Dataset Information

APAF1 is a key transcriptional target for p53 in the regulation of neuronal cell death.

ABSTRACT: p53 is a transcriptional activator which has been implicated as a key regulator of neuronal cell death after acute injury. We have shown previously that p53-mediated neuronal cell death involves a Bax-dependent activation of caspase 3; however, the transcriptional targets involved in the regulation of this process have not been identified. In the present study, we demonstrate that p53 directly upregulates Apaf1 transcription as a critical step in the induction of neuronal cell death. Using DNA microarray analysis of total RNA isolated from neurons undergoing p53-induced apoptosis a 5-6-fold upregulation of Apaf1 mRNA was detected. Induction of neuronal cell death by camptothecin, a DNA-damaging agent that functions through a p53-dependent mechanism, resulted in increased Apaf1 mRNA in p53-positive, but not p53-deficient neurons. In both in vitro and in vivo neuronal cell death processes of p53-induced cell death, Apaf1 protein levels were increased. We addressed whether p53 directly regulates Apaf1 transcription via the two p53 consensus binding sites in the Apaf1 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated p53-DNA binding activity at both p53 consensus binding sequences in extracts obtained from neurons undergoing p53-induced cell death, but not in healthy control cultures or when p53 or the p53 binding sites were inactivated by mutation. In transient transfections in a neuronal cell line with p53 and Apaf1 promoter-luciferase constructs, p53 directly activated the Apaf1 promoter via both p53 sites. The importance of Apaf1 as a p53 target gene in neuronal cell death was evaluated by examining p53-induced apoptotic pathways in primary cultures of Apaf1-deficient neurons. Neurons treated with camptothecin were significantly protected in the absence of Apaf1 relative to those derived from wild-type littermates. Together, these results demonstrate that Apaf1 is a key transcriptional target for p53 that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis after neuronal injury.

SUBMITTER: Fortin A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2198828 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

APAF1 is a key transcriptional target for p53 in the regulation of neuronal cell death.

Fortin A A Cregan S P SP MacLaurin J G JG Kushwaha N N Hickman E S ES Thompson C S CS Hakim A A Albert P R PR Cecconi F F Helin K K Park D S DS Slack R S RS

The Journal of cell biology 20011008 2

p53 is a transcriptional activator which has been implicated as a key regulator of neuronal cell death after acute injury. We have shown previously that p53-mediated neuronal cell death involves a Bax-dependent activation of caspase 3; however, the transcriptional targets involved in the regulation of this process have not been identified. In the present study, we demonstrate that p53 directly upregulates Apaf1 transcription as a critical step in the induction of neuronal cell death. Using DNA m ...[more]

PMID: 11591730

Similar Datasets

Project description:We previously demonstrated that protein kinase C? (PKC?; PKC delta) is an oxidative stress-sensitive kinase that plays a causal role in apoptotic cell death in neuronal cells. Although PKC? activation has been extensively studied, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling PKC? expression. To characterize the regulation of PKC? expression, we cloned an ?2-kbp 5'-promoter segment of the mouse Prkcd gene. Deletion analysis indicated that the noncoding exon 1 region contained multiple Sp sites, including four GC boxes and one CACCC box, which directed the highest levels of transcription in neuronal cells. In addition, an upstream regulatory region containing adjacent repressive and anti-repressive elements with opposing regulatory activities was identified within the region -712 to -560. Detailed mutagenesis studies revealed that each Sp site made a positive contribution to PKC? promoter expression. Overexpression of Sp family proteins markedly stimulated PKC? promoter activity without any synergistic transactivating effect. Furthermore, experiments in Sp-deficient SL2 cells indicated long isoform Sp3 as the essential activator of PKC? transcription. Importantly, both PKC? promoter activity and endogenous PKC? expression in NIE115 cells and primary striatal cultures were inhibited by mithramycin A. The results from chromatin immunoprecipitation and gel shift assays further confirmed the functional binding of Sp proteins to the PKC? promoter. Additionally, we demonstrated that overexpression of p300 or CREB-binding protein increases the PKC? promoter activity. This stimulatory effect requires intact Sp-binding sites and is independent of p300 histone acetyltransferase activity. Finally, modulation of Sp transcriptional activity or protein level profoundly altered the cell death induced by oxidative insult, demonstrating the functional significance of Sp-dependent PKC? gene expression. Collectively, our findings may have implications for development of new translational strategies against oxidative damage.

Dataset Information

APAF1 is a key transcriptional target for p53 in the regulation of neuronal cell death.

Publications

APAF1 is a key transcriptional target for p53 in the regulation of neuronal cell death.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets