p73 supports cellular growth through c-Jun-dependent AP-1 transactivation

Boominathan, L., Dulloo, I., Ng, H., Sabapathy, K., Toh, W., Vikhanskaya, F., Vousden, K. and Wu, Q. (2007) p73 supports cellular growth through c-Jun-dependent AP-1 transactivation. Nature Cell Biology, 9(6), 698-U162. (doi: 10.1038/ncb1598)

Abstract

The cause or consequence of overexpression of p73 (refs 1, 2), the structural and functional homologue of the tumour-suppressor gene product p53 (refs 3, 4), in human cancers is poorly understood. Here, we report a role for p73 in supporting cellular growth through the upregulation of AP-1 transcriptional activity. p73 suppresses growth when overexpressed alone, but synergises with the proto-oncogene c-Jun to promote cellular survival. Conversely, silencing of p73 expression compromises cellular proliferation. Molecular analysis revealed that expression of the AP-1 target-gene product cyclinD1 (ref. 5) is reduced concomitant with p73, but not p53, silencing. Moreover, cyclinD1 was induced by p73 expression in a c-Jun-dependent manner, and was required for p73-mediated cell survival. Furthermore, c-Jun-dependent AP-1 transcriptional activity was augmented by p73 and, consistently, induction of endogenous AP-1 target genes was compromised in the absence of p73. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift analysis indicated that p73 enhanced the binding of phosphorylated c-Jun and Fra1, another AP-1 family member, to AP-1 consensus DNA sequences, by regulating c-Jun phosphorylation and Fra-1 expression. Collectively, our data demonstrates a novel and unexpected role of p73 in augmenting AP-1 transcriptional activity through which it supports cellular growth.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vousden, Karen
• Authors: Boominathan, L., Dulloo, I., Ng, H., Sabapathy, K., Toh, W., Vikhanskaya, F., Vousden, K., and Wu, Q.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Nature Cell Biology
• ISSN: 1465-7392