A p53 amino-terminal nuclear export signal inhibited by DNA damage-induced phosphorylation

The p53 protein is present in low amounts in normally growing cells and is activated in response to physiological insults. MDM2 regulates p53 either through inhibiting p53's transactivating function in the nucleus or by targeting p53 degradation in the cytoplasm. We identified a previously unknown nuclear export signal (NES) in the amino terminus of p53, spanning residues 11 to 27 and containing two serine residues phosphorylated after DNA damage, which was required for p53 nuclear export in colloboration with the carboxyl-terminal NES. Serine-15-phosphorylated p53 induced by ultraviolet irradiation was not exported. Thus, DNA damage-induced phosphorylation may achieve optimal p53 activation by inhibiting both MDM2 binding to, and the nuclear export of, p53.     

单细胞中P53和Mdm2蛋白活性的不同振动行为研究

综述了p53基因及Mdm2基因的生物学特征,介绍了P53-Mdm2网络。     

Regulation of receptor fate by ubiquitination of activated beta 2-adrenergic receptor and beta-arrestin

Although trafficking and degradation of several membrane proteins are regulated by ubiquitination catalyzed by E3 ubiquitin ligases, there has been little evidence connecting ubiquitination with regulation of mammalian G protein (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein)-coupled receptor (GPCR) function. Agonist stimulation of endogenous or transfected beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2ARs) led to rapid ubiquitination of both the receptors and the receptor regulatory protein, beta-arrestin. Moreover, proteasome inhibitors reduced receptor internalization and degradation, thus implicating a role for the ubiquitination machinery in the trafficking of the beta2AR. Receptor ubiquitination required beta-arrestin, which bound to the E3 ubiquitin ligase Mdm2. Abrogation of beta-arrestin ubiquitination, either by expression in Mdm2-null cells or by dominant-negative forms of Mdm2 lacking E3 ligase activity, inhibited receptor internalization with marginal effects on receptor degradation. However, a beta2AR mutant lacking lysine residues, which was not ubiquitinated, was internalized normally but was degraded ineffectively. These findings delineate an adapter role of beta-arrestin in mediating the ubiquitination of the beta2AR and indicate that ubiquitination of the receptor and of beta-arrestin have distinct and obligatory roles in the trafficking and degradation of this prototypic GPCR.     

小鼠mdm2的表达及活性鉴定

mdm2（murine double minute 2,鼠双微粒体-2）是抑制p53（肿瘤抑制因子）活性的重要分子之一,它们之间相互作用对细胞的生存具有重要功能。克隆得到小鼠Mus musculus mdm2 cDNA,构建其真核表达载体p3xFLAG-CMV-7.1-mdm2,Western blotting验证其在真核细胞中的表达大约为60 kDa的蛋白表达产物,间接免疫荧光技术检测mdm2的表达和亚细胞定位,mdm2主要在细胞核内表达。利用p53蛋白泛素化试验和p53报告基因活性检测试验,验证了FLAG-mdm2的活性,构建了mdm2调节p53泛素化和抑制p53活性的细胞模型,为研究p53活性调控、mdm2与p53相互作用等提供了基础和研究手段。图5参15     

Role of the nonsense-mediated decay factor hUpf3 in the splicing-dependent exon-exon junction complex

Nonsense-mediated messenger RNA (mRNA) decay, or NMD, is a critical process of selective degradation of mRNAs that contain premature stop codons. NMD depends on both pre-mRNA splicing and translation, and it requires recognition of the position of stop codons relative to exon-exon junctions. A key factor in NMD is hUpf3, a mostly nuclear protein that shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm and interacts specifically with spliced mRNAs. We found that hUpf3 interacts with Y14, a component of post-splicing mRNA-protein (mRNP) complexes, and that hUpf3 is enriched in Y14-containing mRNP complexes. The mRNA export factors Aly/REF and TAP are also associated with nuclear hUpf3, indicating that hUpf3 is in mRNP complexes that are poised for nuclear export. Like Y14 and Aly/REF, hUpf3 binds to spliced mRNAs specifically ( approximately 20 nucleotides) upstream of exon-exon junctions. The splicing-dependent binding of hUpf3 to mRNAs before export, as part of the complex that assembles near exon-exon junctions, allows it to serve as a link between splicing and NMD in the cytoplasm.     

PUMA couples the nuclear and cytoplasmic proapoptotic function of p53

The Trp53 tumor suppressor gene product (p53) functions in the nucleus to regulate proapoptotic genes, whereas cytoplasmic p53 directly activates proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins to permeabilize mitochondria and initiate apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that a tripartite nexus between Bcl-xL, cytoplasmic p53, and PUMA coordinates these distinct p53 functions. After genotoxic stress, Bcl-xL sequestered cytoplasmic p53. Nuclear p53 caused expression of PUMA, which then displaced p53 from Bcl-xL, allowing p53 to induce mitochondrial permeabilization. Mutant Bcl-xL that bound p53, but not PUMA, rendered cells resistant to p53-induced apoptosis irrespective of PUMA expression. Thus, PUMA couples the nuclear and cytoplasmic proapoptotic functions of p53.     

Activation by IKKalpha of a second, evolutionary conserved, NF-kappa B signaling pathway

In mammals, the canonical nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway activated in response to infections is based on degradation of IkappaB inhibitors. This pathway depends on the IkappaB kinase (IKK), which contains two catalytic subunits, IKKalpha and IKKbeta. IKKbeta is essential for inducible IkappaB phosphorylation and degradation, whereas IKKalpha is not. Here we show that IKKalpha is required for B cell maturation, formation of secondary lymphoid organs, increased expression of certain NF-kappaB target genes, and processing of the NF-kappaB2 (p100) precursor. IKKalpha preferentially phosphorylates NF-kappaB2, and this activity requires its phosphorylation by upstream kinases, one of which may be NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (NIK). IKKalpha is therefore a pivotal component of a second NF-kappaB activation pathway based on regulated NF-kappaB2 processing rather than IkappaB degradation.     

ATM engages autodegradation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 after DNA damage

The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein kinase is a critical component of a DNA-damage response network configured to maintain genomic integrity. The abundance of an essential downstream effecter of this pathway, the tumor suppressor protein p53, is tightly regulated by controlled degradation through COP1 and other E3 ubiquitin ligases, such as MDM2 and Pirh2; however, the signal transduction pathway that regulates the COP1-p53 axis following DNA damage remains enigmatic. We observed that in response to DNA damage, ATM phosphorylated COP1 on Ser(387) and stimulated a rapid autodegradation mechanism. Ionizing radiation triggered an ATM-dependent movement of COP1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and ATM-dependent phosphorylation of COP1 on Ser(387) was both necessary and sufficient to disrupt the COP1-p53 complex and subsequently to abrogate the ubiquitination and degradation of p53. Furthermore, phosphorylation of COP1 on Ser(387) was required to permit p53 to become stabilized and to exert its tumor suppressor properties in response to DNA damage.     

大肠癌p53的表达与病理、PCNA、CEA及p53、PCNA、CEA与淋巴结转移的关系

目的：研究大肠癌p53的表达与病理、增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）、癌胚抗原（CEA）及p53、PC-NA、CEA与淋巴结转移的关系。方法：应用链霉菌素-生物素（SP）免疫组化法，观察44例经病理确诊的大肠癌石腊标本中的p53表达、PCNA的阳性率和CEA的表达型式。结果：大肠癌p53阳性表达率为52．3％；大肠癌p53阳性表达与性别、年龄及肿瘤的部位、分化程度和湿润深度无关（P＞0．05），p53阳性表达者其淋巴结转移率较阴性者高（P＜0．05）；p53阳性表达及有淋巴结转移者其细胞增殖活性分别较p53阴性表达及无淋巴结转移者高（P＜0．05）；p53阳性表达及有淋巴结转移者其CEA表型均以胞浆型和间质型为主（P＜0．05）。结论：检测p53和PCNA表达及CEA表型对判断大肠癌的恶性程度、预测其林巴结转移趋势和预后及指导临床治疗有重要价值。     

Cytomegalovirus recruitment of cellular kinases to dissolve the nuclear lamina

The passage of large-sized herpesviral capsids through the nuclear lamina and the inner nuclear membrane to leave the nucleus requires a dissolution of the nuclear lamina. Here, we report on the functions of M50/p35, a beta-herpesviral protein of murine cytomegalovirus. M50/p35 inserts into the inner nuclear membrane and is aggregated by a second viral protein, M53/p38, to form the capsid docking site. M50/p35 recruits the cellular protein kinase C for phosphorylation and dissolution of the nuclear lamina, suggesting that herpesviruses target a critical element of nuclear architecture.     

TiO2/MIL-53(Al)和TiO2/Al2O3催化剂的制备及其光催化性能研究

采用溶剂热法合成了MIL-53(Al),以此为载体负载TiO_2制备得到TiO_2/MIL-53(Al)光催化剂用于污水中次甲基蓝的催化降解研究,并与传统载体材料Al_2O_3负载的TiO_2催化剂的光催化效果进行比较。样品通过热重-差热扫描量热(TG-DSC)、红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、N_2物理吸附-脱附等方法进行表征。采用光度吸收法分析污水中次甲基蓝的降解率,结果显示,TiO_2/MIL-53(Al)光催化剂对次甲基蓝的光催化降解率达到98.6%,而TiO_2/Al_2O_3光催化剂对次甲基蓝的降解率只有70.3%,TiO_2/MIL-53(Al)光催化剂对污水中次甲基蓝的降解去除能力明显优于TiO_2/Al_2O_3光催化剂对次甲基蓝的降解去除能力。     

Direct activation of the ATM protein kinase by the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex

The complex containing the Mre11, Rad50, and Nbs1 proteins (MRN) is essential for the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks, integrating DNA repair with the activation of checkpoint signaling through the protein kinase ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated). We demonstrate that MRN stimulates the kinase activity of ATM in vitro toward its substrates p53, Chk2, and histone H2AX. MRN makes multiple contacts with ATM and appears to stimulate ATM activity by facilitating the stable binding of substrates. Phosphorylation of Nbs1 is critical for MRN stimulation of ATM activity toward Chk2, but not p53. Kinase-deficient ATM inhibits wild-type ATM phosphorylation of Chk2, consistent with the dominant-negative effect of kinase-deficient ATM in vivo.     

Different tumor-derived p53 mutants exhibit distinct biological activities

In its wild-type form, the protein p53 can interfere with neoplastic processes. Tumor-derived cells often express mutant p53. Full-length mutant forms of p53 isolated so far from transformed mouse cells exhibit three common properties in vitro: loss of transformation-suppressing activity, gain of pronounced transforming potential, and ability to bind the heat shock protein cognate hsc70. A tumor-derived mouse p53 variant is now described, whose site of mutation corresponds to a hot spot for p53 in human tumors. While absolutely nonsuppressing, it is only weakly transforming and exhibits no detectable hsc70 binding. The data suggest that the ability of a p53 mutant to bind endogenous p53 is not the sole determinant of its oncogenic potential. The data also support the existence of gain-of-function p53 mutants.     

Genetic mechanisms of tumor suppression by the human p53 gene

Mutations of the gene encoding p53, a 53-kilodalton cellular protein, are found frequently in human tumor cells, suggesting a crucial role for this gene in human oncogenesis. To model the stepwise mutation or loss of both p53 alleles during tumorigenesis, a human osteosarcoma cell line, Saos-2, was used that completely lacked endogenous p53. Single copies of exogenous p53 genes were then introduced by infecting cells with recombinant retroviruses containing either point-mutated or wild-type versions of the p53 cDNA sequence. Expression of wild-type p53 suppressed the neoplastic phenotype of Saos-2 cells, whereas expression of mutated p53 conferred a limited growth advantage to cells in the absence of wild-type p53. Wild-type p53 was phenotypically dominant to mutated p53 in a two-allele configuration. These results suggest that, as with the retinoblastoma gene, mutation of both alleles of the p53 gene is essential for its role in oncogenesis.