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Repression of PTEN phosphatase by Snail1 transcriptional factor during gamma radiation-induced apoptosis

Maria Escrivà1, Sandra Peiró, Nicolás Herranz

  • 1Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona, c/Dr. Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain.

Molecular and Cellular Biology
|January 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The Snail1 gene product represses PTEN phosphatase, preventing gamma radiation-induced apoptosis in epithelial cells. This transcriptional repressor binds to the PTEN promoter, inhibiting p53 association and enhancing cell survival.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Snail1 is a transcriptional repressor crucial for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
  • Ectopic Snail1 expression confers resistance to apoptosis in epithelial cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism by which Snail1 confers resistance to gamma radiation-induced apoptosis.
  • To determine the role of PTEN phosphatase in Snail1-mediated radioresistance.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to detect Snail1 binding to the PTEN promoter.
  • Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to assess Snail1 and p53 association with the PTEN promoter.
  • Quantitative analysis of PTEN mRNA levels in response to Snail1 expression and gamma radiation.

Main Results:

  • Snail1 inhibits the gamma radiation-induced up-regulation of PTEN phosphatase mRNA in epithelial cells.
  • Snail1 directly binds to and represses the PTEN promoter.
  • Snail1 binding to the PTEN promoter increases post-gamma radiation, preventing p53 association.

Conclusions:

  • Snail1 plays a critical role in controlling apoptosis by regulating PTEN phosphatase.
  • Snail1-mediated inhibition of PTEN is a key mechanism conferring resistance to gamma radiation-induced apoptosis.

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