Meiotic recombination provokes functional activation of the p53 regulatory network.
The evolutionary appearance of p53 protein probably preceded its role in tumor suppression, suggesting that there may be unappreciated functions for this protein. Using genetic reporters as proxies to follow in vivo activation of the p53 network in Drosophila, we discovered that the process of meiotic recombination instigates programmed activation of p53 in the germ line. Specifically, double-stranded breaks in DNA generated by the topoisomerase Spo11 provoked functional p53 activity, which was prolonged in cells defective for meiotic DNA repair. This intrinsic stimulus for the p53 regulatory network is highly conserved because Spo11-dependent activation of p53 also occurs in mice. Our findings establish a physiological role for p53 in meiosis and suggest that tumor-suppressive functions may have been co-opted from primordial activities linked to recombination.
Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Wan-Jin
WJ
Lu
Joseph
J
Chapo
Ignasi
I
Roig
John M
JM
Abrams
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004249:DNA Damage; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004260:DNA Repair; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004950:Esterases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D017344:Genes, Insect; D016158:Genes, p53; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009866:Oogenesis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11
D004247:DNA; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004527:Egg Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; D004950:Esterases; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000099257:Meiotic Recombination Protein SPO11; C474203:p53 protein, Drosophila; C108443:okr protein, Drosophila