Tip60-dependent acetylation of p53 modulates the decision between cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis

Upon DNA damage and other types of stress, p53 induces either cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis depending on the cellular context. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern the choice between cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis are not well understood. Here, we show that Tip60 is required for both cell growth arrest and apoptosis mediated by p53 and also induces its acetylation specifically at lysine 120 (K120) within the DNA-binding domain. Interestingly, this modification is crucial for p53-dependent apoptosis but is dispensable for its mediated growth arrest. K120 is a recurrent site for p53 mutation in human cancer, and the corresponding acetylation-defective tumor mutant (K120R) abrogates p53-mediated apoptosis, but not growth arrest. Thus, our study demonstrates that Tip60-dependent acetylation of p53 at K120 modulates the decision between cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, and it reveals that the DNA-binding core domain is an important target for p53 regulation by posttranslational modifications.     

Nucleosome assembly proteins NAP1L1 and NAP1L4 modulate p53 acetylation to regulate cell fate

The p53 tumor suppressor regulates expression of genes involved in various stress responses. Upon genotoxic stress, p53 induces target genes regulating cell cycle arrest for survival or apoptosis. Nevertheless, detailed mechanisms of how p53 selectively regulates these opposing outcomes remain unclear. For this study, we investigated p53 regulatory mechanisms exerted by nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 1 (NAP1L1) and NAP1L4, both of which are identified as DGKζ-interacting proteins. Here we demonstrate that, under normal conditions, NAP1L1 knockdown decreases Lys320 acetylation of p53 with attenuated proarrest p21 expression, whereas NAP1L4 knockdown increases Lys320 acetylation with enhanced p21 expression. These conditions lead respectively to facilitation and suppression of cell growth. Under genotoxic stress conditions, NAP1L1 knockdown increases Lys382 acetylation with enhanced proapoptotic Bax levels, thereby facilitating cell death. By contrast, NAP1L4 knockdown decreases Lys382 acetylation with attenuated Bax levels, thereby suppressing apoptosis. These results suggest that NAP1L1 and NAP1L4 regulate cell fate by controlling the expression of p53-responsive proarrest and proapoptotic genes through selective modulation of p53 acetylation at specific sites during normal homeostasis and in stress-induced responses.     

NAT10 regulates p53 activation through acetylating p53 at K120 and ubiquitinating Mdm2

As a genome guardian, p53 maintains genome stability by arresting cells for damage repair or inducing cell apoptosis to eliminate the damaged cells in stress response. Several nucleolar proteins stabilize p53 by interfering Mdm2–p53 interaction upon cellular stress, while other mechanisms by which nucleolar proteins activate p53 remain to be determined. Here, we identify NAT10 as a novel regulator for p53 activation. NAT10 acetylates p53 at K120 and stabilizes p53 by counteracting Mdm2 action. In addition, NAT10 promotes Mdm2 degradation with its intrinsic E3 ligase activity. After DNA damage, NAT10 translocates to nucleoplasm and activates p53‐mediated cell cycle control and apoptosis. Finally, NAT10 inhibits cell proliferation and expression of NAT10 decreases in human colorectal carcinomas. Thus, our data demonstrate that NAT10 plays a critical role in p53 activation via acetylating p53 and counteracting Mdm2 action, providing a novel pathway by which nucleolar protein activates p53 as a cellular stress sensor.     

The methyltransferase Set7/9 (Setd7) is dispensable for the p53-mediated DNA damage response in vivo

p53 is the central regulator of cell fate following genotoxic stress and oncogene activation. Its activity is controlled by several posttranslational modifications. Originally defined as a critical layer of p53 regulation in human cell lines, p53 lysine methylation by Set7/9 (also called Setd7) was proposed to fulfill a similar function in?vivo in the mouse, promoting p53 acetylation, stabilization, and activation upon DNA damage (Kurash et?al., 2008). We tested the physiological relevance of this circuit in an independent Set7/9 knockout mouse strain. Deletion of Set7/9 had no effect on p53-dependent cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis following sublethal or lethal DNA damage induced by radiation or genotoxic agents. Set7/9 was also dispensable for p53 acetylation following irradiation. c-myc oncogene-induced apoptosis was also independent of Set7/9, and analysis of p53 target genes showed that Set7/9 is not required for the p53-dependent gene expression program. Our data indicate that Set7/9 is dispensable for p53 function in the mouse.     

S6K1 is a multifaceted regulator of Mdm2 that connects nutrient status and DNA damage response

p53 mediates DNA damage‐induced cell‐cycle arrest, apoptosis, or senescence, and it is controlled by Mdm2, which mainly ubiquitinates p53 in the nucleus and promotes p53 nuclear export and degradation. By searching for the kinases responsible for Mdm2 S163 phosphorylation under genotoxic stress, we identified S6K1 as a multifaceted regulator of Mdm2. DNA damage activates mTOR‐S6K1 through p38α MAPK. The activated S6K1 forms a tighter complex with Mdm2, inhibits Mdm2‐mediated p53 ubiquitination, and promotes p53 induction, in addition to phosphorylating Mdm2 on S163. Deactivation of mTOR‐S6K1 signalling leads to Mdm2 nuclear translocation, which is facilitated by S163 phosphorylation, a reduction in p53 induction, and an alteration in p53‐dependent cell death. These findings thus establish mTOR‐S6K1 as a novel regulator of p53 in DNA damage response and likely in tumorigenesis. S6K1–Mdm2 interaction presents a route for cells to incorporate the metabolic/energy cues into DNA damage response and links the aging‐controlling Mdm2–p53 and mTOR‐S6K pathways.     

Negative Regulation of the Acetyltransferase TIP60-p53 Interplay by UHRF1 (Ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING Finger Domains 1)

Numerous studies indicate the importance of acetylation in p53-mediated stress responses upon DNA damage. We and others previously showed that TIP60 (Tat-interacting protein of 60 kDa)-mediated acetylation of p53 at K120 is crucial for p53-dependent apoptotic responses. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how TIP60-mediated effects on p53 are dynamically regulated in vivo. Here, we report that UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1) interacts with TIP60 both in vitro and in vivo and induces degradation-independent ubiquitination of TIP60. Moreover, UHRF1 expression markedly suppresses the ability of TIP60 to acetylate p53. In contrast, RNAi-mediated knockdown of UHRF1 increases the endogenous levels of p53 acetylation at K120 and p53-mediated apoptosis is significantly enhanced in UHRF1-depleted cells. To elucidate the mechanisms of this regulation, we found that the interaction between TIP60 and p53 is severely inhibited in the presence of UHRF1, suggesting that UHRF1 modulates TIP60-mediated functions in both K120 acetylation-dependent and -independent manners. Consistent with this notion, UHRF1 knockdown promotes activation of p21 and PUMA but not MDM2. These findings demonstrate that UHRF1 is a critical negative regulator of TIP60 and suggest that UHRF1-mediated effects on p53 may contribute, at least in part, to its role in tumorigenesis.     

Acetylation is indispensable for p53 activation

The activation of the tumor suppressor p53 facilitates the cellular response to genotoxic stress; however, the p53 response can only be executed if its interaction with its inhibitor Mdm2 is abolished. There have been conflicting reports on the question of whether p53 posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation or acetylation, are essential or only play a subtle, fine-tuning role in the p53 response. Thus, it remains unclear whether p53 modification is absolutely required for its activation. We have now identified all major acetylation sites of p53. Although unacetylated p53 retains its ability to induce the p53-Mdm2 feedback loop, loss of acetylation completely abolishes p53-dependent growth arrest and apoptosis. Notably, acetylation of p53 abrogates Mdm2-mediated repression by blocking the recruitment of Mdm2 to p53-responsive promoters, which leads to p53 activation independent of its phosphorylation status. Our study identifies p53 acetylation as an indispensable event that destabilizes the p53-Mdm2 interaction and enables the p53-mediated stress response.     

MiR‐155 promotes interleukin‐1β‐induced chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity by targeting PIK3R1‐mediated PI3K/Akt pathway

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, in which elevated chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity play an important role. MicroRNA‐155 (miR‐155) has recently been shown to regulate apoptosis and catabolic activity in some pathological circumstances, yet, whether and how miR‐155 is associated with OA pathology remain unexplored. We report here that miR‐155 level is significantly up‐regulated in human OA cartilage biopsies and also in primary chondrocytes stimulated by interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), a pivotal pro‐catabolic factor promoting cartilage degradation. Moreover, miR‐155 inhibition attenuates and its overexpression promotes IL‐1β‐induced apoptosis and catabolic activity in chondrocytes in vitro. We also demonstrate that the PIK3R1 (p85α regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)) is a target of miR‐155 in chondrocytes, and more importantly, PIK3R1 restoration abrogates miR‐155 effects on chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity. Mechanistically, PIK3R1 positively regulates the transduction of PI3K/Akt pathway, and a specific Akt inhibitor reverses miR‐155 effects on promoting chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity, phenocopying the results obtained via PIK3R1 knockdown, hence establishing that miR‐155 promotes chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity through targeting PIK3R1‐mediated PI3K/Akt pathway activation. Altogether, our study discovers novel roles and mechanisms of miR‐155 in regulating chondrocyte apoptosis and catabolic activity, providing an implication for therapeutically intervening cartilage degradation and OA progression.     

An essential role of human Ada3 in p53 acetylation

The p53 tumor suppressor protein functions as a critical component of genotoxic stress response by regulating the expression of effector gene products that control the fate of a cell following DNA damage. Unstressed cells maintain p53 at low levels through regulated degradation, and p53 levels and activity are rapidly elevated upon genotoxic stress. Biochemical mechanisms that control the levels and activity of p53 are therefore of great interest. We and others have recently identified hAda3 (human homologue of yeast alteration/deficiency in activation 3) as a p53-interacting protein and enhancer of p53 activity. Here, we show that endogenous levels of p53 and Ada3 interact with each other, and by using inducible overexpression and short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown strategies we demonstrate that hAda3 stabilizes p53 protein by promoting its acetylation. Use of a p53 mutant with mutations of known p300/CREB-binding protein acetylation sites demonstrated that hAda3-dependent acetylation is required for increase in p53 stability and target gene induction. Importantly, we demonstrate that endogenous hAda3 is essential for DNA damage-induced acetylation and stabilization of p53 as well as p53 target gene induction. Overall, our results establish hAda3, a component of coactivator complexes that include histone acetyltransferase p300/CREB-binding protein, as a critical mediator of acetylation-dependent stabilization and activation of p53 upon genotoxic stress in mammalian cells.     

Functional analysis of the acetylation of human p53 in DNA damage responses

As a critical tumor suppressor, p53 is inactivated in human cancer cells by somatic gene mutation or disruption of pathways required for its activation. Therefore, it is critical to elucidate the mechanism underlying p53 activation after genotoxic and cellular stresses. Accumulating evidence has indicated the importance of posttranslational modifications such as acetylation in regulating p53 stability and activity. However, the physiological roles of the eight identified acetylation events in regulating p53 responses remain to be fully understood. By employing homologous recombination, we introduced various combinations of missense mutations (lysine to arginine) into eight acetylation sites of the endogenous p53 gene in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). By determining the p53 responses to DNA damage in the p53 knock-in mutant hESCs and their derivatives, we demonstrate physiological importance of the acetylation events within the core domain (K120 and K164) and at the C-terminus (K370/372/373/381/382/ 386) in regulating human p53 responses to DNA damage.