Slugging it out: fine tuning the p53-PUMA death connection.
In response to DNA damage, the tumor suppressor p53 elicits a complex cellular response. In this issue of Cell, Wu et al. (2005) show that the transcription factor SLUG is induced by p53 and protects hematopoietic progenitor cells from apoptosis triggered by DNA damage. SLUG exerts this protective role by repressing Puma, a proapoptotic target of p53. PUMA is also a key coordinator of apoptosis mediated by both nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of p53 (Chi-puk et al., 2005).
Zilfou
Jack T
JT
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.
Spector
Mona S
MS
Lowe
Scott W
SW
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004249:DNA Damage; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000502:physiology; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000502:physiology
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C488588:PUMA protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; C000604449:Snai2 protein, mouse; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein