title: DEC1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor and a novel target gene of the p53 family, mediates p53-dependent premature senescence.
abstract: Cellular senescence plays an important role in tumor suppression. p53 tumor suppressor has been reported to be crucial in cellular senescence. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In this regard, a cDNA microarray assay was performed to identify p53 targets involved in senescence. Among the many candidates is DEC1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that has been recently shown to be up-regulated in K-ras-induced premature senescence. However, it is not clear whether DEC1 is capable of inducing senescence. Here, we found that DEC1 is a novel target gene of the p53 family and mediates p53-dependent premature senescence. Specifically, we showed that DEC1 is induced by the p53 family and DNA damage in a p53-dependent manner. We also found that the p53 family proteins bind to, and activate, the promoter of the DEC1 gene. In addition, we showed that overexpression of DEC1 induces G(1) arrest and promotes senescence. Moreover, we found that targeting endogenous DEC1 attenuates p53-mediated premature senescence in response to DNA damage. Furthermore, overexpression of DEC1 induces cellular senescence in p53-knockdown cells, albeit to a lesser extent. Finally, we showed that DEC1-induced senescence is p21-independent. Taken together, our data provided strong evidence that DEC1 is one of the effectors downstream of p53 to promote premature senescence.
authors.affiliation: University of California-Davis, Center for Comparative Oncology, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Yingjuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bingfang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xinbin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; C403671:DELEC1 protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human