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Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
Twist and p53 reciprocally regulate target genes via direct interaction
M Shiota1, H Izumi, T Onitsuka
1Department of Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Oncogene
|May 28, 2008
Summary
The transcription factor Twist directly interacts with the tumor suppressor p53, inhibiting its function. This interaction interferes with p53
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Transcription Factors
Background:
- Twist is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor implicated in oncogenesis.
- Twist can interfere with the tumor suppressor functions of p53.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of Twist-p53 interaction is crucial for cancer biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct interaction between Twist and p53.
- To elucidate the functional consequences of this interaction on gene expression and cellular processes.
- To determine the domains involved in the Twist-p53 interaction.
Main Methods:
- Membrane pull-down assays were employed to detect direct protein-protein interactions.
- Analysis of p53 target gene expression, including the p21 promoter.
- Assessment of Twist-dependent promoter activity and p53-mediated growth suppression.
Main Results:
- Twist directly binds to p53, specifically to its DNA-binding domain, inhibiting p53's DNA-binding activity.
- Twist expression significantly represses p53-mediated transcriptional activation of the p21 promoter.
- p53 interacts with the N-terminal domain of Twist and represses Twist-dependent YB-1 promoter activity; p53-induced growth suppression is abrogated by Twist or YB-1.
Conclusions:
- Twist directly interacts with p53, leading to the inhibition of p53's tumor suppressor functions.
- This interaction impacts p53's ability to regulate target gene expression and induce growth suppression.
- The findings highlight a novel mechanism by which Twist promotes oncogenesis by neutralizing p53 activity.
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