The Roles of p53, ATM, and BRCA1 in Penicillamine-Induced Apoptosis

Abstract

Penicillamine (PEN) causes apoptosis in tumor-derived cells but not in normal cells, suggesting that it may have potential as a therapeutic agent. This proposal focused on whether p53 and/or BRCA1 phosphorylation are required for PEN-induced apoptosis. Replacement of serine with alanine at BRCA1 1423 protected HCC1937 cells from apoptosis as did wild-type BRCA1. Replacement of serines 1387 and 1524 with alanines sensitized cells to PEN. Truncated BRCA1 retains these three serines, but lacks the second BRCT domain which binds p53 and regulates its transcriptional activity. Therefore both phosphorylation of serines 1387 and 1524, and the second BRCT domain are required for protection of HCC1937 cells from PEN-mediated apoptosis. To determine whether p53 expression had an effect on PEN-induced apoptosis in Saos-2 cells (p53-null), they were transfected with an inducible wild-type p53 construct, then treated with PEN. The sensitivity of these cells was not affected by p53 expression, preventing evaluation of a role for phosphorylation. However, in HCC1937 cells expressing truncated BRCA1, PEN-induced apoptosis was higher when p53 was present. Mutation of p53 serines 15 and 46 had no effect, indicating that phosphorylation of p53 is not required for PEN induced a 0 toss in HCC1937 cells.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA431326

Entities

People

  • Pamela A. Havre

Organizations

  • Yale University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antibodies
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Contrast
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Mutations
  • Neoplasms
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteins
  • Radiation
  • Sensitivity
  • Transfection

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.