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Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Purification of Ubiquitinated p53 Proteins from Mammalian Cells
Published on: March 21, 2022
p53 and MDM2 are regulated by PI-3-kinases on multiple levels under stress induced by UV radiation and proteasome
Leena Latonen1, Sari Kurki, Kimmo Pitkänen
1Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, PO Box 63, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract:
p53 is a key stress responsive cellular component. It is negatively regulated by MDM2, which is also its transcriptional target. Here we have studied the involvement of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI-3-kinase) in the regulation of p53-MDM2 pathway following cellular stress induced by UV damage and proteasomal downregulation. We show that p53 stabilized both by proteasome inhibition and UV damage is transcriptionally active. However, p53 in proteasomally downregulated cells differs from UV-stabilized p53 in its interaction with MDM2, posttranslational modifications and subnuclear localization. It is known that members of PI-3-kinase family are able to directly phosphorylate p53 and MDM2. We show that these kinases regulate p53 accumulation after UV radiation, but accumulation of MDM2 after proteasome inhibition. Both proteins have earlier been shown to translocate into nucleoli after downregulation of the proteasome. We found this effect to be dependent on PI-3-kinase activity but not on any suggested PI-3-kinase phosphorylation site on MDM2. In conclusion, we show here that PI-3-kinases regulate p53-MDM2 pathway on multiple, earlier unknown levels.
Insights
Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI-3-kinases) regulate the p53-MDM2 pathway under cellular stress. These kinases impact p53 and MDM2 stability, modification, and localization differently depending on the stress type.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Molecular Oncology
- Signal Transduction
Background:
- The p53 protein is a critical regulator of cellular responses to stress.
- MDM2 negatively regulates p53 stability and activity, forming a feedback loop.
- Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI-3-kinases) are known to phosphorylate both p53 and MDM2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of PI-3-kinases in the p53-MDM2 pathway.
- To understand how PI-3-kinases regulate p53 and MDM2 under UV damage and proteasomal downregulation.
- To elucidate the specific mechanisms of PI-3-kinase involvement in stress-induced p53 regulation.
Main Methods:
- Cellular stress induction via UV radiation and proteasome inhibition.
- Analysis of p53 and MDM2 protein stability, transcriptional activity, and posttranslational modifications.
- Assessment of subnuclear localization of p53 and MDM2.
- Pharmacological inhibition of PI-3-kinase activity.
Main Results:
- p53 stabilization by UV or proteasome inhibition leads to transcriptional activity.
- UV-induced p53 accumulation is regulated by PI-3-kinases.
- MDM2 accumulation following proteasome inhibition is regulated by PI-3-kinases.
- PI-3-kinase activity is essential for nucleolar translocation of p53 and MDM2 under proteasome inhibition, independent of MDM2 phosphorylation sites.
- Differences in p53-MDM2 interaction, modifications, and localization were observed between UV- and proteasome inhibition-induced stabilization.
Conclusions:
- PI-3-kinases play a multifaceted role in regulating the p53-MDM2 pathway.
- These kinases differentially control p53 and MDM2 responses to distinct cellular stresses.
- PI-3-kinases are crucial for stress-induced nucleolar localization of p53 and MDM2.
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