1. Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Windmill Road, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
2. Section of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
3. Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK

Correspondence to: Peter J. Ratcliffe^1,3 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to P.J.R. (e-mail: Email: peter.ratcliffe@imm.ox.ac.uk).

Abstract

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) has a key role in cellular responses to hypoxia, including the regulation of genes involved in energy metabolism, angiogenesis and apoptosis^{1, 2, 3, 4}. The subunits of HIF are rapidly degraded by the proteasome under normal conditions, but are stabilized by hypoxia⁵. Cobaltous ions or iron chelators mimic hypoxia, indicating that the stimuli may interact through effects on a ferroprotein oxygen sensor⁶,⁷. Here we demonstrate a critical role for the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor gene product pVHL in HIF-1 regulation. In VHL-defective cells, HIF -subunits are constitutively stabilized and HIF-1 is activated. Re-expression of pVHL restored oxygen-dependent instability. pVHL and HIF -subunits co-immunoprecipitate, and pVHL is present in the hypoxic HIF-1 DNA-binding complex. In cells exposed to iron chelation or cobaltous ions, HIF-1 is dissociated from pVHL. These findings indicate that the interaction between HIF-1 and pVHL is iron dependent, and thatit is necessary for the oxygen-dependent degradation of HIF -subunits. Thus, constitutive HIF-1 activation may underlie the angiogenic phenotype of VHL-associated tumours. The pVHL/HIF-1 interaction provides a new focus for understanding cellular oxygen sensing.

1. Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Windmill Road, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
2. Section of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
3. Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK

Correspondence to: Peter J. Ratcliffe^1,3 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to P.J.R. (e-mail: Email: peter.ratcliffe@imm.ox.ac.uk).