Dynamics in the p53-Mdm2 Ubiquitination Pathway

The tumor suppressor p53 is highly regulated under various states of cellular stress. p53 stability is predominantly regulated through the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway by the E3 ligase Mdm2. p53 ubiquitination is a dynamic process with Mdm2 capable of catalyzing both mono- and polyubiquitination. Additionally, deubiquitination is an important step occurring in p53 and Mdm2 stabilities. Factors such as HAUSP, p14ARF, and MdmX play important regulatory roles in p53 ubiquitination/deubiquitination and their interplay with Mdm2 and p53 compound layers of complexity for regulating this important pathway.     

Structural Basis of Competitive Recognition of p53 and MDM2 by HAUSP/USP7: Implications for the Regulation of the p53–MDM2 Pathway

Herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP, also known as USP7), a deubiquitylating enzyme of the ubiquitin-specific processing protease family, specifically deubiquitylates both p53 and MDM2, hence playing an important yet enigmatic role in the p53–MDM2 pathway. Here we demonstrate that both p53 and MDM2 specifically recognize the N-terminal tumor necrosis factor–receptor associated factor (TRAF)–like domain of HAUSP in a mutually exclusive manner. HAUSP preferentially forms a stable HAUSP–MDM2 complex even in the presence of excess p53. The HAUSP-binding elements were mapped to a peptide fragment in the carboxy-terminus of p53 and to a short-peptide region preceding the acidic domain of MDM2. The crystal structures of the HAUSP TRAF-like domain in complex with p53 and MDM2 peptides, determined at 2.3-Å and 1.7-Å resolutions, respectively, reveal that the MDM2 peptide recognizes the same surface groove in HAUSP as that recognized by p53 but mediates more extensive interactions. Structural comparison led to the identification of a consensus peptide-recognition sequence by HAUSP. These results, together with the structure of a combined substrate-binding-and-deubiquitylation domain of HAUSP, provide important insights into regulation of the p53–MDM2 pathway by HAUSP.     

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。     

细胞命运抉择的数学模型:活性氧与p53的关系及其意义(英文)

生物体内的细胞生活在复杂的环境中。在生物体内,活性氧是普遍存在的。生物体内的活性氧可以诱导DNA损伤,最终破坏基因组稳定性。其中,对基因组损伤最严重的是DNA双链断裂损伤。肿瘤抑制因子p53是细胞内介导DNA损伤反应的重要因子。p53可以修复损伤DNA,保护轻度受损细胞。而当细胞受到严重损伤时,p53能够诱发细胞凋亡,从而维持机体稳态。p53的动力学对于细胞的反应性具有重要影响,然而对这方面却缺少系统的认识。因此在本文中,我们主要关注运用数学模型方法研究p53脉冲的动力学性质,从而揭示细胞内潜在的生死选择机制。     

Benzimidazole-2-one: A novel anchoring principle for antagonizing p53-Mdm2

Herein we propose the benzimidazole-2-one substructure as a suitable tryptophan mimic and thus a reasonable starting point for the design of p53 Mdm2 antagonists. We devise a short multicomponent reaction route to hitherto unknown 2-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)acetamides by reacting mono N-carbamate protected phenylenediamine in a Ugi-3CR followed by base induced cyclisation. Our preliminary synthesis and screening results are presented here. The finding of the benzimidazolone moiety as a tryptophan replacement in mdm2 is significant as it offers access to novel scaffolds with potentially higher selectivity and potency and improved biological activities. Observing low μM affinities to mdm2 by NMR and fluorescence polarization we conclude that the 2-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)acetamide scaffold might be a good starting point to further optimize the affinities to Mdm2.     

Structure of the p53 C-terminus bound to 14-3-3: Implications for stabilization of the p53 tetramer

The adaptor protein 14-3-3 binds to and stabilizes the tumor suppressor p53 and enhances its anti-tumour activity. In the regulatory C-terminal domain of p53 several 14-3-3 binding motifs have been identified. Here, we report the crystal structure of the extreme C-terminus (residues 385-393, p53pT387) of p53 in complex with 14-3-3σ at a resolution of 1.28 Å. p53pT387 is accommodated by 14-3-3 in a yet unrecognized fashion implying a rationale for 14-3-3 binding to the active p53 tetramer. The structure exhibits a potential binding site for small molecules that could stabilize the p53/14-3-3 protein complex suggesting the possibility for therapeutic intervention.

Structured summary

MINT-7711943: 14-3-3 sigma (uniprotkb:P31947) and p53 (uniprotkb:P04637) bind (MI:0407) by X-ray crystallography (MI:0114)MINT-7711931: 14-3-3 sigma (uniprotkb:P31947) and p53 (uniprotkb:P04637) bind (MI:0407) by isothermal titration calorimetry (MI:0065)     

MDM2: life without p53

The MDM2 protein suppresses the ability of p53 to inhibit cellular proliferation or to induce cell death. This property underlies the oncogenic potential of MDM2, which is overexpressed in various human tumours. However, MDM2 also has p53-independent activities, which we focus on here. Similar to other oncogenes, surveillance pathways might counteract the deleterious effects of deregulated MDM2 expression. These pathways need to be inactivated for MDM2 oncogenic activity, which targets p53 but also other proteins.     

p53 Represses the Mevalonate Pathway to Mediate Tumor Suppression

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Variation in the Mechanical Unfolding Pathway of p53DBD Induced by Interaction with p53 N-Terminal Region or DNA

The tumor suppressor p53 plays a crucial role in the cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, and apoptosis. p53 consists of a natively unfolded N-terminal region (NTR), central DNA binding domain (DBD), C-terminal tetramerization domain, and regulatory region. In this paper, the interactions between the DBD and the NTR, and between the DBD and DNA were investigated by measuring changes in the mechanical unfolding trajectory of the DBD using atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single molecule force spectroscopy. In the absence of DNA, the DBD (94–293, 200 amino acids (AA)) showed two different mechanical unfolding patterns. One indicated the existence of an unfolding intermediate consisting of approximately 60 AA, and the other showed a 100 AA intermediate. The DBD with the NTR did not show such unfolding patterns, but heterogeneous unfolding force peaks were observed. Of the heterogeneous patterns, we observed a high frequency of force peaks indicating the unfolding of a domain consisting of 220 AA, which is apparently larger than that of a sole DBD. This observation implies that a part of NTR binds to the DBD, and the mechanical unfolding happens not solely on the DBD but also accompanying a part of NTR. When DNA is bound, the mechanical unfolding trajectory of p53NTR+DBD showed a different pattern from that without DNA. The pattern was similar to that of the DBD alone, but two consecutive unfolding force peaks corresponding to 60 and 100 AA sub-domains were observed. These results indicate that interactions with the NTR or DNA alter the mechanical stability of DBD and result in drastic changes in the mechanical unfolding trajectory of the DBD.