title: mdm2 expression is induced by wild type p53 activity.
abstract: We have recently characterized a 95 kDa protein, p95, which exhibits enhanced binding to temperature-sensitive p53 (ts-p53) when cells are shifted down to 32.5 degrees C, a temperature at which ts-p53 possesses wild-type (wt)-like activities. In the present study we show that p95 is a product of the mdm2 putative proto-oncogene. The enhanced complex formation of mdm2 with ts-p53 in cells maintained at 32.5 degrees C is due to an elevation in total mdm2 protein levels following the temperature shift. We further demonstrate that the induction of mdm2 expression by t p53 activity is at the mRNA level. The induction occurs with very rapid kinetics and does not require de novo protein synthesis, suggesting a direct involvement of p53 in the process. Based on these data and on recent findings implicating p53 as a transcription factor, we suggest that the mdm2 gene is a target for activation by wt p53. In view of the ability of mdm2 to act as a specific antagonist of p53 activity, this induction process may serve to tightly autoregulate p53 activity in living cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Juven
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haffner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016158:Genes, p53; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; C497208:Mdm2 protein, rat; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2