E. Christine Pietsch

Oligomerization of BAK by p53 Utilizes Conserved Residues of the p53 DNA Binding Domain

Genotoxic stress triggers a rapid translocation of p53 to the mitochondria, contributing to apoptosis in a transcription-independent manner. Using immunopurification protocols and mass spectrometry, we previously identified the proapoptotic protein BAK as a mitochondrial p53-binding protein and showed that recombinant p53 directly binds to BAK and can induce its oligomerization, leading to cytochrome c release. In this work we describe a combination of molecular modeling, electrostatic analysis, and site-directed mutagenesis to define contact residues between BAK and p53. Our data indicate that three regions within the core DNA binding domain of p53 make contact with BAK; these are the conserved H2 α-helix and the L1 and L3 loop. Notably, point mutations in these regions markedly impair the ability of p53 to oligomerize BAK and to induce transcription-independent cell death. We present a model whereby positively charged residues within the H2 helix and L1 loop of p53 interact with an electronegative domain on the N-terminal α-helix of BAK; the latter is known to undergo conformational changes upon BAK activation. We show that mutation of acidic residues in the N-terminal helix impair the ability of BAK to bind to p53. Interestingly, many of the p53 contact residues predicted by our model are also direct DNA contact residues, suggesting that p53 interacts with BAK in a manner analogous to DNA. The combined data point to the H2 helix and L1 and L3 loops of p53 as novel functional domains contributing to transcription-independent apoptosis by this tumor suppressor protein.

The tetramerization domain of p53 is required for efficient BAK oligomerization.

In addition to a well-defined transcriptional activity that is necessary for efficient apoptosis induction, the p53 tumor suppressor also has a direct apoptogenic role at the mitochondria. This direct role in cell death is mediated at least in part by interaction of p53 with BCL2 family members, including the pro-apoptotic protein BAK. Whereas it is currently accepted that the mitochondrial function of p53 contributes to its tumor suppressive role, the regulation of p53 function at this organelle is poorly understood. In this manuscript we examine the role of p53 oligomerization in the regulation of its pro-apoptotic function at the mitochondria, specifically in regard to its ability to induce BAK oligomerization. We find that deletion or mutation of p53s oligomerization domain markedly impairs the ability of this protein to oligomerize BAK. Along these lines, cross-linking studies indicate that the majority of p53 localized to mitochondria is in dimeric or higher-order oligomeric form. In support of the importance of the p53-BAK interaction in the localization of p53 to mitochondria, we find that mouse embryo fibroblasts from the BAK null mouse have greatly reduced mitochondrial p53 compared to wild type fibroblasts. These data indicate that pro-apoptotic BAK, unlike other BCL2 family members, may serve as a major receptor for p53 on the mitochondria.

Low risk HPV-E6 traps p53 in the cytoplasm and induces p53-dependent apoptosis

Commentary to: Two Different HPV-11E6 Fusion Proteins Trap p53 in the Cytoplasm and Induce Apoptosis Lina Sun, Ge Zhang, Ting Lei, Chen Huang, Tusheng Song, Lusheng Si

Oxathiolene oxides: a novel family of compounds that induce ferritin, glutathione S-transferase, and other proteins of the phase II response

Compounds that induce the synthesis of cytoprotective phase II enzymes have shown promise as cancer chemopreventive agents. Although chemically diverse, phase II enzyme inducers are capable of participating in Michael reaction chemistry. We have synthesized a novel class of organosulfur compounds, termed oxathiolene oxides (OTEOs). Based on their chemical properties, we hypothesized that these compounds could function as phase II enzyme inducers. Northern blot analysis showed that oxathiolene oxides induce the phase II enzymes glutathione S-transferase (GST), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and ferritin H and L mRNA in a concentration-dependent fashion in a normal embryonic mouse liver cell line, BNLCL.2. OTEO-562 (3-cyclohexenyl-4-methyl-1,2-oxathiol-3-ene-2-oxide) was the strongest inducer. Western blot analysis demonstrated that GST-alpha and ferritin H protein levels were also induced in cells treated with OTEO-562, as was total GST and NQO1 enzyme activity. Further, induction of NQO1 activity by OTEO-562 was equivalent in aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor wild-type and Ah receptor mutant cell lines, suggesting that oxathiolene oxides activate phase II enzymes by an Ah receptor-independent mechanism. Consistent with this observation, OTEO-562 failed to induce cytochrome P450 1A1 mRNA. These results suggest that oxathiolene oxides may merit further investigation as candidate chemopreventive agents.

Coordinate Inhibition of Cytokine-mediated Induction of Ferritin H, Manganese Superoxide Dismutase, and Interleukin-6 by the Adenovirus E1A Oncogene

Adenovirus E1A sensitizes cells to the cytotoxic action of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). This effect has been attributed to direct blockade of NF-κB activation, as well as to increased activation of components of the apoptotic pathway and decreases in inhibitors of apoptosis. In this report we evaluated the mechanism by which E1A modulates the expression of the cytokine-inducible cytoprotective genes manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and ferritin heavy chain (FH). We observed that E1A blocks induction of MnSOD, IL-6, and FH by TNF-α or IL-1α. Because NF-κB plays a role in cytokine-dependent induction of MnSOD, IL-6, and FH, we assessed the effect of E1A on NF-κB in cells treated with TNF. IκB, the inhibitor of NF-κB, was degraded similarly in the presence and absence of E1A. TNF induced a quantitatively and temporally equivalent activation of NF-κB in control and E1A-transfected cells. However, TNF-dependent acetylation of NF-κB was diminished in cells expressing E1A. E1A mutants unable to bind p400 or the Rb family proteins were still capable of repressing TNF-dependent induction of FH. However, mutants of E1A that abrogated binding of p300/CBP blocked the ability of E1A to repress TNF-dependent induction of FH. These results suggest that p300/CBP is a critical control point in NF-κB-dependent transcriptional regulation of cytoprotective genes by cytokines.