Def defines a conserved nucleolar pathway that leads p53 to proteasome-independent degradation.

ABSTRACT: p53 protein turnover through the ubiquitination pathway is a vital mechanism in the regulation of its transcriptional activity; however, little is known about p53 turnover through proteasome-independent pathway(s). The digestive organ expansion factor (Def) protein is essential for the development of digestive organs. In zebrafish, loss of function of def selectively upregulates the expression of p53 response genes, which raises a question as to what is the relationship between Def and p53. We report here that Def is a nucleolar protein and that loss of function of def leads to the upregulation of p53 protein, which surprisingly accumulates in the nucleoli. Our extensive studies have demonstrated that Def can mediate the degradation of p53 protein and that this process is independent of th

SUBMITTER: Tao T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3641591 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature