title: TAp73beta and DNp73beta activate the expression of the pro-survival caspase-2S.
abstract: p73, the p53 homologue, exists as a transactivation-domain-proficient TAp73 or deficient deltaN(DN)p73 form. Expectedly, the oncogenic DNp73 that is capable of inactivating both TAp73 and p53 function, is over-expressed in cancers. However, the role of TAp73, which exhibits tumour-suppressive properties in gain or loss of function models, in human cancers where it is hyper-expressed is unclear. We demonstrate here that both TAp73 and DNp73 are able to specifically transactivate the expression of the anti-apoptotic member of the caspase family, caspase-2(S). Neither p53 nor TAp63 has this property, and only the p73beta form, but not the p73alpha form, has this competency. Caspase-2 promoter analysis revealed that a non-canonical, 18 bp GC-rich Sp-1-binding site-containing region is essential for p73beta-mediated activation. However, mutating the Sp-1-binding site or silencing Sp-1 expression did not affect p73beta's transactivation ability. In vitro DNA binding and in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that p73beta is capable of directly binding to this region, and consistently, DNA binding p73 mutant was unable to transactivate caspase-2(S). Finally, DNp73beta over-expression in neuroblastoma cells led to resistance to cell death, and concomitantly to elevated levels of caspase-2(S.) Silencing p73 expression in these cells led to reduction of caspase-2(S) expression and increased cell death. Together, the data identifies caspase-2(S) as a novel transcriptional target common to both TAp73 and DNp73, and raises the possibility that TAp73 may be over-expressed in cancers to promote survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular & Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, 11, Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
authors.forename: Wen Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Logette
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corcos
authors.forename: Kanaga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sabapathy
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D053143:Caspase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C000606460:TP73 protein, human; D000072160:Tumor Protein p73; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D053143:Caspase 2