Mutant p53 oncogenic functions are sustained by Plk2 kinase through an autoregulatory feedback loop

Cell Cycle. 2011 Dec 15;10(24):4330-40. doi: 10.4161/cc.10.24.18682. Epub 2011 Dec 15.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of kinases has emerged to be a key event along with tumor progression, maintenance of tumor phenotype and response to anticancer treatments. This study documents the existence of an oncogenic auto-regulatory feedback loop that includes the Polo-like kinase-2 (Snk/Plk2) and mutant p53 proteins. Plk2 protein binds to and phosphorylates mutant p53, thereby potentiating its oncogenic activities. Phosphorylated mutant p53 binds more efficiently to p300 consequently strengthening its own transcriptional activity. Plk2 gene is regulated at a transcriptional level by both wt- and mutant p53 proteins. This leads to growth suppression or enhanced cell proliferation and chemo-resistance, respectively. In turn, the siRNA-mediated knock down of either mutant p53 or Plk2 proteins significantly curtails the growth properties of tumor cells and their chemo-resistance to anticancer treatments. Therefore, this paper identifies a novel tumor network including Plk2 and mutant p53 proteins whose triggering in response to DNA damage might disclose important implications for the treatment of human cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • DNA Damage / physiology*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • E1A-Associated p300 Protein / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Feedback, Physiological / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • E1A-Associated p300 Protein
  • EP300 protein, human
  • PLK2 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases