E2F-1-induced p53-independent apoptosis in transgenic mice.
The E2F transcription factors are key targets for the retinoblastoma protein, pRB. By inactivation of E2Fs, pRB prevents progression to the S phase. To test proliferative functions of E2F, we generated transgenic mice expressing human E2F-1 and/or human DP-1. When the hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase promoter was used to express DP-1, overexpression occurred in a variety of tissues and did not confer phenotypic changes. In contrast, expression of E2F-1 from the same promoter was obtained only in testicles, in which E2F-1 overexpression caused atrophy and sterility through a process involving increased apoptosis in the germinal epithelium. This effect was potentiated by simultaneous overexpression of DP-1. Testicular atrophy as a result of overexpression of E2F-1 and DP-1 is independent of functional p53, since p53-nullizygous transgenic mice overexpressing E2F-1 and DP-1 also suffered testicular atrophy.
Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Holmberg
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Helin
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Sehested
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Karlström
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001284:Atrophy; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D056465:Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D050680:Transcription Factor DP1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C533431:Arid4a protein, mouse; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; C493754:E2f1 protein, mouse; D056465:Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 1; C493735:TFDP1 protein, human; C493736:Tfdp1 protein, mouse; D050680:Transcription Factor DP1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53