Project description:The tumor suppressor p53 plays a crucial role in cellular growth control inducing a plethora of cellular response pathways. The molecular mechanisms that discriminate between the distinct p53-responses towards different stress treatments have remained largely elusive. Here, we have analyzed the p53-regulated pathways induced by two chemotherapeutical treatments, Actinomycin D inducing growth arrest and Etoposide resulting in apoptosis. We found that the genome-wide p53-binding patterns are almost identical upon both treatments notwithstanding transcriptional differences that we observed in genome-wide transcriptome analysis. To assess the role of post-translational modifications in target gene choice and activation we investigated the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 46 of p53 bound to DNA (p53-pS46), a modification that has been linked to apoptosis-pathways, and the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 15 (p53-pS15), a general p53-activation mark. Interestingly, the overall extent of S46 phosphorylation of p53 bound to DNA is considerably higher in cells directed towards apoptosis while the degree of phosphorylation at S15 of DNA bound p53 remains highly similar upon both treatments. Moreover, our data suggest that, following different chemotherapeutical treatments, the extent of chromatin-associated p53 phosphorylated at S46 but not at pS15 is higher on certain apoptosis related target genes, including the BAX and PUMA genes. These data provide evidence that cell fate decisions are not made primarily on the level of general p53 DNA-binding, but possibly through post-translational modifications of chromatin bound p53. ChIP-seq profiles of p53, p53phosphorylated at Serine 15 (p53-pS15) and p53 phosphorylated at Serine 46 (p53-pS46) in U2OS cells treated with either Actinomycin D or Etoposide.
Project description:The tumor suppressor p53 plays a crucial role in cellular growth control inducing a plethora of cellular response pathways. The molecular mechanisms that discriminate between the distinct p53-responses towards different stress treatments have remained largely elusive. Here, we have analyzed the p53-regulated pathways induced by two chemotherapeutical treatments, Actinomycin D inducing growth arrest and Etoposide resulting in apoptosis. We found that the genome-wide p53-binding patterns are almost identical upon both treatments notwithstanding transcriptional differences that we observed in genome-wide transcriptome analysis. To assess the role of post-translational modifications in target gene choice and activation we investigated the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 46 of p53 bound to DNA (p53-pS46), a modification that has been linked to apoptosis-pathways, and the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 15 (p53-pS15), a general p53-activation mark. Interestingly, the overall extent of S46 phosphorylation of p53 bound to DNA is considerably higher in cells directed towards apoptosis while the degree of phosphorylation at S15 of DNA bound p53 remains highly similar upon both treatments. Moreover, our data suggest that, following different chemotherapeutical treatments, the extent of chromatin-associated p53 phosphorylated at S46 but not at pS15 is higher on certain apoptosis related target genes, including the BAX and PUMA genes. These data provide evidence that cell fate decisions are not made primarily on the level of general p53 DNA-binding, but possibly through post-translational modifications of chromatin bound p53. Microarray analysis (Affymetrix Human Exon array) of the p53 response in U2OS cells treated with either Etoposide or Actinomycin D
Project description:The tumor suppressor p53 plays a crucial role in cellular growth control inducing a plethora of cellular response pathways. The molecular mechanisms that discriminate between the distinct p53-responses towards different stress treatments have remained largely elusive. Here, we have analyzed the p53-regulated pathways induced by two chemotherapeutical treatments, Actinomycin D inducing growth arrest and Etoposide resulting in apoptosis. We found that the genome-wide p53-binding patterns are almost identical upon both treatments notwithstanding transcriptional differences that we observed in genome-wide transcriptome analysis. To assess the role of post-translational modifications in target gene choice and activation we investigated the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 46 of p53 bound to DNA (p53-pS46), a modification that has been linked to apoptosis-pathways, and the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 15 (p53-pS15), a general p53-activation mark. Interestingly, the overall extent of S46 phosphorylation of p53 bound to DNA is considerably higher in cells directed towards apoptosis while the degree of phosphorylation at S15 of DNA bound p53 remains highly similar upon both treatments. Moreover, our data suggest that, following different chemotherapeutical treatments, the extent of chromatin-associated p53 phosphorylated at S46 but not at pS15 is higher on certain apoptosis related target genes, including the BAX and PUMA genes. These data provide evidence that cell fate decisions are not made primarily on the level of general p53 DNA-binding, but possibly through post-translational modifications of chromatin bound p53.
Project description:The tumor suppressor p53 plays a crucial role in cellular growth control inducing a plethora of cellular response pathways. The molecular mechanisms that discriminate between the distinct p53-responses towards different stress treatments have remained largely elusive. Here, we have analyzed the p53-regulated pathways induced by two chemotherapeutical treatments, Actinomycin D inducing growth arrest and Etoposide resulting in apoptosis. We found that the genome-wide p53-binding patterns are almost identical upon both treatments notwithstanding transcriptional differences that we observed in genome-wide transcriptome analysis. To assess the role of post-translational modifications in target gene choice and activation we investigated the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 46 of p53 bound to DNA (p53-pS46), a modification that has been linked to apoptosis-pathways, and the extent of phosphorylation of Serine 15 (p53-pS15), a general p53-activation mark. Interestingly, the overall extent of S46 phosphorylation of p53 bound to DNA is considerably higher in cells directed towards apoptosis while the degree of phosphorylation at S15 of DNA bound p53 remains highly similar upon both treatments. Moreover, our data suggest that, following different chemotherapeutical treatments, the extent of chromatin-associated p53 phosphorylated at S46 but not at pS15 is higher on certain apoptosis related target genes, including the BAX and PUMA genes. These data provide evidence that cell fate decisions are not made primarily on the level of general p53 DNA-binding, but possibly through post-translational modifications of chromatin bound p53.
Project description:Interventions: Case series:None
Primary outcome(s): exon genes;transcriptional expression;proteome;protein phosphorylation group
Study Design: Sequential
Project description:Modification by ubiquitin controls the stability of most cellular proteins, and deregulation contributes to a variety of human diseases such as cancer. Deubiquitinases (DUBs) remove ubiquitin from proteins, and the inhibition of DUBs has been recognized as a therapeutic strategy to induce degradation of specific proteins, a concept extendable to ‘undruggable’ targets such as transcription factors. However, this potential has remained untapped; specific small molecule inhibitors for DUBs are scarce and insights into mechanisms of action are limited. Ubiquitin specific protease (USP) 7 stabilises the oncogenic E3 ligase MDM2 that destabilises the tumour suppressor p53 and inhibition of USP7 results in MDM2 degradation and p53 re-activation in a variety of cancers. We here present two small molecule inhibitors, FT671 and FT827, that inhibit USP7 with nanomolar affinity and display exquisite specificity towards USP7 in vitro and in cells. USP7-inhibitor co-crystal structures reveal that both compounds target the auto-inhibited apo-form of USP7 and bind in proximity to the misaligned catalytic triad in a dynamic hydrophobic pocket that serves as the binding site for the ubiquitin C-terminus. The unique auto-inhibited conformation of apo USP7 differs from other USP DUBs, explaining compound selectivity. Consistent with USP7 target engagement in cells, FT671 destabilises MDM2, stabilises p53 and results in transcription of p53 target genes, induction of the tumour suppressor p21, and tumour growth inhibition in vivo.