The Brn-3a transcription factor inhibits the pro-apoptotic effect of p53 and enhances cell cycle arrest by differentially regulating the activity of the p53 target genes encoding Bax and p21(CIP1/Waf1)

Oncogene. 2002 Sep 5;21(39):6123-31. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1205842.

Abstract

We have previously shown that the anti-apoptotic transcription factor, Brn-3a and the pro-apoptotic p53 factor have antagonistic effects on the promoter of the gene encoding the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, with p53 abolishing activation by Brn-3a. Here we demonstrate that this antagonism is also observed on the gene encoding the pro-apoptotic Bax protein with Brn-3a abolishing the ability of p53 to activate the Bax promoter and induce Bax protein expression. In contrast, Brn-3a and p53 co-operative to induce maximal activation of another p53 target gene encoding the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, p21(CIP1/Waf1). These differential effects of Brn-3a on p53-inducible genes involved in apoptosis or growth arrest are paralleled by its effects on these processes themselves. Thus, we show that Brn-3a antagonises the anti-apoptotic effect of p53 but co-operates with p53 to induce cell cycle arrest. The potential role of Brn-3a in determining the outcome of enhanced p53 levels is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins / genetics
  • Cyclins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genes, p53 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3A
  • Transcription Factors / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Substances

  • BAX protein, human
  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • POU4F1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3A
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Luciferases