title: Functional analysis of the transforming growth factor beta responsive elements in the WAF1/Cip1/p21 promoter.
abstract: The transforming growth factor beta s (TGF-beta s) are a group of multifunctional growth factors that inhibit cell cycle progression in many cell types. The TGF-beta-induced cell cycle arrest has been partially attributed to the regulatory effects of TGF-beta on both the levels and activities of the G1 cyclins and their cyclin-dependent kinase partners. The ability of TGF-beta to inhibit the activity of these kinase complexes derives in part from its regulatory effects on the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21/WAF1/Cip1, p27Kip1, and p15. Upon treatment of cells with TGF-beta, these three inhibitors bind to and block the activities of specific cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase complexes to cause cell cycle arrest. Little is known, however, on the mechanism through which TGF-beta activates these cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. In the case of p21, TGF-beta treatment leads to an increase in p21 mRNA. This increase in p21 mRNA is partly due to transcriptional activation of the p21 promoter by TGF-beta. To further define the signaling pathways through which TGF-beta induces p21, we have performed a detailed functional analysis on the p21 promoter. Through both deletion and mutation analysis of the p21 promoter, we have defined a 10-base pair sequence that is required for the activation of the p21 promoter by TGF-beta. In addition, this sequence is sufficient to drive TGF-beta-mediated transcription from a previously nonresponsive promoter. Preliminary gel shift assays demonstrate that this TGF-beta responsive element binds specifically to several proteins in vitro. Two of these proteins are the transcription factors Sp-1 and Sp-3. These studies represent the initial steps toward defining the signaling pathways involved in TGF-beta-mediated transcriptional activation of p21.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011506:Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta