Smad Ubiquitylation Regulatory Factor 1/2 (Smurf1/2) Promotes p53 Degradation by Stabilizing the E3 Ligase MDM2

The tumor suppressor p53 protein is tightly regulated by a ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation mechanism. Several E3 ubiquitin ligases, including MDM2 (mouse double minute 2), have been reported to play an essential role in the regulation of p53 stability. However, it remains unclear how the activity of these E3 ligases is regulated. Here, we show that the HECT-type E3 ligase Smurf1/2 (Smad ubiquitylation regulatory factor 1/2) promotes p53 degradation by enhancing the activity of the E3 ligase MDM2. We provide evidence that the role of Smurf1/2 on the p53 stability is not dependent on the E3 activity of Smurf1/2 but rather is dependent on the activity of MDM2. We find that Smurf1/2 stabilizes MDM2 by enhancing the heterodimerization of MDM2 with MDMX, during which Smurf1/2 interacts with MDM2 and MDMX. We finally provide evidence that Smurf1/2 regulates apoptosis through p53. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that Smurf1/2 functions as a factor to stabilize MDM2 protein rather than as a direct E3 ligase in regulation of p53 degradation.     

C-Terminal Ubiquitination of p53 Contributes to Nuclear Export

The growth inhibitory functions of p53 are controlled in unstressed cells by rapid degradation of the p53 protein. One of the principal regulators of p53 stability is MDM2, a RING finger protein that functions as an E3 ligase to ubiquitinate p53. MDM2 promotes p53 nuclear export, and in this study, we show that ubiquitination of the C terminus of p53 by MDM2 contributes to the efficient export of p53 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In contrast, MDM2 did not promote nuclear export of the p53-related protein, p73. p53 nuclear export was enhanced by overexpression of the export receptor CRM1, although no significant relocalization of MDM2 was seen in response to CRM1. However, nuclear export driven by CRM1 overexpression did not result in the degradation of p53, and nuclear export was not essential for p53 degradation. These results indicate that MDM2 mediated ubiquitination of p53 contributes to both nuclear export and degradation of p53 but that these activities are not absolutely dependent on each other.     

Critical contribution of the MDM2 acidic domain to p53 ubiquitination

MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets p53 for proteasomal degradation. Recent studies have shown, however, that the ring-finger domain (RFD) of MDM2, where the ubiquitin E3 ligase activity resides, is necessary but not sufficient for p53 ubiquitination, suggesting that an additional activity of MDM2 might be required. To test this possibility, we generated a series of MDM2/MDMX chimeric proteins to assess the contribution of each domain of MDM2 to the ubiquitination process. MDMX is a close structural homolog of MDM2 that nevertheless lacks the E3 ligase activity in vivo. We demonstrate here that MDMX gains self-ubiquitination activity and becomes extremely unstable upon introduction of the MDM2 RFD, indicating that the RFD is essential for self-ubiquitination. This MDMX chimeric protein, however, is unable to ubiquitinate p53 in vivo despite its E3 ligase activity and binding to p53, separating the self-ubiquitination activity of MDM2 from its ability to ubiquitinate p53. Significantly, fusion of the central acidic domain (AD) of MDM2 to the MDMX chimeric protein renders the protein fully capable of ubiquitinating p53, and p53 ubiquitination is associated with p53 degradation and nuclear export. Moreover, the AD mini protein expressed in trans can functionally rescue the AD-lacking MDM2 mutant, further supporting a critical role for the AD in MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination.     

MDM4 enhances p53 stability by promoting an active conformation of the protein upon DNA damage

Stabilization of p53 protein is an important step in the activation of its function. p53 levels are regulated by ubiquitin-dependent and -independent degradation pathways. MDM4 (MDMX) is an important regulator of p53, able to both stimulate and antagonize p53 degradation. Both of these activities have been attributed to the ability of MDM4 to potentiate or antagonize the function of MDM2, the main ubiquitin ligase of p53, depending on their relative levels. Here, we have investigated the stabilizing function of endogenous MDM4 using genetic models of knockout MEFs and RNA interference in human non-transformed cell lines. Our data demonstrate that MDM4 is able to stabilize p53, protecting it from proteasome-mediated degradation in a MDM2- and ubiquitin-independent manner. Upon DNA damage, MDM4 is associated to p53 independently of MDM2 and promotes a conformational change of the protein toward an active form. This correlates with a decreased association of p53 to the proteasome and increased protein levels. The association between MDM4 and p53 is evidenced in the cytoplasmic compartment, supporting the role of cytoplasmic stabilization of p53 during its activation. This work demonstrates that the ability of MDM4 to enhance p53 stability is actually a specific property of MDM4 accomplished upon DNA damage. In addition, these data support the hypothesis of distinct functions of MDM4 under different growth conditions.     

Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of p53 is essential for MDM2-mediated cytoplasmic degradation but not ubiquitination

As a shuttling protein, p53 is constantly transported through the nuclear pore complex. p53 nucleocytoplasmic transport is carried out by a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) located at its C-terminal domain and two nuclear export signals (NES) located in its N- and C-terminal regions, respectively. The role of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in p53 ubiquitination and degradation has been a subject of debate. Here we show that the two basic amino acid groups in the p53 bipartite NLS function collaboratively to import p53. Mutations disrupting individual amino acids in the NLS, although causing accumulation of p53 in the cytoplasm to various degrees, reduce but do not eliminate the NLS activity, and these mutants remain sensitive to MDM2 degradation. However, disrupting both parts of the bipartite NLS completely blocks p53 from entering the nucleus and causes p53 to become resistant to MDM2-mediated degradation. Similarly, mutations disrupting four conserved hydrophobic amino acids in the p53 C-terminal NES block p53 export and prohibit it from MDM2 degradation. We also show that colocalization of a nonshuttling p53 with MDM2 either in the nucleus or in the cytoplasm is sufficient for MDM2-induced p53 polyubiquitination but not degradation. Our data provide new insight into the mechanism and regulation of p53 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and degradation.     

p53蛋白泛素化修饰的研究进展

p53具有抑制肿瘤细胞增殖的作用,但是细胞内p53蛋白的堆积反而加速细胞衰老或凋亡,因此对p53进行严格的调控显得格外重要.泛素化、磷酸化和乙酰化是p53蛋白最主要的几种修饰形式,但近来研究表明泛素化对p53调控发挥着中心作用.MDM2是主要的负调节因子,其具有泛素连接酶的活性,早先的研究认为MDM2的作用主要是特异性结合p53并介导其在蛋白酶作用下降解,但近来的研究发现MDM2还可以介导p53的核-浆交换,这种现象在DNA损伤时尤为明显.推测MDM2介导p53的泛素化在体内可能发挥着多种调控功能.     

Interplay between ribosomal protein S27a and MDM2 protein in p53 activation in response to ribosomal stress

Ribosomal proteins play a critical role in tightly coordinating p53 signaling with ribosomal biogenesis. Several ribosomal proteins have been shown to induce and activate p53 via inhibition of MDM2. Here, we report that S27a, a small subunit ribosomal protein synthesized as an 80-amino acid ubiquitin C-terminal extension protein (CEP80), functions as a novel regulator of the MDM2-p53 loop. S27a interacts with MDM2 at the central acidic domain of MDM2 and suppresses MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination, leading to p53 activation and cell cycle arrest. Knockdown of S27a significantly attenuates the p53 activation in cells in response to treatment with ribosomal stress-inducing agent actinomycin D or 5-fluorouracil. Interestingly, MDM2 in turn ubiquitinates S27a and promotes proteasomal degradation of S27a in response to actinomycin D treatment, thus forming a mutual-regulatory loop. Altogether, our results reveal that S27a plays a non-redundant role in mediating p53 activation in response to ribosomal stress via interplaying with MDM2.     

MDM2 and promyelocytic leukemia antagonize each other through their direct interaction with p53

p53 can be regulated through post-translational modifications and through interactions with positive and negative regulatory factors. MDM2 binding inhibits p53 and promotes its degradation by the proteasome, whereas promyelocytic leukemia (PML) activates p53 by recruiting it to multiprotein complexes termed PML-nuclear bodies. We reported previously an in vivo and in vitro interaction between PML and MDM2 that is independent of p53. In the current study, we investigated whether interaction between MDM2 and PML can indirectly affect p53 activity. Increasing amounts of MDM2 inhibited p53 activation by PML but could not inhibit PML-mediated activation of a p53 fusion protein that lacked the MDM2-binding domain. Conversely, increasing amounts of PML could overcome p53 inhibition by MDM2 but could not overcome MDM2-mediated inhibition of a p53 fusion protein that lacked the PML-binding domain. These results demonstrate that MDM2 and PML can antagonize each other through their direct interaction with p53 and suggest the combined effects of MDM2 and PML on p53 function are determined by the relative level of each protein. Furthermore, these results imply that interactions between MDM2 and PML by themselves have little or no effect on p53 activity.     

Significance of MDM2 protein in the cell cycle

The basis of oncogenesis underlies the modification of the control of the cell cycle, which leads to disturb balance between proliferation and apoptosis. The MDM2 protein suppresses the ability of p53 to activate genes responsible for repairing or apoptosis, but also promotes p53 degradation by ubiquitination. MDM2 inhibits tumor suppressor property of pRb, by releasing E2F1, which stimulates DNA synthesis in S-phase. MDM2 influences on the neuronal and muscle differentiation. Quantity and stability of the MDM2 protein is regulated by p73, p53, TSG101, p14ARF and Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway. Changes of the level of the MDM2 can disturb control of cell cycle and contribute to oncogenesis.