N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 is involved in p53-mediated apoptosis.
The tumor suppressor, p53, is a transcription factor which can modulate the transcription of a number of target genes that are involved in cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, the apoptotic pathway mediated by p53 is not fully understood. Here, we showed that N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) is a new target gene that is regulated by p53. NDRG2 mRNA and protein levels can be upregulated in a p53-dependent manner. The first intron of the NDRG2 gene contains a site that binds p53 directly and mediates wild-type p53-dependent transactivation. In addition, silencing of NDRG2 attenuates p53-mediated apoptosis, whereas overexpression of NDRG2 suppresses tumor cell growth, regardless of the presence or absence of p53. Our results indicate that NDRG2 is a novel p53-inducible target that is involved in the p53-mediated apoptosis pathway.
Liu
Na
N
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
Wang
Lifeng
L
Li
Xia
X
Yang
Qi
Q
Liu
Xinping
X
Zhang
Jing
J
Zhang
Jian
J
Wu
Yousheng
Y
Ji
Shaoping
S
Zhang
Yingqi
Y
Yang
Angang
A
Han
Hua
H
Yao
Libo
L
D017209:Apoptosis; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
C466228:NDRG2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins