Ras induces p21Cip1/Waf1 cyclin kinase inhibitor transcriptionally through Sp1-binding sites.

p21Cip1/Waf1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p21) is inducible by Raf and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), but the level of regulation is unknown. We show here by conditional and transient Ras-expression models that Ras induces p21. Induction of p21 in conditionally Ras-expressing cells is posttranscriptional utilizing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Transient, high-level Ras-expression induces transcriptional activation of p21 mediated by a GC-rich region in p21 promoter -83-54 bp relative to the transcription initiation site containing binding sites for Sp1-family transcription factors. Mutation of either Sp1-binding site 2 or 4 in this region decreases the magnitude of induction of promoter activity by Ras, but only the simultaneous mutation of both sites abolishes fully the induction. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using an oligonucleotide corresponding to Sp1-binding site 2 indicate that both Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors bind to this region. The results demonstrate that the central cytosolic growth regulator Ras is a potent transcriptional and posttranscriptional inducer of the nuclear growth inhibitor p21.

Human melanoma cell line UV responses show independency of p53 function.

UV radiation-induced mutation of the p53 gene is suggested as a causative event in skin cancer, including melanoma. We have analyzed here p53 mutations in melanoma cell lines and studied its stabilization, DNA-binding activity, and target gene activation by UVC. p53 was mutated in three of seven melanoma cell lines. However, high levels of p53 were detected in all cell lines, including melanoma cells with wild-type p53, with the exception of one line with a truncated form. Upon UV induction, p53 accumulated in lines with wild-type p53, and p53 target genes p21Cip1/Waf1, GADD45, and mdm2 were induced, but the induction of p21Cip1/Waf1 was significantly delayed as compared with the increase in p53 DNA-binding activity. However, despite p53 target gene induction, p53 DNA-binding activity was absent in one melanoma line with wild-type p53, and p53 target genes were induced also in cells with mutant p53. In response to UV, DNA replication ceased in all cell lines, and apoptosis ensued in four lines independently of p53 but correlated with high induction of GADD45. The results suggest that in melanoma, several p53 regulatory steps are dislodged; its basal expression is high, its activation in response to UV damage is diminished, and the regulation of its target genes p21Cip1/Waf1 and GADD45 are dissociated from p53 regulation.

UV radiation is a transcriptional inducer of p21(Cip1/Waf1) cyclin-kinase inhibitor in a p53-independent manner.

p53 target genes p21(Cip1/Waf1) cyclin-kinase inhibitor (p21 CKI), GADD45, bax, and cyclin G and genes affecting the redox state of the cells are implicated in p53 damage control responses. In order to attribute their functions and dependency of p53 in UV-damaged cells we undertook an analysis of UVC responses of fibroblasts derived from p53 knock-out mice. UVC radiation efficiently and rapidly inhibited DNA replication in both p53 -/- and +/+ cells. The arrest was persistent in p53 -/- fibroblasts and cells underwent apoptosis, whereas p53 +/+ cells recovered and reentered the cycle. Protein and mRNA analyses of p21 expression showed that it was induced up to sixfold with similar kinetics both in the presence and in the absence of p53. However, high doses of UV abrogated the p21 response in p53 -/- cells, whereas it was maintained in cells with normal p53. UVC radiation transcriptionally activated p21 expression as demonstrated by luciferase reporter assays using deletion constructs of the p21 promoter. The promoter assays further confirmed the independency of p53-binding sites in the activation and linked UV-responsive transcriptional regulation of p21 to two Sp1 consensus binding sites within -61 bp of the transcription initiation site. A weaker regulation was mediated by elements between -1300 to -500 bp relative to the transcription initiation site. The results suggest that in fibroblasts UVC radiation is a rapid and efficient inducer of p21 expression also in a p53-independent manner.

U.V.C.-induction of p53 activation and accumulation is dependent on cell cycle and pathways involving protein synthesis and phosphorylation.

Transcriptional activation and stabilization of p53 is a major response of mammalian cells to U.V.-light induced genetic damages, and possibly responsible for cell damage control. We have studied here by gel mobility shift and immunoblotting assays the activation and accumulation of p53 by U.V.C. and its dependency on cell cycle, protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation. In G0/G1 synchronized cells U.V.C.-induced p53 DNA-binding activity, but not its accumulation, whereas both events took place in G1/S and S-phase cells. The kinetics of p53 activation by U.V.C. were slow requiring at least 1 h and slowly increasing thereafter with full activation observed at 6 h. Treatment of cells with cycloheximide (CHX) prevented the activation of p53 in all phases of the cell cycle and its accumulation in G1/S and S. However, removing CHX-block allowed full activation and accumulation of p53 with fast kinetics even if 4 h had lapsed since the initial U.V.C. insult. This suggests that the protein synthesis-dependent signal initiating p53 activation by U.V.C. remains continuous in the cells. The requirement of protein phosphorylation as mediator of p53 activation by U.V.C. was studied by using chemical protein kinase inhibitors. Of the tested inhibitors, only staurosporine, a known inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) and various other kinases, inhibited both p53 activation and accumulation, whereas specific PKC inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor did not. PKC-mediation of the p53 U.V.-response was further ruled out by the reactivity of the activated p53 to C-terminal antibody PAb 421. Kinetic studies showed that staurosporine-mediated inhibition of p53 function is an early event in cell damage response. Thus dual, kinetically different events, de novo protein synthesis and staurosporine-inhibited protein phosphorylation are required for p53 activation and accumulation in all phases of the cell cycle. Notably, in the absence of U.V.-induced accumulation in G0/G1 cells, p53 activation is still subject to inhibition of protein synthesis.

p53 transactivation and protein accumulation are independently regulated by UV light in different phases of the cell cycle.

DNA damage-induced activation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is suggested to be central in the cellular damage response pathway. In this study, we analyzed the responses of p53 to UVC radiation in synchronized mouse fibroblasts in terms of p53 accumulation, transcriptional activation, and sequence-specific DNA-binding activity. UVC was found to induce accumulation of p53 cell cycle dependently in G1/S- and S-phase cells but not in G0 or G1 cells. In contrast, p53 transcriptional activity and its target genes, p21 and GADD45, were stimulated by UVC in G0 and G1 cells in the absence of detectable p53 protein. The accumulation of p53 and increased p21 and GADD45 expression were replication dependent in S-phase cells. Interestingly, sequence-specific p53 DNA-binding activity was stimulated also replication independently in S phase, though the effect was not conveyed to stimulation of p53 target genes, suggesting that additional events are required for p53-stimulated gene expression. The results show that opposed to the cell cycle dependence of p53 accumulation, the UVC-mediated transactivation by p53 is independent of the cell cycle phase and protein stabilization.

p21ras-mediated decrease of the retinoblastoma protein in fibroblasts occurs through growth factor-dependent mechanisms.

Stable coexpression of the human retinoblastoma protein (pRB) cDNA and EJ c-Ha-ras oncogene in murine fibroblasts leads to loss of pRB expression with concomitant transformation of the cells (1). We show here that conditional expression of p21ras in mouse fibroblasts expressing human pRB leads to a rapid decrease of pRB expression at both protein and mRNA levels. The decrease of pRB mRNA is blocked by cycloheximide, suggesting the requirement of ongoing protein synthesis. p21ras expression leads also to decreases of c-myc and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-2 mRNAs, whereas cyclin-dependent kinase 4, cyclin D1, E2F-1, and ornithine decarboxylase are unaffected. The decrease in pRB is accompanied by progressive morphological transformation of the cells. The effect of p21ras on pRB expression was serum and growth factor dependent. A shift of the cells to low serum (0.2% FCS) abolished the effects of p21ras on pRB, but this effect was reconstituted by the addition of growth factors epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2, transforming growth factor beta 1, and platelet-derived growth factor to the cells. The results suggest a complex interaction between p21ras, pRB, and growth factors in the control of cell growth. p21ras appears to drive the cell cycle by deregulation of key cell cycle regulators, the functions of which in low serum become redundant or require the presence of growth factors positively driving the cell cycle.

Cell cycle dependent effects of u.v.-radiation on p53 expression and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation.

Control of fate of cells encountered with DNA damaging agents is pivotal for normal cellular homeostasis. DNA damage leads in many cases to growth arrest of the cells ensuring sufficient time for damage repair. Growth arrest can be mediated by p53 tumor suppressor protein and loss of its function leads to inability of the cells to both growth arrest and undergo apoptosis. We show here that followed by genotoxic stress, the retinoblastoma gene product, pRB, is associated with growth arrest of cells in a p53 independent manner. In u.v.-treated human and mouse fibroblasts, pRB is rapidly dephosphorylated. pRB dephosphorylation occurs concomitant with growth arrest of cells including cells with p53 mutations (SW 480 colon carcinoma cells), cells expressing SV40 T antigen and rat-transformed cells (T-24 bladder carcinoma cells) unresponsive in regard to p53 stimulation. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis of u.v.-radiated synchronized G1 cells indicates that the cells transiently arrest in G1 for 10-12 h with pRB dominating in its underphosphorylated form, whereas p53 accumulation occurs only after the cells have entered into S-phase. In addition, u.v.-radiation of late S- and G2/M-phase cells leads to p53 accumulation and cell cycle arrest. The results indicate that p53 accumulation upon u.v.-radiation occurs during DNA replication and is thus not involved in G1 arrest. We suggest that the events that lead to pRB dephosphorylation upon u.v.-radiation provide the cell an efficient G1 arrest which occurs prior and independently of p53.