Inhibition of p53-mediated growth arrest by overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinases

Mol Cell Biol. 1996 Aug;16(8):4445-55. doi: 10.1128/MCB.16.8.4445.

Abstract

Rat fibroblasts transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of murine p53 undergo a reversible growth arrest in G1 at 32.5 degrees C, the temperature at which p53 adopts a wild-type conformation. The arrested cells contain inactive cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) despite the presence of high levels of cyclin E and cdk-activating kinase activity. This is due in part to p53-dependent expression of the p2l cdk inhibitor. Upon shift to 39 degrees C, wild-type p53 is lost and cdk2 activation and pRb phosphorylation occur concomitantly with loss of p2l. This p53-mediated growth arrest can be abrogated by overexpression of cdk4 and cdk6 but not cdk2 or cyclins, leading to continuous proliferation of transfected cells in the presence of wild-type p53 and p2l. Kinase-inactive counterparts of cdk4 and cdk6 also rescue these cells from growth arrest, implicating a noncatalytic role for cdk4 and cdk6 in this resistance to p53-mediated growth arrest. Aberrant expression of these cell cycle kinases may thus result in an oncogenic interference with inhibitors of cell cycle progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins*
  • Cell Cycle*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / physiology
  • Cyclins / physiology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / physiology
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • Rats
  • Temperature
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins*

Substances

  • Cdkn1a protein, mouse
  • Cdkn1a protein, rat
  • Cdkn1b protein, mouse
  • Cdkn1b protein, rat
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Cdk4 protein, mouse
  • Cdk4 protein, rat
  • Cdk6 protein, mouse
  • Cdk6 protein, rat
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases