ARF——一种新的抑癌因子的研究进展

INK4a/ARF基因位于人染色体9p21,是人类肿瘤中最常见的基因失活位点之一.INK4a/ARF基因有两套各自独立的启动子,通过可变阅读框,能够编码两种蛋白质：p16^INK4a和p14^ARF（ARF在鼠细胞中为p19^ARF）.p16作为CDK4/6的抑制因子,能够阻断pRb磷酸化,将细胞周期阻断在G1期;而ARF可结合原癌蛋白MDM2,稳定p53,将细胞周期阻断在G1期和G2/M转换期,或诱导细胞凋亡.因此ARF蛋白和p16一样也是一种肿瘤抑制因子.     

p53家族及其通路相关蛋白调节母性生殖的新功能

p53是一种重要的抗癌基因,同时它也是机体感受环境压力并进行相应调节的关键基因之一。最近的研究发现东亚人群p53 Arg72Pro受到冬季温度自然选择,表明p53可能在生殖中发挥作用。同时,p53及其通路中的癌基因鼠双微体2(Murinedoubleminute2,Mdm2)、MdmX和Hausp(Herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease)基因的单核苷酸多态性(Single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNP)与女性生殖疾病易感性相关。P53蛋白通过其DNA结合区(DNA-binding domain,DBD)调控白血病抑制因子(Leukaemiainhibitory factor,LIF)表达,从而影响胚胎植入过程,实现其在母性生殖中的作用。p53通路中Mdm2、MdmX和Hausp可以调控P53蛋白的表达水平和活性,同时还可以在胚胎植入时准确的调控p53的表达水平,促进胚胎植入;P53家族成员P63、P73具有P53相似的DBD区,但P63和P73是通过别的途径影响到母性生殖;在卵母细胞受到射线或者化学损伤后,P63能促进其凋亡,减少畸型的产生;P73能影响纺锤体复合物的组装,而纺锤体复合物缺失将导致胚泡质量低下,微管结合的动粒缺失和细胞非整倍性的增加。文章主要综述了p53家族、p53通路中的相关蛋白对母性生殖的影响,为提高IVF-ET成功指出了新方法,同时也为不明原因的不孕患者提供了新的诊断思路,将有助于制定合理的个性化治疗不孕方案。     

抑癌基因p53与细胞自噬

细胞自噬(autophagy)是一种在进化上高度保守的代谢通路,它发生的分子机制和信号调控途径相当复杂,其中mTOR信号通路和Beclin1复合物发挥了最重要的调控作用,p53也是细胞自噬重要的调节因子。研究发现,p53可通过多种途径调节细胞自噬水平,这主要决定于它的亚细胞定位。在细胞核中,p53可通过多种方式上调细胞自噬;而在细胞质中,p53对细胞自噬具有负性调节作用,可抑制细胞自噬的发生。探究清楚p53与细胞自噬之间的调控关系将有助于人类正确认识由于细胞自噬功能异常所诱导的肿瘤的发生发展过程,从而最终攻克各种肿瘤性疾病。     

p53-Mdm2模块和泛素化系统

p53(肿瘤抑制基因)诱导鼠双微粒体蛋白2(Mdm2)的表达,Mdm2反之抑制p53的活性,Mdm2和p53形成了一个自动调整的模块。Mdm2的一个重要的结构标志是一个中心酸性区域,另外的结构标志是在酸结构域下游的一个锌指结构,和一个C端的环指区域。Mdm2的表达是由p53来调节,Mdm2作为E3连接酶使p53泛素化并且驱使p53降解,进而控制p53的功能。对于p53泛素化的结构要求是p53的寡聚化。p53泛素化作用的调整模式是通过蛋白质之间的相互作用。Mdm2中环指区域的作用是通过使p53泛素化来推进p53的降解。泛素化后的酸性结构在Mdm2的降解中起作用。     

基于乳腺癌ChIP-seq数据的p53抑癌机制研究

采用生物信息学方法分析野生型p53乳腺癌MCF7细胞的Ch IP-seq（染色质免疫共沉淀-测序）数据,以揭示p53的抑癌分子机制。从NCBI下载的编号为GSE47041的Ch IP-seq数据来源于三组试验,分别为：未经处理的乳腺癌MCF7细胞对照（NS_input）,Nutlin-3a（一种MDM2拮抗剂）处理的MCF7细胞对照（S_input）和Nutlin-3a刺激MCF7细胞后加入p53抗体的实验组（S_p53）。Ch IP获得的DNA数据的测序平台为Illumina Hi Seq 2000。利用Bowtie参照人基因组hg19进行序列比对;利用MACS进行峰信号检测,并利用自定义软件筛选p53可能的靶基因;利用DAVID在线工具对靶基因进行通路富集分析;最后利用STRING构建蛋白互作网络。研究共得到50个p53的靶基因,其中8个靶基因（CDKN1A、BBC3、BAX、DDB2、MDM2、CCNG1、XPC和PCNA）分别富集到p53信号转导通路和核苷酸切除修复通路两个通路上。在得到的由19个靶基因构成的蛋白质相互作用网络中,连通度最高的前5个基因分别是PCNA、MDM2、REV3L、CDKN1A和BAX。研究中采用的分析Ch IP-seq数据的方法能有效揭示野生型p53乳腺癌MCF7细胞中Nutlin-3a激活的p53的抑癌分子机制。     

