title: Activation of p53 transcriptional activity requires ATM's kinase domain and multiple N-terminal serine residues of p53.
abstract: The ATM protein kinase regulates the cell's response to DNA damage by regulating cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair. ATM phosphorylates several proteins involved in the DNA-damage response, including p53. We have examined the mechanism by which ATM regulates p53's transcriptional activity. Here, we demonstrate that reintroduction of ATM into AT cells restores the activation of p53 by the radio-mimetic agent bleomycin. Further, p53 activation is lost when a kinase inactive ATM is used, or if the N-terminal of ATM is deleted. In addition, AT cells stably expressing ATM showed decreased sensitivity to Ionizing Radiation-induced cell killing, whereas cells expressing kinase inactive ATM or N-terminally deleted ATM were indistinguishable from AT cells. Finally, single point-mutations of serines 15, 20, 33 or 37 did not individually block the ATM-dependent activation of p53 transcriptional activity by bleomycin. However, double mutations of either serines 15 and 20 or serines 33 and 37 blocked the ability of ATM to activate p53. Our results indicate that the N-terminal of ATM and ATM's kinase activity are required for activation of p53's transcriptional activity and restoration of normal sensitivity to DNA damage. In addition, activation of p53 by ATM requires multiple serine residues in p53's transactivation domain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, D810A, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Turenne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laflair
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D001761:Bleomycin; D012694:Serine; C576597:ATR protein, human; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases