Phosphorylation regulates the interaction and complex formation between wt p53 protein and PARP-1

We recently characterized the interaction between poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and the product of the tumor suppressor gene p53. We investigated which domains of human PARP-1 and of human wild-type (wt) p53 were involved in this protein-protein interaction. We generated baculoviral constructs encoding full length or distinct functional domains of both proteins. Full length PARP-1 was simultaneously coexpressed in insect cells with full length wt p53 protein or its distinct truncated fragments and vice versa. Reciprocal immunoprecipitation of Sf9 cell lysates revealed that the central and carboxy-terminal fragments of p53 were sufficient to confer binding to PARP-1, whereas the amino-terminal part harboring the transactivation functional domain was dispensable. On the other hand, the amino-terminal and central fragments of PARP-1 were necessary for complex formation with p53 protein. As the most important features of p53 protein are regulated by phosphorylation, we addressed the question of whether its phosphorylation is essential for binding between the two proteins. Baculovirally expressed wt p53 was post-translationally modified. At least six distinct p53 isomeres were resolved by immunoblotting following two-dimensional separation of baculovirally expressed wt p53 protein. Using specific phospho-serine antibodies, we identified phosphorylation of baculovirally expressed p53 protein at five distinct sites. To define the role of p53 phosphorylation, pull-down assays using untreated and dephosphorylated p53 protein were performed. Dephosphorylated p53 failed to bind PARP-1 indicating that complex formation between both proteins is regulated by phosphorylation of p53. The marked phosphorylation of p53 at Ser392 observed in unstressed cells suggests that the phosphorylated carboxy-terminal part of p53 undergoes complex formation with PARP-1 resulting in masking of the NES and thereby preventing its export. The functional significance of the interaction between both proteins was investigated at two different conditions: inactivation of PARP-1 and overexpression of PARP-1. Our results unequivocally show that the presence of PARP-1 regulates the basal expression of wt p53 in unstressed cells.     

Study of p53 expression and post‐transcriptional modifications after GSM‐900 radiofrequency exposure of human amniotic cells

The potential effects of radiofrequency (RF) exposure on the genetic material of cells are very important to determine since genome instability of somatic cells may be linked to cancer development. In response to genetic damage, the p53 protein is activated and can induce cell cycle arrest allowing more time for DNA repair or elimination of damaged cells through apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the exposure to RF electromagnetic fields, similar to those emitted by mobile phones of the second generation standard, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may induce expression of the p53 protein and its activation by post‐translational modifications in cultured human cells. The potential induction of p53 expression and activation by GSM‐900 was investigated after in vitro exposure of human amniotic cells for 24 h to average specific absorption rates (SARs) of 0.25, 1, 2, and 4 W/kg in the temperature range of 36.3–39.7 °C. The exposures were carried out using a wire‐patch cell (WPC) under strictly controlled conditions of temperature. Expression and activation of p53 by phosphorylation at serine 15 and 37 were studied using Western blot assay immediately after three independent exposures of cell cultures provided from three different donors. Bleomycin‐exposed cells were used as a positive control. According to our results, no significant changes in the expression and activation of the p53 protein by phosphorylation at serine 15 and 37 were found following exposure to GSM‐900 for 24 h at average SARs up to 4 W/kg in human embryonic cells. Bioelectromagnetics 34:52–60, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Growth inhibitory effects of large subunit ribosomal proteins in melanoma

Ribosome biogenesis can modulate protein synthesis, a process heavily relied upon for cancer cell proliferation. In this study, involvement of large subunit ribosomal proteins (RPLs) in melanoma has been dissected and RPLs categorized based on modulation of cell proliferation and therapeutic targeting potential. Based on these results, two categories of RPLs were identified: the first causing negligible effects on cell viability, p53 expression, and protein translation, while the second category decreased cell viability and inhibited protein synthesis mediated with or without p53 protein stabilization. RPL13 represents the second category, where siRNA‐mediated targeting inhibited tumor development through decreased cellular proliferation. Mechanistically, decreased RPL13 levels increased p53 stability mediated by RPL5 and RPL11 binding to and preventing MDM2 from targeting p53 for degradation. The consequence was p53‐dependent cell cycle arrest and decreased protein translation. Thus, targeting certain category 2 RPL proteins can inhibit melanoma tumor development mediated through the MDM2‐p53 pathway.     

Central and carboxy-terminal regions of human p53 protein are essential for interaction and complex formation with PARP-1

It has been previously described by different groups that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and the product of the tumor suppressor gene p53 form tight complexes. We investigated which domains of human PARP-1 and of human wild-type p53 were involved in this protein-protein interaction. We generated baculoviral constructs encoding full length protein or distinct functional domains of both proteins. Baculovirally expressed wild-type p53 was posttranslationally modified. Full length PARP-1 was simultaneously coexpressed in insect cells with full length wt p53 protein or its distinct truncated fragments and vice versa. Reciprocal immunoprecipitation of Sf9 cell lysates revealed that the central and carboxy-terminal fragments of p53 were sufficient to confer binding to PARP-1. The amino-terminal part harboring the transactivation functional domain of p53 was dispensable. On the other hand, the amino-terminal and central fragments of PARP-1 were necessary for complex formation with p53 protein. Finally, we explored the functional significance of the interaction between both proteins. Inactivation of PARP-1 resulted in the reduction of p53 steady-state levels. Inhibition of nuclear export by leptomycin B prevented accelerated degradation of p53 in PARP-1 KO cells and led to accumulation of p53 protein. Considering the fact that the accelerated p53 nuclear export in the absence of PARP-1 contributes to enhanced p53 degradation, we conclude that PARP-1 may mask the NES of p53 through complex formation with its carboxy-terminal part, thereby preventing the export.     

p53基因表达沉默的稳定Vero细胞系的建立及特性分析

利用慢病毒介导的RNA干扰技术,建立稳定沉默p53基因的Vero细胞模型。设计针对p53基因的shRNA序列,构建p53shRNA慢病毒载体并感染Vero细胞;嘌呤霉素筛选阳性细胞,局部消化法挑选细胞克隆;利用RT-PCR和West-ernblot检测p53的表达水平;利用虫荧光素酶报告系统,分析p53的转录激活功能。RT-PCR和Westernblot结果显示,慢病毒介导的shRNA有效地沉默p53基因表达;与对照组细胞相比,干扰组细胞的p53的转录激活功能明显降低。慢病毒介导的shRNA高效、稳定地沉默了p53基因的表达,同时,有效地降低了p53的转录激活功能,为研究p53的生物学功能提供了有利的工具。     

PML与基因组稳定性

基因组稳定性同肿瘤的发生、发展密切相关,维护基因组稳定性对于细胞行使正常的生理功能是至关重要的.早幼粒细胞白血病蛋白PML(promyelocytic leukemia)主要借助分子中RBCC结构,同近50种有重要功能的蛋白相互作用而形成PML-NBs(PML nuclear bodies).PML-NBs是与核基质结合的、动态的、亚核多蛋白复合物,它作为区室化核结构(compartmentalized nuclear architecture)——染色质间区室(interchromatin compartment)的功能单位,满足了真核基因高层次表达调控模式的时空要求.最新的研究证明：PML是基因组稳定性“守门人”——p53分子的搭档分子,同样在基因组稳定性调控中发挥着重要的功能作用.它协同p53参与了DNA损伤反应所诱发的细胞凋亡,还可组织多种DNA修复分子参与DNA损伤修复,在DNA损伤反应中具有重要作用;此外,PML还通过调控aurora A的活性参与中心体复制检查点调控,借助调控survivin的表达参与有丝分裂纺锤体组装检查点调控,在染色体复制和细胞分裂中均显示了重要的调控作用.而当PML表达缺失或不足时则与多种肿瘤的发生、发展相关联,因此PML分子在维护基因组稳定性中具有重要功能作用,本文仅就相关的最新研究进展予以概述     

低氧微环境中肿瘤的能量代谢

处于低氧微环境中的肿瘤细胞,其血管生成和代谢方式的改变使之能在低氧环境中生存及增殖。Warburg早已发现肿瘤细胞的代谢方式的改变．即在有氧环境中也优先利用糖酵解而非有氧呼吸来获得能量。与有氧呼吸有关的酶,如COX、SDH、FH,发生改变及抑癌基因p53的突变与其发生机制有关。     

