title: Inhibitory function of p21Cip1/WAF1 in differentiation of primary mouse keratinocytes independent of cell cycle control.
abstract: The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(Cip1/WAF1) has been implicated as an inducer of differentiation. However, although expression of p21 is increased in postmitotic cells immediately adjacent to the proliferative compartment, its expression is decreased in cells further along the differentiation program. Expression of the p21 protein was decreased in terminally differentiated primary keratinocytes of mice, and this occurred by a proteasome-dependent pathway. Forced expression of p21 in these cells inhibited the expression of markers of terminal differentiation at both the protein and messenger RNA levels. These inhibitory effects on differentiation were not observed with a carboxyl-terminal truncation mutant or with the unrelated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16(INK4a), although all these molecules exerted similar inhibition of cell growth. These findings reveal an inhibitory role of p21 in the late stages of differentiation that does not result from the effects of p21 on the cell cycle.
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Cunto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Topley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calautti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Dotto
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013386:Succinates / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C493957:Cdkn1a protein, mouse; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007976:Leupeptins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013386:Succinates; C064554:loricrin; C063261:acetylleucyl-leucyl-norleucinal; C067713:lactacystin; C017290:2,3-epoxysuccinic acid; C032253:involucrin; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D000111:Acetylcysteine