Differential regulation of p53 and p21 by MKRN1 E3 ligase controls cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Eun Woo Lee, Min Sik Lee, Suzanne Camus, Jaewang Ghim, Mi Ran Yang, Wonkyung Oh, Nam Chul Ha, David P. Lane, Jaewhan Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

114 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Makorin Ring Finger Protein 1 (MKRN1) is a transcriptional co-regulator and an E3 ligase. Here, we show that MKRN1 simultaneously functions as a differentially negative regulator of p53 and p21. In normal conditions, MKRN1 could destabilize both p53 and p21 through ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation. As a result, depletion of MKRN1 induced growth arrest through activation of p53 and p21. Interestingly, MKRN1 used earlier unknown sites, K291 and K292, for p53 ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Under severe stress conditions, however, MKRN1 primarily induced the efficient degradation of p21. This regulatory process contributed to the acceleration of DNA damage-induced apoptosis by eliminating p21. MKRN1 depletion diminished adriamycin or ultraviolet-induced cell death, whereas ectopic expression of MKRN1 facilitated apoptosis. Furthermore, MKRN1 stable cell lines that constantly produced low levels of p53 and p21 exhibited stabilization of p53, but not p21, with increased cell death on DNA damage. Our results indicate that MKRN1 exhibits dual functions of keeping cells alive by suppressing p53 under normal conditions and stimulating cell death by repressing p21 under stress conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2100-2113
Number of pages14
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume28
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Jul 22

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)

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