title: Heat shock factor-1 modulates p53 activity in the transcriptional response to DNA damage.
abstract: Here we define an important role for heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in the cellular response to genotoxic agents. We demonstrate for the first time that HSF1 can complex with nuclear p53 and that both proteins are co-operatively recruited to p53-responsive genes such as p21. Analysis of natural and synthetic cis elements demonstrates that HSF1 can enhance p53-mediated transcription, whilst depletion of HSF1 reduces the expression of p53-responsive transcripts. We find that HSF1 is required for optimal p21 expression and p53-mediated cell-cycle arrest in response to genotoxins while loss of HSF1 attenuates apoptosis in response to these agents. To explain these novel properties of HSF1 we show that HSF1 can complex with DNA damage kinases ATR and Chk1 to effect p53 phosphorylation in response to DNA damage. Our data reveal HSF1 as a key transcriptional regulator in response to genotoxic compounds widely used in the clinical setting, and suggest that HSF1 will contribute to the efficacy of these agents.
authors.affiliation: Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: Hesta V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.forename: Frances V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Fuller-Pace
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lunec
authors.forename: Craig N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Robson
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1; D004249:DNA Damage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000619706:HSF1 protein, human; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D011494:Protein Kinases; C000605867:CHEK1 protein, human; D000071877:Checkpoint Kinase 1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases