Abstract
To further understand the mechanism(s) by which DNA damage activates p53, we analysed the expression levels of p53 and HDM2 (the human homolog of murine MDM2) in various human diploid fibroblast and tumor cell strains during the period that precedes activation of known downstream effectors of p53. In X-irradiated human cells, HDM2 protein was rapidly phosphorylated in serine/threonine residues in a p53, p14ARF and p73-independent manner. In p53 wild-type cells, HDM2 phosphorylation precedes a detectable increase in the levels of p53 and is not observed in ataxia telangiectasia (AT) fibroblasts. The transfection of AT cells with a vector expressing ATM restored the ability to rapidly phosphorylate HDM2 following X-irradiation, confirming a role for ATM in its phosphorylation. We also show that ATM complexes with HDM2. The DNA lesions signaling the early rapid phosphorylation of HDM2 are a result of X-ray and not UV-type damage. The ATM-promoted early covalent modification of HDM2 in X-irradiated human cells may provide a mechanism to activate p53.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Ataxia Telangiectasia / metabolism
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Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Cell Line
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Cysteine Endopeptidases / physiology
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DNA Damage*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
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Gene Expression
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Genes, Tumor Suppressor
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Humans
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Kinetics
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Macromolecular Substances
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Nuclear Proteins / physiology
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Phosphorylation
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
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Proteins / physiology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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Radiation, Ionizing*
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Transfection
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Tumor Protein p73
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
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Ultraviolet Rays
Substances
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Macromolecular Substances
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Nuclear Proteins
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Phosphoproteins
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Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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TP73 protein, human
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Tumor Protein p73
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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Tumor Suppressor Proteins
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MDM2 protein, human
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
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ATM protein, human
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Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Cysteine Endopeptidases