Regulation of p53 activity through lysine methylation

Nature. 2004 Nov 18;432(7015):353-60. doi: 10.1038/nature03117. Epub 2004 Nov 3.

Abstract

p53 is a tumour suppressor that regulates the cellular response to genotoxic stresses. p53 is a short-lived protein and its activity is regulated mostly by stabilization via different post-translational modifications. Here we report a novel mechanism of p53 regulation through lysine methylation by Set9 methyltransferase. Set9 specifically methylates p53 at one residue within the carboxyl-terminus regulatory region. Methylated p53 is restricted to the nucleus and the modification positively affects its stability. Set9 regulates the expression of p53 target genes in a manner dependent on the p53-methylation site. The crystal structure of a ternary complex of Set9 with a p53 peptide and the cofactor product S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (AdoHcy) provides the molecular basis for recognition of p53 by this lysine methyltransferase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, p53 / genetics
  • Genes, ras / genetics
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / chemistry
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lysine / metabolism*
  • Methylation
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Methyltransferases
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • S-Adenosylhomocysteine / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thermodynamics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / chemistry*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • S-Adenosylhomocysteine
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Protein Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • SETD7 protein, human
  • Lysine

Associated data

  • PDB/1XQH