Characterization of Four Autonomous Repression Domains in the Corepressor Receptor Interacting Protein 140

Receptor interacting protein (RIP) 140 is a corepressor that can be recruited to nuclear receptors by means of LXXLL motifs. We have characterized four distinct autonomous repression domains in RIP140, termed RD1-4, that are highly conserved in mammals and birds. RD1 at the N terminus represses transcription in the presence of trichostatin A, suggesting that it functions by a histone deacetylase (HDAC)-independent mechanism. The repressive activity of RD2 is dependent upon carboxyl-terminal binding protein recruitment to two specific binding sites. Use of specific inhibitors indicates that RD2, RD3, and RD4 are capable of functioning by HDAC-dependent and HDAC-independent mechanisms, depending upon cell type.