Nac1 interacts with the POZ-domain transcription factor, Miz1

Nac1 (nucleus accumbens 1) is a POZ (poxvirus and zinc finger)-domain transcriptional repressor that is expressed at high levels in ovarian serous carcinoma. Here we identify Nac1 as a novel interacting partner of the POZ-domain transcriptional activator, Miz1 (Myc-interacting zinc-finger protein 1), and using chemical crosslinking we show that this association is mediated by a heterodimeric interaction of the Nac1 and Miz1 POZ domains. Nac1 is found in discrete bodies within the nucleus of mammalian cells, and we demonstrate the relocalization of Miz1 to these structures in transfected HeLa cells. We show that siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated knockdown of Nac1 in ovarian cancer cells results in increased levels of the Miz1 target gene product, p21Cip1. The interaction of Nac1 with Miz1 may thus be relevant to its mechanism of tumourigenesis in ovarian cancer.