the rest of the cell resulting in metabolism and bioenergetics regulation, and in cell death and life switch. VDAC1 is the best characterized and most abundant isoform, and is involved in many pathologies, as cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. However, little information is available about its gene expression regulation in normal and/or pathological conditions. In this work, we explored VDAC1 gene expression regulation in normal conditions and in the contest of some metabolic and energetic mitochondrial dysfunction and cell stress as example. The core of the putative promoter region was characterized in terms of transcription factors responsive elements both by bioinformatic studies and promoter activity experiments. In particular, we found an abundant presence of NRF-1 sites, together with other transcription factors binding sites involved in cell growth, proliferation, development, and we studied their prevalence in gene activity. Furthermore, upon depletion of nutrients or controlled hypoxia, as detected in various pathologies, we found that VDAC1 transcripts levels were significantly increased in a time related manner. VDAC1 promoter activity was also validated by gene reporter assays. According to PCR real-time experiments, it was confirmed that VDAC1 promoter activity is further stimulated when cells are exposed to stress. A bioinformatic survey suggested HIF-1 alpha, besides NRF-1, as a most active TFBS. Their validation was obtained by TFBS mutagenesis and TF overexpression experiments. In conclusion, we experimentally demonstrated the involvement of both NRF-1 and HIF-1 alpha in the regulation of VDAC1 promoter activation at basal level and in some peculiar cell stress conditions.