p53 functions through stress- and promoter-specific recruitment of transcription initiation components before and after DNA damage

Joaquín M. Espinosa, Ramiro E. Verdun, Beverly M. Emerson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

217 Scopus citations

Abstract

The tumor suppressor protein p53 regulates transcriptional programs that control the response to cellular stress. We show that distinct mechanisms exist to activate p53 target genes as revealed by marked differences in affinities and damage-specific recruitment of transcription initiation components. p53 functions in a temporal manner to regulate promoter activity both before and after stress. Before DNA damage, basal levels of p53 are required to assemble a poised RNA polymerase II initiation complex on the p21 promoter. RNA pol II is converted into an elongating form shortly after stress but before p53 stabilization. Proapoptotic promoters, such as Fas/APO1, have low levels of bound RNA pol II but undergo damage-induced activation through efficient reinitiation. Surprisingly, in a p53-dependent process key basal factors TAFII250 and TFIIB assemble into the transcription machinery in a stress- and promoter-specific manner, behaving as differential cofactors for p53 action after distinct types of DNA damage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1015-1027
Number of pages13
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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