Checkpoint-Mediated Accumulation of Mutant p53

Many mutant p53 proteins exhibit an abnormally long half-life and overall increased abundance compared with wild-type p53 in tumors, contributing to mutant p53's gain-of-function oncogenic properties. Here, a novel mechanism is revealed for the maintenance of mutant p53 abundance in cancer that is dependent on DNA damage checkpoint activation. High-level mutant p53 expression in lung cancer cells was associated with preferential p53 monoubiquitination versus polyubiquitination, suggesting a role for the ubiquitin/proteasome system in regulation of mutant p53 abundance in cancer cells. Interestingly, mutant p53 ubiquitination status was regulated by ataxia–telangectasia mutated (ATM) activation and downstream phosphorylation of mutant p53 (serine 15), both in resting and in genotoxin-treated lung cancer cells. Specifically, either inhibition of ATM with caffeine or mutation of p53 (serine 15 to alanine) restored MDM2-dependent polyubiquitination of otherwise monoubiquitinated mutant p53. Caffeine treatment rescued MDM2-dependent proteasome degradation of mutant p53 in cells exhibiting active DNA damage signaling, and ATM knockdown phenocopied the caffeine effect. Importantly, in cells analyzed individually by flow cytometry, p53 levels were highest in cells exhibiting the greatest levels of DNA damage response, and interference with DNA damage signaling preferentially decreased the relative percentage of cells in a population with the highest levels of mutant p53. These ...
Source: Molecular Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: DNA Damage and Repair Source Type: research