新的抑癌基因ASPP对p53作用的研究进展

p53是一个肿瘤抑制蛋白,它是通过调节相关基因表达,诱导细胞凋亡。p53诱导细胞凋亡的机制多年来一直不太清楚,而最近发现的ASPP(apoptosis stimulating protein of p53)蛋白家族对p53诱导细胞凋亡的机制研究有了新的进展。本文就此作一综述。     

抑癌基因的负转录调控

抑癌基因在正常细胞中适度表达,抑制细胞永生及转化,其转录下调见于某些肿瘤,而在衰老细胞中常见表达上调或活性增强。抑癌基因INK4a／ARF、p53和p21^Cipl的表达及其负调控与肿瘤及细胞衰老的关系十分密切。     

抑癌基因p53与肿瘤研究的最新进展

p53基因是迄今为止已发现的与人类肿瘤发生相关性最高的抑癌基因,其主要生物学功能是通过调控DNA修复、细胞周期停滞和诱导细胞凋亡,维持基因组和细胞稳定,抑制肿瘤生长;肿瘤血管再生、微小RNA（microRNA,miRNA）及肿瘤干细胞是近几年来肿瘤发生机理研究领域的热点,本文综述了p53基因在肿瘤血管再生、miRNA、肿瘤干细胞中作用的最新研究进展及其在肿瘤治疗中的应用。     

p53-p21通路抑制组蛋白甲基转移酶NSD2的表达

NSD2(nuclear receptor-binding SET domain 2)是一种在黑色素瘤等多种肿瘤细胞中高表达的组蛋白甲基转移酶,其在Wolf-Hirschhorn综合症(wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome,WHS)和多发性骨髓瘤(multiple myeloma,MM)疾病中表达异常的原因已经得到了较好的阐明。而NSD2在其它肿瘤中的表达为何失调还未阐明。本研究选用p53野生型的恶性黑色素瘤细胞系92-1作为细胞模型,采用DNA损伤试剂依托泊苷处理和RNA干扰技术,通过定量PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹的方法首次证实了p53-p21通路对NSD2具有抑制作用。     

抑癌基因p53调控的微RNA-miR-34基因家族

微RNA（microRNA,miRNA）是一种内源性非编码小RNA,在转录后水平调控基因表达,在肿瘤的发生发展过程中起重要作用。p53是重要的抑癌基因,在DNA损伤和癌基因等刺激下活化,诱导下游基因表达,使细胞周期阻滞、DNA修复并促进细胞衰老或凋亡。本文主要介绍近期发现的直接受p53调控的miR-34基因家族,及其在生长阻滞和细胞凋亡方面的研究进展,揭示了蛋白质与非编码RNA在重要的p53抑癌网络中的相互关系,为肿瘤的研究提供了新的思路。     

p53-independent apoptosis is induced by the p19ARF tumor suppressor

p19(ARF) is a potent tumor suppressor. By inactivating Mdm2, p19(ARF) upregulates p53 activities to induce cell cycle arrest and sensitize cells to apoptosis in the presence of collateral signals. It has also been demonstrated that cell cycle arrest is induced by overexpressed p19(ARF) in p53-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, only in the absence of the Mdm2 gene. Here, we show that apoptosis can be induced without additional apoptosis signals by expression of p19(ARF) using an adenovirus-mediated expression system in p53-intact cell lines as well as p53-deficient cell lines. Also, in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking p53/ARF, p53-independent apoptosis is induced irrespective of Mdm2 status by expression of p19(ARF). In agreement, p19(ARF)-mediated apoptosis in U2OS cells, but not in Saos2 cells, was attenuated by coexpression of Mdm2. We thus conclude that there is a p53-independent pathway for p19(ARF)-induced apoptosis that is insensitive to inhibition by Mdm2.     

Multiple domains of the mouse p19ARF tumor suppressor are involved in p53-independent apoptosis

The ARF (p19ARF for the mouse ARF consisting of 169 amino acids and p14ARF for the human ARF consisting of 132 amino acids) genes upregulate p53 activities to induce cell cycle arrest and sensitize cells to apoptosis by inhibiting Mdm2 activity. p53-independent apoptosis also is induced by ectopic expression of p19ARF. We constructed various deletion mutants of p19ARF with a cre/loxP-regulated adenoviral vector to determine the regions of p19ARF which are responsible for p53-independent apoptosis. Ectopic expression of the C-terminal region (named C40) of p19ARF whose primary sequence is unique to the rodent ARF induced prominent apoptosis in p53-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts. Relatively low-grade but significant apoptosis also was induced in p53-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts by ectopic expression of p19ARF1-129, a p19ARF deletion mutant deficient in the C40 region. In contrast, ectopic expression of the wild-type p14ARF did not induce significant apoptosis in human cells. Taken together, we concluded that p53-independent apoptosis was mediated through multiple regions of the mouse ARF including C40, and the ability of the ARF gene to mediate p53-independent apoptosis has been not well conserved during mammalian evolution.     

Mdmx as an essential regulator of p53 activity

The murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) is a critical negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor. Almost 10 years ago, a search for new p53-interactors revealed the existence of an Mdm2-structurally related protein, Mdmx (or Mdm4). Since then a large body of biochemical data has accumulated on the functions of Mdmx, often leading to conflicting molecular models. Nevertheless, virtually all these data pointed toward a critical role for Mdmx in the regulation of the p53-Mdm2 network. A view that was recently confirmed by genetic studies. This review is a summary of our current understanding of this molecule, its structure and biological functions, as well as its relationship to its known binding partners.     

miR-661 downregulates both Mdm2 and Mdm4 to activate p53

The p53 pathway is pivotal in tumor suppression. Cellular p53 activity is subject to tight regulation, in which the two related proteins Mdm2 and Mdm4 have major roles. The delicate interplay between the levels of Mdm2, Mdm4 and p53 is crucial for maintaining proper cellular homeostasis. microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that downregulate the level and translatability of specific target mRNAs. We report that miR-661, a primate-specific miRNA, can target both Mdm2 and Mdm4 mRNA in a cell type-dependent manner. miR-661 interacts with Mdm2 and Mdm4 RNA within living cells. The inhibitory effect of miR-661 is more prevalent on Mdm2 than on Mdm4. Interestingly, the predicted miR-661 targets in both mRNAs reside mainly within Alu elements, suggesting a primate-specific mechanism for regulatory diversification during evolution. Downregulation of Mdm2 and Mdm4 by miR-661 augments p53 activity and inhibits cell cycle progression in p53-proficient cells. Correspondingly, low miR-661 expression correlates with bad outcome in breast cancers that typically express wild-type p53. In contrast, the miR-661 locus tends to be amplified in tumors harboring p53 mutations, and miR-661 promotes migration of cells derived from such tumors. Thus, miR-661 may either suppress or promote cancer aggressiveness, depending on p53 status.     

肿瘤抑制因子p53功能及其抗病毒作用研究进展

肿瘤抑制因子p53 作为基因组的守护者,能通过细胞周期调控和促进细胞凋亡而阻止癌细胞及机体肿瘤的发生,p53还能参与DNA损伤修复、调节机体代谢及调节繁殖生育等功能。除此以外,近年来研究发现,p53能通过促进病毒感染的细胞凋亡而起到抗病毒作用以及p53受IFN的调控和p53作为转录调控因子还能直接转录激活IRF9、IRF5、ISG15和TLR3等抗病毒基因,从而确定了p53在抗病毒反应中起到重要作用。这表明p53可能参与先天性免疫、获得性免疫及炎症反应而起到抗病毒的作用。     

p19ARF-induced p53-independent apoptosis largely occurs through BAX

Combined disruption of the ARF gene and the p53 gene causes mouse predisposition to tumors of a wider variety and at a higher frequency than disruption of the p53 gene, indicating that the ARF gene has p53-independent anti-tumor function in addition to p53-dependent function. Coincidentally with this notion, ectopic expression of the p19(ARF) induces apoptosis for wild-type mouse embryo fibroblasts which have been immortalized by introduction of the SV40 virus genome (SV40-MEFs). The protein expression levels of p53, p21(Cip1), and Bax were not upregulated by ectopic expression of p19(ARF) in SV40-MEFs, indicating that expression of p19(ARF) induced apoptosis through p53-independent pathways in this system. Ectopic expression of p19(ARF) induced prominent apoptosis even in SV40-Bak-/-MEFs. In contrast, expression of p19(ARF) induced only a very low grade of apoptosis in Bax-/- or Bax-/-/Bak-/-SV40-MEFs. Remarkable attenuation of p19(ARF)-induced apoptosis by disruption of the Bax gene thus leads to the conclusion that Bax plays a major role in p53-independent apoptosis induced by p19(ARF).