Trim24 targets endogenous p53 for degradation

K Allton, AK Jain, HM Herz, WW Tsai… - Proceedings of the …, 2009 - National Acad Sciences
K Allton, AK Jain, HM Herz, WW Tsai, SY Jung, J Qin, A Bergmann, RL Johnson, MC Barton
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009National Acad Sciences
Numerous studies focus on the tumor suppressor p53 as a protector of genomic stability,
mediator of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and target of mutation in 50% of all human
cancers. The vast majority of information on p53, its protein-interaction partners and
regulation, comes from studies of tumor-derived, cultured cells where p53 and its regulatory
controls may be mutated or dysfunctional. To address regulation of endogenous p53 in
normal cells, we created a mouse and stem cell model by knock-in (KI) of a tandem-affinity …
Numerous studies focus on the tumor suppressor p53 as a protector of genomic stability, mediator of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and target of mutation in 50% of all human cancers. The vast majority of information on p53, its protein-interaction partners and regulation, comes from studies of tumor-derived, cultured cells where p53 and its regulatory controls may be mutated or dysfunctional. To address regulation of endogenous p53 in normal cells, we created a mouse and stem cell model by knock-in (KI) of a tandem-affinity-purification (TAP) epitope at the endogenous Trp-53 locus. Mass spectrometry of TAP-purified p53-complexes from embryonic stem cells revealed Tripartite-motif protein 24 (Trim24), a previously unknown partner of p53. Mutation of TRIM24 homolog, bonus, in Drosophila led to apoptosis, which could be rescued by p53-depletion. These in vivo analyses establish TRIM24/bonus as a pathway that negatively regulates p53 in Drosophila. The Trim24-p53 link is evolutionarily conserved, as TRIM24 depletion in human breast cancer cells caused p53-dependent, spontaneous apoptosis. We found that Trim24 ubiquitylates and negatively regulates p53 levels, suggesting Trim24 as a therapeutic target to restore tumor suppression by p53.
National Acad Sciences