Mammalian cold-inducible RNA-binding protein facilitates wound healing through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase.

The skin is usually maintained within a temperature range that induces cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp). To determine whether Cirp plays a role in barrier function of the skin, we analyzed the skin wound healing in cirp-knockout (KO) mice. They exhibited delayed wound healing compared with wild-type littermates in the absence as well as presence of skin contraction. Dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes from cirp-KO mice migrated slower than those from wild-type mice. When expression of Cirp was downregulated in cultured cells, migration rate was decreased. Cirp bound liver-kinase-B1 (LKB1) in the nucleus and was suggested to enhance its translocation to the cytoplasm, resulting in enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and cell motility. Stimulation of AMPK ameliorated the delayed wound healing in cirp-KO mice. These findings suggest that Cirp facilitates skin wound healing by enhancing cell migration via AMPK, indicating roles for Cirp in linking skin temperature with metabolism and defense mechanism.

Involvement of TRPV3 and TRPM8 ion channel proteins in induction of mammalian cold-inducible proteins.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP), RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) and serine and arginine rich splicing factor 5 (SRSF5) are RNA-binding proteins that are transcriptionally upregulated in response to moderately low temperatures and a variety of cellular stresses in mammalian cells. Induction of these cold-inducible proteins (CIPs) is dependent on transient receptor potential (TRP) V4 channel protein, but seems independent of its ion channel activity. We herein report that in addition to TRPV4, TRPV3 and TRPM8 are necessary for the induction of CIPs. We established cell lines from the lung of TRPV4-knockout (KO) mouse, and observed induction of CIPs in them by western blot analysis. A TRPV4 antagonist RN1734 suppressed the induction in wild-type mouse cells, but not in TRPV4-KO cells. A TRPV3 channel blocker S408271 and a TRPM8 channel blocker AMTB as well as siRNAs against TRPV3 and TRPM8 suppressed the CIP induction in mouse TRPV4-KO cells and human U-2 OS cells. A TRPV3 channel agonist 2-APB induced CIP expression, but camphor did not. Neither did a TRPM8 channel agonist WS-12. These results suggest that TRPV4, TRPV3 and TRPM8 proteins, but not their ion channel activities are necessary for the induction of CIPs at 32 °C. Identification of proteins that differentially interact with these TRP channels at 37 °C and 32 °C would help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of CIP induction by hypothermia.

TRPV4-dependent induction of a novel mammalian cold-inducible protein SRSF5 as well as CIRP and RBM3.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) and RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) are two evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding proteins that are structurally related to hnRNPs and upregulated in response to moderately low temperatures in mammalian cells. Although contributions of splicing efficiency, the gene promoters activated upon mild hypothermia and the transcription factor Sp1 to induction of CIRP have been reported, precise mechanisms by which hypothermia and other stresses induce the expression of mammalian cold-inducible proteins (CIPs) are poorly understood. By screening the serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs), we report that the transcript and protein levels of SRSF5 were increased in mammalian cells cultured at 32 °C. Expression of SRSF5 as well as CIRP and RBM3 were also induced by DNA damage, hypoxia, cycloheximide and hypotonicity. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that SRSF5 was constitutively expressed in male germ cells and the level was decreased in human testicular germ cell tumors. SRSF5 facilitated production of p19 H-RAS, and increased sensitivity to doxorubicin in human U-2 OS cells. Induction of CIPs was dependent on transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel protein, but seemed independent of its ion channel activity. These findings indicate a previously unappreciated role for the TRP protein in linking environmental stress to splicing.

The oncoprotein gankyrin promotes the development of colitis-associated cancer through activation of STAT3.

Although long-standing colonic inflammation due to refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) promotes the development of colitis-associated cancer (CAC), the molecular mechanisms accounting for the development of CAC remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of gankyrin in the development of CAC since gankyrin is overexpressed in sporadic colorectal cancers. We analyzed gene expression of colon tissues obtained from 344 patients with IBD and CAC and found that expression of gankyrin was much higher in colonic mucosa of patients with refractory IBD than in those with IBD in remission. Expression of gankyrin was upregulated in inflammatory cells as well as tumor cells in colonic mucosa of patients with CAC. Over-expressing studies utilizing tagged ganlyrin-cDNA identified physical interaction between ganlyrin and Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1). Importantly, the interaction between ganlyrin and SHP-1 leads to inhibition of STAT3 activation and to enhancement of TNF-α and IL-17 in inflammatory cells. To further address the role of gankyrin in the development of CAC, we created mice with intestinal epithelial cell-specific gankyrin ablation (Vil-Cre;Gankyrinf/f) and deletion of gankyrin in myeloid and epithelial cells (Mx1-Cre;Gankyrinf/f). Gankyrin deficiency in myeloid cells, but not in epithelial cells, reduced the activity of mitogen activated protein kinase and the expression of stem cell markers, leading to attenuated tumorigenic potential. These findings provide important insights into the pathogenesis of CAC and suggest that gankyrin is a promising target for developing therapeutic and preventive strategies against CAC.

Stress response protein cirp links inflammation and tumorigenesis in colitis-associated cancer.

Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is caused by chronic intestinal inflammation and is reported to be associated with refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Defective apoptosis of inflammatory cell populations seems to be a relevant pathogenetic mechanism in refractory IBD. We assessed the involvement of stress response protein cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp) in the development of intestinal inflammation and CAC. In the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis, expression of Cirp correlated significantly with the expression of TNFα, IL23/IL17, antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and stem cell markers such as Sox2, Bmi1, and Lgr5. The expression of Cirp and Sox2 was enhanced in the colonic mucosae of refractory ulcerative colitis, suggesting that Cirp expression might be related to increased cancer risk. In human CAC specimens, inflammatory cells expressed Cirp protein. Cirp(-/-) mice given dextran sodium sulfate exhibited decreased susceptibility to colonic inflammation through decreased expression of TNFα, IL23, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL in colonic lamina propria cells compared with similarly treated wild-type (WT) mice. In the murine CAC model, Cirp deficiency decreased the expression of TNFα, IL23/IL17, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Sox2 and the number of Dclk1(+) cells, leading to attenuated tumorigenic potential. Transplantation of Cirp(-/-) bone marrow into WT mice reduced tumorigenesis, indicating the importance of Cirp in hematopoietic cells. Cirp promotes the development of intestinal inflammation and colorectal tumors through regulating apoptosis and production of TNFα and IL23 in inflammatory cells.

Hypothermia protects against fulminant hepatitis in mice by reducing reactive oxygen species production.

OBJECTIVE: Mild hypothermia (32-33°C) shows protective effects in patients with brain damage and cardiac arrest. Although cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) contributes to the protective effects of hypothermia through extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in fibroblasts, the effects of hypothermia in the liver remain unclear. METHODS: We analysed the effects of cold temperature on fulminant hepatitis, a potentially fatal disease, using the D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concanavalin (con) A-induced hepatitis models in mice. After GalN/LPS administration and anaesthesia, mice in the hypothermia group were kept at 25°C and those in control group were kept at 35°C. After concanavalin A (con A) administration, the mice in the hypothermia group were placed in a chamber with an ambient temperature of 6°C for 1.5 h. RESULTS: Hypothermia attenuated liver injury and prolonged survival. Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and Akt, which are involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, was suppressed by low temperature. Hypothermia significantly decreased oxidized protein levels, and treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an antioxidant, attenuated GalN/LPS-induced liver injury. In con A-induced hepatitis, CIRP expression was upregulated and Bid expression was downregulated, resulting in decreased apoptosis of hepatocytes in the hypothermia group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hypothermia directly protects hepatocytes from cell death via reduction of ROS production in fulminant hepatitis.

Overexpression of gankyrin in mouse hepatocytes induces hemangioma by suppressing factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (FIH-1) and activating hypoxia-inducible factor-1.

Gankyrin (also called p28 or PSMD10) is an oncoprotein commonly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinomas. It consists of 7 ankyrin repeats and interacts with multiple proteins including Rb, Cdk4, MDM2 and NF-κB. To assess the oncogenic activity in vivo, we produced transgenic mice that overexpress gankyrin specifically in the hepatocytes. Unexpectedly, 5 of 7 F2 transgenic mice overexpressing hepatitis B virus X protein (HBX) promoter-driven gankyrin, and one of 3 founder mice overexpressing serum amyloid P component (SAP) promoter-driven gankyrin developed hepatic vascular neoplasms (hemangioma/hemangiosarcomas) whereas none of the wild-type mice did. Endothelial overgrowth was more frequent in the livers of diethylnitrosamine-treated transgenic mice than wild-type mice. Mouse hepatoma Hepa1-6 cells overexpressing gankyrin formed tumors with more vascularity than parental Hepa1-6 cells in the transplanted mouse skin. We found that gankyrin binds to and sequester factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (FIH-1), which results in decreased interaction between FIH-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and increased activity of HIF-1 to promote VEGF production. The effects of gankyrin were more prominent under 3% O2 than 1% or 20% O2 conditions. Thus, the present study clarified, at least partly, mechanisms of vascular tumorigenesis, and suggests that gankyrin might play a physiological role in hypoxic responses besides its roles as an oncoprotein.

Identification of a novel enhancer that binds Sp1 and contributes to induction of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (cirp) expression in mammalian cells.

BACKGROUND: There are a growing number of reports on the sub-physiological temperature culturing of mammalian cells for increased recombinant protein yields. However, the effect varies and the reasons for the enhancement are not fully elucidated. Expression of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (cirp, also called cirbp or hnRNP A18) is known to be induced in response to mild, but not severe, hypothermia in mammalian cells. To clarify the molecular mechanism underlying the induction and to exploit this to improve the productivity of recombinant proteins, we tried to identify the regulatory sequence(s) in the 5' flanking region of the mouse cirp gene. RESULTS: By transiently transfecting HEK293 cells with plasmids expressing chloramphenicol acetyltransferase as a reporter, we found that the cirp 5' flanking region octanucleotide 5'-TCCCCGCC-3' is a mild-cold responsive element (MCRE). When 3 copies of MCRE were placed upstream of the CMV promoter and used in transient transfection, reporter gene expression was increased 3- to 7-fold at 32°C relative to 37°C in various cell lines including HEK293, U-2 OS, NIH/3T3, BALB/3T3 and CHO-K1 cells. In stable transfectants, MCRE also enhanced the reporter gene expression at 32°C, although more copy numbers of MCRE were necessary. Sp1 transcription factor bound to MCRE in vitro. Immunohistochemistry and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that more Sp1, but not Sp3, was localized in the nucleus to bind to the cirp regulatory region containing MCRE at 32°C than 37°C. Overexpression of Sp1 protein increased the expression of endogenous Cirp as well as a reporter gene driven by the 5' flanking region of the cirp gene, and down-regulation of Sp1 had the opposite effect. Mutations within the MCRE sequence in the 5' flanking region abolished the effects of Sp1 on the reporter gene expression both at 37°C and 32°C. CONCLUSIONS: Cold-induced, as well as constitutive, expression of cirp is dependent, at least partly, on MCRE and Sp1. The present novel enhancer permits conditional high-level gene expression at moderately low culture temperatures and could be utilized to increase the yield of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp) interacts with Dyrk1b/Mirk and promotes proliferation of immature male germ cells in mice.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp) was the first cold-shock protein identified in mammals. It is structurally quite different from bacterial cold-shock proteins and is induced in response to mild, but not severe, hypothermia. To clarify the physiological function of Cirp in vivo, we produced cirp-knockout mice. They showed neither gross abnormality nor defect in fertility, but the number of undifferentiated spermatogonia was significantly reduced and the recovery of spermatogenesis was delayed after treatment with a cytotoxic agent, busulfan. Cirp accelerated cell-cycle progression from G0 to G1 as well as from G1 to S phase in cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Cirp directly bound to dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1B (Dyrk1b, also called Mirk) and inhibited its binding to p27, resulting in decreased phosphorylation and destabilization of p27. Cirp did not affect binding of Dyrk1b to cyclin D1 but inhibited phosphorylation of cyclin D1 by Dyrk1b, resulting in cyclin D1 stabilization. In the spermatogonial cell line GC-1spg, suppression of Cirp expression increased the protein level of p27, decreased that of cyclin D1, and decreased the growth rate, which depended on Dyrk1b. Consistent changes in the protein levels of p27 and cyclin D1 as well as the percentage of cells in G0 phase were observed in undifferentiated spermatogonia of cirp-knockout mice. In undifferentiated spermatogonia of wild-type mice, Cirp and Dyrk1b colocalized in the nucleus. Thus, our study demonstrates that Cirp functions to fine-tune the proliferation of undifferentiated spermatogonia by interacting with Dyrk1b.

Adriamycin enhances proteasome-mediated generation of the proapoptotic processed form of MAGE-A4 in hepatoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma antigen (MAGE)-A4 is processed to generate a C-terminal fragment with proapoptotic activity. Here we demonstrate that Adriamycin promotes generation of the processed MAGE-A4 by activating the proteasome. The proteasome is known to prevent accumulation of toxic proteins to maintain cellular homeostasis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment of hepatoma cells expressing MAGE-A4 with a sublethal dose of Adriamycin increased the MAGE-A4 processing and sensitized the cells to Adriamycin-induced apoptosis. The processing of MAGE-A4 was inhibited by the proteasome inhibitors MG115, MG132, lactacystin and epoxamicin. MAGE-A4 was coimmunoprecipitated with the S6 proteasomal ATPase, and present in the fractions containing the proteasome during glycerol gradient centrifugation. Consistent with the notion that the proteasome cleaves MAGE-A4, the 26S proteasome, ubiquitin, and cell lysates were necessary for efficient in vitrocleavage of MAGE-A4. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that a low dose of Adriamycin increases the proteasome activity, which either maintains cellular homeostasis or leads to apoptosis depending, at least under the present conditions, on the expression of MAGE-A4.

MDM2 is a novel E3 ligase for HIV-1 Vif.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle by antagonizing a host restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G). Vif interacts with A3G and induces its polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation via the formation of active ubiquitin ligase (E3) complex with Cullin5-ElonginB/C. Although Vif itself is also ubiquitinated and degraded rapidly in infected cells, precise roles and mechanisms of Vif ubiquitination are largely unknown. Here we report that MDM2, known as an E3 ligase for p53, is a novel E3 ligase for Vif and induces polyubiquitination and degradation of Vif. We also show the mechanisms by which MDM2 only targets Vif, but not A3G that binds to Vif. MDM2 reduces cellular Vif levels and reversely increases A3G levels, because the interaction between MDM2 and Vif precludes A3G from binding to Vif. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MDM2 negatively regulates HIV-1 replication in non-permissive target cells through Vif degradation. These data suggest that MDM2 is a regulator of HIV-1 replication and might be a novel therapeutic target for anti-HIV-1 drug.

Association of gankyrin protein expression with early clinical stages and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Gankyrin (also known as PSMD10) is a liver oncoprotein that interacts with multiple proteins including MDM2 and accelerates degradation of the tumor suppressors p53 and Rb. We produced a monoclonal anti-gankyrin antibody and immunohistochemically assessed the clinicopathological significance of gankyrin overexpression in 43 specimens of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Specific cytoplasmic staining for gankyrin was observed in 62.8% (27/43) of HCCs, which was significantly associated with low TNM stage (P = 0.004), no capsular invasion (P = 0.018), no portal venous invasion (P = 0.008), and no intrahepatic metastasis (P = 0.012). The cumulative survival rate of patients with gankyrin-positive HCC was significantly higher than that with gankyrin-negative HCC (P = 0.037). p53 and MDM2 were positively stained by antibodies in 30.2% and 23.3%, respectively, of HCCs, but neither was inversely associated with gankyrin expression. In the Huh-7 human HCC cell line, overexpression of gankyrin up-regulated expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP-5), whereas suppression of gankyrin expression by siRNA down-regulated it. Supression of IGFBP-5 expression inhibited proliferation of Huh-7 cells as well as U-2 OS osteosarcoma cells. In HCC specimens, positive staining for IGFBP-5 was observed by immunohistochemistry in 41.9% (18/43), and the level of expression was significantly correlated with that of gankyrin (rho = 0.629, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that gankyrin plays an oncogenic role(s) mainly at the early stages of human hepatocarcinogenesis, and that IGFBP-5 inducible by gankyrin overexpression may be involved in it.

Gankyrin oncoprotein overexpression as a critical factor for tumor growth in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance.

To elucidate the possible involvement of gankyrin in ESCC progression and the effect of its down-regulation in ESCC, we investigated the expression of gankyrin in ESCC tissues comparing it with the corresponding normal esophageal epithelia and tested a short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector for gankyrin in ESCC cell lines. Gankyrin protein expression in 11 ESCC cell lines (KYSE series) was examined by RT-PCR and western blot. The expression of gankyrin mRNA in 30 ESCC tissues was compared with the corresponding normal epithelia by Real-time PCR. Expression of gankyrin protein was immunohistochemically analyzed in the ESCC of 103 patients. A gankyrin-shRNA vector was stably transfected into KYSE 170 cells to assess the role of gankyrin in cell motility, invasion and proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Gankyrin expression increased in all 11 ESCC cell lines. Real-time PCR revealed that gankyrin expression was higher in the cancerous tissue for all 30 patients. In immunohistochemistry, gankyrin overexpression was correlated with lower survival rate (p = 0.0001), extent of the primary tumor, lymph node metastasis, distant lymph node metastasis and stage (p = 0.0072, p = 0.0004, p = 0.0172 and p = 0.0002, respectively). A shRNA vector against gankyrin repressed growth, cell motility, invasiveness in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Gankyrin overexpression is associated with poor prognosis. It may play an important role in ESCC tumor progression and could be a potentially important therapeutic gene target in ESCC.

The oncoprotein gankyrin interacts with RelA and suppresses NF-kappaB activity.

Gankyrin is an oncoprotein commonly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinomas. It interacts with multiple proteins and accelerates degradation of tumor suppressors Rb and p53. Since gankyrin consists of 7 ankyrin repeats and is structurally similar to IkappaBs, we investigated its interaction with NF-kappaB. We found that gankyrin directly binds to RelA. In HeLa and 293 cells, overexpression of gankyrin suppressed the basal as well as TNFalpha-induced transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB, whereas down-regulation of gankyrin increased it. Gankyrin did not affect the NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity or nuclear translocation of RelA induced by TNFalpha in these cells. Leptomycin B that inhibits nuclear export of RelA suppressed the NF-kappaB activity, which was further suppressed by gankyrin. The inhibitory effect of gankyrin was abrogated by nicotinamide as well as down-regulation of SIRT1, a class III histone deacetylase. Thus, gankyrin binds to NF-kappaB and suppresses its activity at the transcription level by modulating acetylation via SIRT1.

Enhanced deacetylation of p53 by the anti-apoptotic protein HSCO in association with histone deacetylase 1.

HSCO (hepatoma subtracted-cDNA library clone one, also called ETHE1) was originally identified by its frequent overexpression in hepatocellular carcinomas. HSCO inhibits function of NF-kappaB by binding to RelA and accelerating its export from the nucleus. We show here that HSCO exhibits anti-apoptotic activity in cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents by suppressing transcriptional activity of p53. Induction of pro-apoptotic genes, Noxa, Perp, PIG3, and Bax were suppressed in cells over-expressing HSCO. By increasing ubiquitylation and degradation of p53, HSCO reduces p53 protein levels. HSCO specifically associates with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) independently of Mdm2 and facilitates deacetylation of p53 at Lys-373/382 by HDAC1. The metallo-beta-lactamase family consensus sequence in HSCO is important for its effect on p53 deacetylation. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies suggested that HSCO, HDAC1, and p53 form a complex in the nucleus. Thus, HSCO is a cofactor that increases the deacetylase activity of HDAC1 toward p53, leading to suppression of apoptosis. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinomas that retain wild-type p53 and overexpress HSCO with anti-HSCO agents might re-establish the p53 response and revert chemoresistance.

Gankyrin: a new oncoprotein and regulator of pRb and p53.

Gankyrin is a new oncoprotein with potent cell cycle and apoptotic properties that is overexpressed early in hepatocarcinogenesis and in hepatocellular carcinomas. Gankyrin regulates the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) by CDK4 and enhances the ubiquitylation of p53 by the RING ubiquitin ligase MDM2. Purified preparations of the 26S proteasome contain gankyrin, which specifically interacts with the S6b (Rpt3) ATPase of the 19S regulator. In conclusion, gankyrin is a small versatile cell cycle regulator that illustrates the essential interplay between the ubiquitin proteasome system and gene expression in the cell. Here, we discuss the activities of gankyrin and present a model for its function in the regulation of pRb and p53.

Cirp protects against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

Mild hypothermia shows protective effects on patients with brain damage and cardiac arrest. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, we analyzed the effects of low culture temperature (32 degrees C) and cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp) expression on apoptosis in vitro. In BALB/3T3 cells treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and cycloheximide, the down-shift in temperature from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C increased the expression of Cirp and suppressed the apoptosis. Activation of caspase-8 was suppressed, and the level of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was increased. Transduction of Cirp into the Cirp-deficient mouse fibroblasts increased the level of phosphorylated ERK and suppressed the TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis both at 37 degrees C and 32 degrees C. The ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 decreased the cytoprotective effect of Cirp as well as that of low culture temperature. These data suggest that mild hypothermia protects cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, at least partly, via induction of Cirp, and that Cirp protects cells by activating the ERK pathway.

The oncoprotein gankyrin negatively regulates both p53 and RB by enhancing proteasomal degradation.

Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis mediates selective destruction of various cell cycle regulators, transcription factors and tumor suppressors. Gankyrin, a seven ankyrin-repeat protein, was originally identified as an oncoprotein commonly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinomas and independently as a protein associated with the 19S regulatory complex of the 26S proteasome. Gankyrin also binds to CDK4 and the tumor suppressor RB, and accelerates phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation of RB. Recently, we have shown that gankyrin has an anti-apoptotic activity in cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents. Gankyrin binds to MDM2, a major E3 ubiquitin ligase for p53, and increases ubiquitylation and degradation of p53. Gankyrin increases activities of CDK4 and MDM2, and facilitates targeting of polyubiquitylated proteins to the 26S proteasome. Furthermore, inhibition of gankyrin induces apoptosis in cancer cells. Therefore, gankyrin is a promising target for potential anticancer therapeutic agents.

Low temperature protects mammalian cells from apoptosis initiated by various stimuli in vitro.

Mild hypothermia shows protective effects on patients with brain damage and cardiac arrest. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, we examined the effects of low temperature (32 degrees C) on cells exposed to a variety of stress in vitro. We found that 32 degrees C suppressed induction of apoptosis by cytotoxic stimuli such as adriamycin, etoposide, thapsigargin, NaCl, H(2)O(2), and anti-Fas antibody. In adriamycin-treated BALB/3T3 cells, the down-shift in temperature from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C increased the Bcl-xL protein level and decreased the mRNA level of Puma and mitochondrial translocation of Bax, suppressing caspase-9-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, the protein level and stability of p53 were decreased, and its nuclear export was increased concomitant with Mdm2 mRNA upregulation. The low temperature effect was not observed in p53(-/-)/Mdm2(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, suggesting that the effect is mediated by suppression of the p53 pathway. In contrast, while thapsigargin-induced apoptosis was suppressed by the low temperature, no effect on the p53 protein level was observed. Furthermore, the survival rate of p53(-/-)/Mdm2(-/-) cells exposed to thapsigargin was increased when cultured at 32 degrees C compared with 37 degrees C. In conclusion, mild hypothermia protects cells from a variety of stress by p53-dependent and p53-independent mechanisms.