title: Loss of p53 Ser18 and Atm results in embryonic lethality without cooperation in tumorigenesis.
abstract: Phosphorylation at murine Serine 18 (human Serine 15) is a critical regulatory process for the tumor suppressor function of p53. p53Ser18 residue is a substrate for ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM-related (ATR) protein kinases. Studies of mice with a germ-line mutation that replaces Ser18 with Ala (p53(S18A) mice) have demonstrated that loss of phosphorylation of p53Ser18 leads to the development of tumors, including lymphomas, fibrosarcomas, leukemia and leiomyosarcomas. The predominant lymphoma is B-cell lymphoma, which is in contrast to the lymphomas observed in Atm(-/-) animals. This observation and the fact that multiple kinases phosphorylate p53Ser18 suggest Atm-independent tumor suppressive functions of p53Ser18. Therefore, in order to examine p53Ser18 function in relationship to ATM, we analyzed the lifespan and tumorigenesis of mice with combined mutations in p53Ser18 and Atm. Surprisingly, we observed no cooperation in survival and tumorigenesis in compound p53(S18A) and Atm(-/-) animals. However, we observed embryonic lethality in the compound mutant animals. In addition, the homozygous p53Ser18 mutant allele impacted the weight of Atm(-/-) animals. These studies examine the genetic interaction of p53Ser18 and Atm in vivo. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate a role of p53Ser18 in regulating embryonic survival and motor coordination.
authors: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors: Heather L
authors: HL
authors: Armata
authors: Punita
authors: P
authors: Shroff
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Garlick
authors: Krista
authors: K
authors: Penta
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Tapper
authors: Hayla K
authors: HK
authors: Sluss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C576324:ATM protein, human; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; C576325:Atm protein, mouse; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases