Phosphorylation of p53 on Thr55 by ERK2 is necessary for doxorubicin-induced p53 activation and cell death
Journal
Oncogene
Journal Volume
23
Journal Issue
20
Pages
3580-3588
Date Issued
2004
Author(s)
Abstract
We recently reported that exposure of human cervical carcinoma cells to doxonibicin results in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)2 activation, which in turn phosphorylates p53 on a previously uncharacterized site, Thr55. This study sought to clarify the biological significance of doxorubicin-induced Thr55 phosphorylation. In breast carcinoma MCF7 cells, doxorubicin (300 nM) activated ERK2 and induced phosphorylation of p53 on Thr55 residues. Pretreatment of MCF7 cells with an EMK2 chemical inhibitor, PD98059 or U0126, blocked doxorubicin-induced p53 activation and suppressed phosphorylation of p53Thr55. MCF55a cells were established by transfection of full-length p53 carrying Thr55 mutation (Thr to Ala) into MCF7 cells. Doxorubicin (500 nM) could not induce p53 activation in MCF55a cells, which showed significantly increased drug resistance toward doxorubicin. While the expression of the apoptotic protein, Bax, showed no difference between MCF7 and MCF55a cells, Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, was constitutively expressed in MCF55a cells. The increase of Bcl-2 protein and/or Bcl-2/Bax ratio might at least partly contribute to the drug resistance of MCF55a cells. In summary, our results suggest that phosphorylation of p53Thr55 by ERK2 is important for doxorubicin-induced p53 activation and cell death.
SDGs
Other Subjects
1,4 diamino 1,4 bis(2 aminophenylthio) 2,3 dicyanobutadiene; 2 (2 amino 3 methoxyphenyl)chromone; doxorubicin; mitogen activated protein kinase 1; mitogen activated protein kinase inhibitor; protein Bax; protein bcl 2; protein p53; antineoplastic activity; apoptosis; article; breast carcinoma; cancer cell culture; cancer cell destruction; controlled study; enzyme activation; gene mutation; genetic transfection; human; human cell; priority journal; protein expression; protein phosphorylation; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Cell Death; Down-Regulation; Doxorubicin; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Threonine; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
Type
journal article