Abstract
p21(Waf1/Cip1) protein levels respond to DNA damage; p21 is induced after ionizing radiation, but degraded after UV. p21 degradation after UV is necessary for optimal DNA repair, presumably because p21 inhibits nucleotide excision repair by blocking proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Because p21 also inhibits DNA mismatch repair (MMR), we investigated how p21 levels respond to DNA alkylation by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), which triggers the MMR system. We show that MNNG caused rapid degradation of p21, and this involved the ubiquitin ligase Cdt2 and the proteasome. p21 degradation further required MSH2 but not MLH1. p21 mutants that cannot bind PCNA or cannot be ubiquitinated were resistant to MNNG. MNNG induced the formation of PCNA complexes with MSH6 and Cdt2. Finally, when p21 degradation was blocked, MNNG treatment resulted in reduced recruitment of MMR proteins to chromatin. This study describes a novel pathway that removes p21 to allow cells to efficiently activate the MMR system.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
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Chromatin / genetics
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Chromatin / metabolism
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / genetics
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism*
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DNA Damage / drug effects
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DNA Damage / physiology
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DNA Repair / drug effects*
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DNA Repair / physiology
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HeLa Cells
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Humans
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Methylnitronitrosoguanidine / pharmacology*
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MutL Protein Homolog 1
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MutS Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
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MutS Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
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Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / genetics
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Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / metabolism
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / genetics
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
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Ubiquitination / drug effects*
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Ubiquitination / physiology
Substances
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
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CDKN1A protein, human
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Chromatin
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
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DTL protein, human
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MLH1 protein, human
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Nuclear Proteins
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Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
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Methylnitronitrosoguanidine
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
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MSH2 protein, human
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MutL Protein Homolog 1
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MutS Homolog 2 Protein