SIRT1 regulates apoptosis and Nanog expression in mouse embryonic stem cells by controlling p53 subcellular localization.
Nuclear tumor suppressor p53 transactivates proapoptotic genes or antioxidant genes depending on stress severity, while cytoplasmic p53 induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis without gene transactivation. Although SIRT1, a p53 deacetylase, inhibits p53-mediated transactivation, how SIRT1 regulates these p53 multifunctions is unclear. Here we show that SIRT1 blocks nuclear translocation of cytoplasmic p53 in response to endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells. ROS generated by antioxidant-free culture caused p53 translocation into mitochondria in wild-type mES cells but induced p53 translocation into the nucleus in SIRT1(-/-) mES cells. Endogenous ROS triggered apoptosis of wild-type mES through mitochondrial translocation of p53 and BAX but inhibited Nanog expression of SIRT1(-/-) mES, indicating that SIRT1 makes mES cells sensitive to ROS and inhibits p53-mediated suppression of Nanog expression. Our results suggest that endogenous ROS control is important for mES cell maintenance in culture.
Han
Myung-Kwan
MK
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5181, USA. iamtom@chonbuk.ac.kr
Song
Eun-Kyung
EK
Guo
Ying
Y
Ou
Xuan
X
Mantel
Charlie
C
Broxmeyer
Hal E
HE
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D056564:Sirtuin 1; D037761:Sirtuins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C475540:Nanog protein, mouse; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C470545:Sirt1 protein, mouse; D056564:Sirtuin 1; D037761:Sirtuins