Nuclear translocation of p21WAF1/CIP1 protein prior to its cytosolic degradation by UV enhances DNA repair and survival

Ji Young Lee, Hee Suk Kim, Joo Young Kim, Jeongwon Sohn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We previously reported that UV induced rapid proteasomal degradation of p21 protein in an ubiquitination-independent manner. Here, UV-induced p21 proteolysis was found to occur in the cytosol. Before cytosolic degradation, however, p21 protein translocated to and transiently accumulated in the nucleus. Nuclear translocation of p21 was not required for its degradation, but rather promoted DNA repair and cell survival. Overexpression of the wild type p21, but not the one with defective nuclear localization signal (NLS), reduced UV-induced DNA damage and cell death. Some of p21 protein translocated to the nucleus were associated with chromatin-bound PCNA and saved from UV-induced proteolysis. These data together show that p21 translocates to the nucleus to participate in DNA repair, while the rest is rapidly degraded in the cytosol. We propose that our findings reflect a mechanism to facilitate removal of damaged cells, enhancing DNA repair at the same time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1361-1366
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and biophysical research communications
Volume390
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Dec 25
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DNA repair
  • Nuclear translocation
  • PCNA
  • Protein degradation
  • UV
  • p21

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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