title: p53-independent elevation of p21 expression by PMA results from PKC-mediated mRNA stabilization.
abstract: The p21 (cip1/waf1) protein induces cell cycle arrest through inhibition of the activity of cdk (cyclin dependent kinase)/cyclin complexes. Expression of p21 is induced in a p53-dependent manner by DNA damage. p21 can also be induced independently of p53 by phorbol ester or okadaic acid. In this study, we have addressed the role of the PKC (protein kinase C) signaling pathway in the induction of p21 in response to PMA (phorbol myristate acetate) and okadaic acid. Levels of p21 (protein and mRNA) rapidly increased (within approximately 4 h) in U937 cells treated with PMA. The PKC-specific inhibitors RO 31-8220 and GF109203X down-regulated PMA or okadaic acid-induced p21 expression. Following persistent PKC activation, p21 mRNA levels remained elevated, indicating an enhanced stability of the mRNA. Using actinomycin D to measure mRNA stability and p21 promoter luciferase assays to measure activity, we provide evidence to support a role for the PKC signaling pathway in p21 mRNA stability. Thus, PKC regulates the amount of p21 in U937 cells at the level of mRNA accumulation and translation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 194 DongSan-Dong, Jung-Gu, Taegu, 700-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Passaniti
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics*; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008301:Maleimides / Q000494:pharmacology; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D008301:Maleimides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D003609:Dactinomycin; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D008156:Luciferases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; C070515:bisindolylmaleimide I; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; C064758:Ro 31-8220