Cancer‐specific mutations in p53 induce the translation of Δ160p53 promoting tumorigenesis

Wild‐type p53 functions as a tumour suppressor while mutant p53 possesses oncogenic potential. Until now it remains unclear how a single mutation can transform p53 into a functionally distinct gene harbouring a new set of original cellular roles. Here we show that the most common p53 cancer mutants express a larger number and higher levels of shorter p53 protein isoforms that are translated from the mutated full‐length p53 mRNA. Cells expressing mutant p53 exhibit “gain‐of‐function” cancer phenotypes, such as enhanced cell survival, proliferation, invasion and adhesion, altered mammary tissue architecture and invasive cell structures. Interestingly, Δ160p53‐overexpressing cells behave in a similar manner. In contrast, an exogenous or endogenous mutant p53 that fails to express Δ160p53 due to specific mutations or antisense knock‐down loses pro‐oncogenic potential. Our data support a model in which “gain‐of‐function” phenotypes induced by p53 mutations depend on the shorter p53 isoforms. As a conserved wild‐type isoform, Δ160p53 has evolved during millions of years. We thus provide a rational explanation for the origin of the tumour‐promoting functions of p53 mutations.     

藤黄新酸抑制肝癌细胞生长的机制研究

在肿瘤细胞中蛋白酶体活性的抑制可以导致细胞凋亡和周期阻滞.藤黄新酸(TH2)是从中药藤黄中提取的一个新的(口山)酮类衍生物.研究结果显示,TH2可以抑制人肝癌Bel-7402细胞的增殖,诱导细胞产生凋亡,且呈浓度和时间依赖性.同时,10μmol/L的TH2与细胞作用24h后,可以导致早期凋亡标志性蛋白PARP发生裂解.在体外采用特异性荧光底物检测TH2对蛋白酶体活性的影响,发现该化合物能够抑制蛋白酶体的糜乳蛋白酶样、胰蛋白酶样活性和谷氨酰后水解活性.抑癌基因p53是细胞内的蛋白酶体降解底物,TH2可使p53蛋白的降解受到阻滞,表达增加.由此可见,TH2具有抑制人肝癌Bel-7402细胞增殖、诱导细胞凋亡的作用,可能的分子机制与其抑制细胞内蛋白酶体活性、导致p53蛋白降解受阻有关.     

miR-34家族——-肿瘤抑制蛋白p53高度相关microRNA

若干微小RNA(microRNA, miRNA)与肿瘤抑制蛋白p53高度相关, 其中miR-34家族最具代表性。一方面p53可通过对miR-34家族的调控实现对多个原癌基因如Bcl-2、c-myc以及细胞因子如cyclinE2、cyclinD1和c-Met的抑制, 进而发挥抑癌作用; 另一方面miR-34家族也可以通过抑制沉默信息调节子SIRTI来进一步增强p53的活性。p53与miR-34家族之间形成的正反馈调节网络对抑制肿瘤的发生发展及恶化均起着重要的作用。文章对p53高度相关的miR-34家族在肿瘤发生发展及治疗的最新进展作一论述。     

突变体p53研究进展

抑癌基因突变是癌症发生过程中一个极为关键的事件。p53作为体内最重要的抑癌基因之一, 在人类癌症中发生突变的频率高达50%。同时, p53突变也是人类遗传病Li-Fraumeni综合征的主要病因。p53最常见的突变形式是错义突变, 所形成的突变体p53不但失去了野生型p53的抑癌功能, 而且还获得了一系列类似于癌基因的功能, 促进了肿瘤的进程。文章拟对突变体p53的结构功能改变, 获得癌基因活性的分子机制, 以及近年来对封闭突变体p53活性所进行的探索等研究方向所取得的进展做一综述。     

p53转录非依赖活性介导细胞凋亡

p53主要通过两条途径诱导细胞凋亡：p53作为转录因子,促进细胞凋亡的靶基因的表达上调,如PUMA、NOXA、PIDD、p53AIP1、COP1等,并通过这些蛋白参与内源和外源凋亡途径;另一方面,胞浆中的p53能转位到线粒体,激活内源性的线粒体途径,促进凋亡。后者已成为研究p53促凋亡机制的热点。本文就p53对转录非依赖活性诱导细胞凋亡途径的研究进展作一概述。     

H1N1亚型流感病毒诱导外周血单个核细胞凋亡研究

A型流感病毒能诱导淋巴细胞、单核巨噬细胞的凋亡,为进一步探讨淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞在凋亡中可能存在的相互作用,用H1N1亚型流感病毒诱导人外周血淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡．结果显示,前48 h,H1N1流感病毒能诱导淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡,但在培养48 h后,流感病毒对单核巨噬细胞表现为凋亡抑制作用,同时流感病毒对淋巴细胞吸附不同时间后,荧光染色和流式细胞术检测凋亡未见明显差异,说明细胞凋亡与病毒吸附时间长短并无相关性．检测p53抑制剂Pifithrin-α(PFT-α)加入前后淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡情况,结果显示,淋巴细胞和单核巨噬细胞的凋亡均被抑制, 提示通过p53诱导的凋亡可能是流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡的一条重要途径．     

应用免疫-PCR检测癌症的初步研究

探索一种简便、灵敏度高、特异性强且易推广的血清中突变型ｐ５３蛋白检测方法,用于肿瘤早期诊断。用突变型ｐ５３蛋白的单克隆抗体,与特定ＤＮＡ片段连接制成基因探针,用免疫－ＰＣＲ技术,对１１７例病人血清样品进行检测。在１１７例病人血清样品中,检测总阳性率为４１．８８％（４９／１１７）,在临床怀疑为癌症及肿瘤病人中阳性率达５２．１１％（３７／７１）。     

活体细胞内p53与IκBα的相互作用及其核穿梭过程

通过构建6种荧光融合蛋白质粒载体pECFP-IκBα、pECFP-IκBαM、pECFP-IκBα243N、pECFP-IκBα244C、pp53-DsRed和pp53/47C-DsRed,应用激光共聚焦显微镜,观测静止细胞内p53与IκBα及其各种突变体的定位特点及相互作用关系,直观地说明了活体细胞内的p53可与IκBα的C端的PEST区发生相互作用,p53的N端也参与了p53·IκBα复合体的形成.同时,实时观测外界刺激下细胞内DsRed/CFP两荧光比值的变化,探讨p53·IκBα复合体形成与解离的动态平衡,细霉素B(leptomycinB,LMB)作用下细胞内p53与IκBα的动力学分布、及核穿梭动态过程的意义.IκBα蛋白可能已经成为p53和NF-κB信号通路的一个交叉点,从而扩展了对于这两条重要信号通路调控的认识.     

p53过表达抑制同源盒基因NKX3.1启动子活性

NKX3.1是前列腺特异表达的同源盒基因,在前列腺癌的发生发展中起重要作用,而在前列腺癌进展中常会发生p53的基因突变.为研究两者之间的关系,构建NKX-3.1启动子(1 040bp)-荧光素酶报告基因重组质粒（pGL3-1040）及其缺失突变体,瞬时转染前列腺癌细胞LNCaP.通过荧光素酶表达活性分析,检测p53过表达对NKX3.1启动子活性的影响.结果表明：p53在LNCaP细胞中过表达可明显抑制NKX3.1启动子活性;RT-PCR及Western印迹检测p53过表达对NKX3.1表达的影响.结果表明,p53过表达可以明显抑制同源盒基因NKX3.1的表达.通过TRANSFAC软件分析,在NKX3.1基因上游-526至-507区存在一个p53反应元件的5′核心序列.缺失pGL3-1040中的p53反应元件核心序列并不能消除p53对NKX3.1启动子的抑制作用,表明p53不是通过p53反应元件直接抑制NKX3.1启动子活性.进一步通过5′缺失突变分析,发现NKX3.1启动子-140～+8 bp区仍受p53负调控.此148 bp区域中含有一个Sp1和一个CREB元件,瞬时共转染Sp1表达载体或CREB表达载体的结果表明,p53并不是通过与Sp1或CREB相互作用对NKX3.1启动子发挥抑制作用的.上述结果表明,p53过表达可以抑制同源盒基因NKX3.1启动子活性,下调NKX3.1基因的转录,其调控机制有待进一步研究.