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ATM-dependent phosphorylation of Mdm2 on serine 395: role in p53 activation by DNA damage

Open access
Maya, Ruth, Balass, Moshe, Kim, Seong-Tae, Shkedy, Dganit, Leal, Juan-Fernando Martinez, Shifman, Ohad, Moas, Miri, Buschmann, Thomas +5 more·2001·Genes & Development

Abstract

The p53 tumor suppressor protein, a key regulator of cellular responses to genotoxic stress, is stabilized and activated after DNA damage. The rapid activation of p53 by ionizing radiation and radiomimetic agents is largely dependent on the ATM kinase. p53 is phosphorylated by ATM shortly after DNA damage, resulting in enhanced stability and activity of p53. The Mdm2 oncoprotein is a pivotal negative regulator of p53. In response to ionizing radiation and radiomimetic drugs, Mdm2 undergoes rapid ATM-dependent phosphorylation prior to p53 accumulation. This results in a decrease in its reactivity with the 2A10 monoclonal antibody. Phage display analysis identified a consensus 2A10 recognition sequence, possessing the core motif DYS. Unexpectedly, this motif appears twice within the human Mdm2 molecule, at positions corresponding to residues 258-260 and 393-395. Both putative 2A10 epitopes are highly conserved and encompass potential phosphorylation sites. Serine 395, residing within the carboxy-terminal 2A10 epitope, is the major target on Mdm2 for phosphorylation by ATM in vitro. Mutational analysis supports the conclusion that Mdm2 undergoes ATM-dependent phosphorylation on serine 395 in vivo in response to DNA damage. The data further suggests that phosphorylated Mdm2 may be less capable of promoting the nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of p53 and its subsequent degradation, thereby enabling p53 accumulation. Our findings imply that activation of p53 by DNA damage is achieved, in part, through attenuation of the p53-inhibitory potential of Mdm2.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1101/gad.886901

Cites

67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

  • Findingown data

    Mdm2 undergoes ATM-dependent phosphorylation on serine 395 in vivo in response to DNA damage.

    “Mutational analysis supports the conclusion that Mdm2 undergoes ATM-dependent phosphorylation on serine 395 in vivo in response to DNA damage.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Phage display analysis identified a consensus 2A10 recognition sequence possessing the core motif DYS.

    “Phage display analysis identified a consensus 2A10 recognition sequence, possessing the core motif DYS.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Serine 395 of human Mdm2 is the major target for phosphorylation by ATM in vitro.

    “Serine 395, residing within the carboxy-terminal 2A10 epitope, is the major target on Mdm2 for phosphorylation by ATM in vitro.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Microinjection of the 2A10 antibody increases substantially the steady state levels of endogenous wild-type p53.

    “We now report that microinjection of the 2A10 antibody increases substantially the steady state levels of endogenous wild-type p53.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Substitution of S395 to aspartic acid (S395D) diminishes the capacity of Mdm2 to drive p53 degradation.

    “Substitution of S395 to aspartic acid (S395D), presumably mimicking phosphorylation, diminishes the capacity of Mdm2 to drive p53 degradation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The S395D substitution mimics phosphorylation of S395.
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 6
  • May combine two claims. 2
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Mdm2 contains two putative 2A10 epitopes.

    “Mdm2 encompasses two putative 2A10 epitopes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    All positive phage clones selected by 2A10 fell into only two sequence classes.

    “All clones were found to fall into only two sequence classes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The consensus 2A10 epitope is 1-DYS-5, with position 1 preferentially D and position 5 preferentially L.

    “the consensus 2A10 epitope was deduced as 1-DYS-5, where 1 is preferentially D and 5 is preferentially L”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Phosphorylated Mdm2 is less capable of promoting the nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of p53 and its subsequent degradation, thereby enabling p53 accumulation.

    “The data further suggests that phosphorylated Mdm2 may be less capable of promoting the nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of p53 and its subsequent degradation, thereby enabling p53 accumulation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Cells were scored independently, in a double-blind fashion, by three individuals.

    “Cells were scored independently, in a double-blind fashion, by three individuals.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Immunoprecipitated FLAG-ATM was confirmed by Western blotting with α-FLAG M2 monoclonal antibody.

    “Immunoprecipitated FLAG-ATM was confirmed by Western blotting with ␣-FLAG M2 monoclonal antibody.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The constructs were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

    “The constructs were confirmed by DNA sequencing.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
7 of 7
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The S395D substitution mimics phosphorylation of S395.

    “Substitution of S395 to aspartic acid (S395D), presumably mimicking phosphorylation, diminishes the capacity of Mdm2 to drive p53 degradation.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Retroviral expression of human Mdm2 at low levels does not perturb the biology of recipient MEFs.

    “Retroviral delivery was chosen because it yielded very low levels of human Mdm2, expected not to perturb the biology of the recipient MEFs.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • After DNA damage, MDM2 is phosphorylated at serine 395 by ATM, serine 407 by ATR, and tyrosine 394 by c-Abl, which together with other modifications neutralizes MDM2/MDMX inhibition of p53 and sustains p53 signaling.

    “Following DNA damage, MDM2 is phosphorylated on serine 395 by ATM,24 on serine 407 by ATR,36 and on tyrosine 394 by c-abl,37,47 which along with other posttranslational modifications of MDMX and p53 neutralizes the inhibitory effect of MDM2/MDMX on p53 and results in sustained p53-mediated signaling.10”
  • Mdm2 S395D mutant is impaired in p53 degradation and strongly inhibited in stimulating p53 nuclear export, with preliminary data suggesting ubiquitin ligase activity not decreased.

    “This effect was explained by the observation that the Mdm2 S395D mutant was strongly inhibited in its ability to stimulate nuclear export of p53, while preliminary data suggested that the ubiquitin ligase activity was not decreased.”

    From Mdmx stabilizes p53 and Mdm2 via two distinct mechanisms (2001) · cites this paper as Maya et al., 2001

  • Phosphorylation of Mdm2 and Mdmx at serine residues close to the RING domain by ATM or ATM-dependent kinases leads to accelerated auto-degradation of both Mdm2 and Mdmx, with consequent p53 accumulation and activation.

    “Additionally, phosphorylation of Mdm2 and Mdmx at serine residues close to the RING domain by ATM or ATM-dependent kinases leads to accelerated auto-degradation of both Mdm2 [54] and Mdmx [41,55–58], with consequent p53 accumulation and activation.”

    From The p53 orchestra: Mdm2 and Mdmx set the tone (2010) · cites this paper as [54]

  • MDM2 is phosphorylated by ATM, ATR, and C-Abl on sites near its C terminus.

    “MDM2 is phosphorylated by ATM, ATR, and C-Abl on sites near the C terminus (Maya et al, 2001;Sionov et al, 2001;Shinozaki et al, 2003).”

    From ATM activates p53 by regulating MDM2 oligomerization and E3 processivity (2009) · cites this paper as Maya et al, 2001

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Self-check results appear here once an independent check has confirmed them.

Cited works that were retracted

Works this paper cites that were later retracted, from the retraction notices publishers deposit. Major when the notice came out before this paper was published.

  • Cites a retracted work: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80887-9

    Info

    The cited work was retracted on 2002-08-23 (notice 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00902-9), not before this paper was published (2001-05-01).

    Cited work 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)80887-9 · retracted 2002-08-23 · notice 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00902-9 · this paper published 2001-05-01

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Authors
Maya, R., Balass, M., Kim, S.-T., Shkedy, D., Leal, J.-F. M., Shifman, O., Moas, M., Buschmann, T., Ronai, Z., Shiloh, Y., Kastan, M. B., Katzir, E., & Oren, M.
Affiliations
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (US)
Venue
Genes & Development
Published
2001-05-01
Volume
15
Issue
9
Pages
1067-1077
ISSN
  • 0890-9369 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5477
OpenAlex
W2158005145
Cited by
716
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 53
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Genes & Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (submittedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related Molecular Pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Cancer Research and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
Keywords
MDM2, ATM kinase, p53 activation, DNA damage response, ionizing radiation, p53 stabilization, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, p53 degradation
MeSH terms
Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Aspartic Acid, Cell Nucleus, Cells, Cultured, DNA Damage, DNA-Binding Proteins, Fibroblasts

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