The hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) subunit is activated in response to lack of oxygen. HIF-1 alpha-specific prolyl hydroxylase and factor inhibiting HIF-1 alpha (FIH-1) catalyze hydroxylation of the proline and asparagine residues of HIF-1 alpha, respectively. The hydroxyproline then interacts with ubiquitin E3 ligase, the von Hippel-Lindau protein, leading to degradation of HIF-1 alpha by ubiquitin-dependent proteasomes, while the hydroxylation of the asparagine residue prevents recruitment of the coactivator, cAMP-response element-binding protein (CBP), thereby decreasing the transactivation ability of HIF-1 alpha. We found that the Zn-specific chelator, N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN), enhances the activity of HIF-1 alpha-proline hydroxylase 2 but the level of HIF-1 alpha protein does not fall because TPEN also inhibits ubiquitination. Since the Zn chelator does not prevent FIH-1 from hydroxylating the asparagine residue of HIF-1 alpha, its presence leads to the accumulation of HIF-1 alpha that is both prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylated and is therefore nonfunctional. In hypoxic cells, TPEN also prevents HIF-1 alpha from interacting with CBP, so reducing expression of HIF-1 alpha target genes. As a result, Zn chelation causes the accumulation of nonfunctional HIF-1 alpha protein in both normoxia and hypoxia. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.