Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Originally published in Science Express on 13 September 2001
Science 19 October 2001:
Vol. 294. no. 5542, pp. 591 - 595
DOI: 10.1126/science.1065486
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Caenorhabditis elegans p53: Role in Apoptosis, Meiosis, and Stress Resistance

W. Brent Derry,* Aaron P. Putzke, Joel H. Rothman

We have identified a homolog of the mammalian p53 tumor suppressor protein in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that is expressed ubiquitously in embryos. The gene encoding this protein, cep-1, promotes DNA damage-induced apoptosis and is required for normal meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line. Moreover, although somatic apoptosis is unaffected, cep-1 mutants show hypersensitivity to hypoxia-induced lethality and decreased longevity in response to starvation-induced stress. Overexpression of CEP-1 promotes widespread caspase-independent cell death, demonstrating the critical importance of regulating p53 function at appropriate levels. These findings show that C. elegans p53 mediates multiple stress responses in the soma, and mediates apoptosis and meiotic chromosome segregation in the germ line.

Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: derry{at}lifesci.ucsb.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
MSP and GLP-1/Notch signaling coordinately regulate actomyosin-dependent cytoplasmic streaming and oocyte growth in C. elegans.
S. Nadarajan, J. A. Govindan, M. McGovern, E. J. A. Hubbard, and D. Greenstein (2009)
Development 136, 2223-2234
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mass Culture and Characterization of Tumor Cells From a Naturally Occurring Invertebrate Cancer Model: Applications for Human and Animal Disease and Environmental Health.
C. Walker, S. A. Bottger, J. Mulkern, E. Jerszyk, M. Litvaitis, and M. Lesser (2009)
Biol. Bull. 216, 23-39
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Caenorhabditis elegans ing-3 Gene Regulates Ionizing Radiation-Induced Germ-Cell Apoptosis in a p53-Associated Pathway.
J. Luo, S. Shah, K. Riabowol, and P. E. Mains (2009)
Genetics 181, 473-482
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Regeneration, Stem Cells, and the Evolution of Tumor Suppression.
B.J. Pearson and A. Sanchez Alvarado (2009)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol
   Abstract »    PDF »
C. elegans SIR-2.1 translocation is linked to a proapoptotic pathway parallel to cep-1/p53 during DNA damage-induced apoptosis.
S. Greiss, J. Hall, S. Ahmed, and A. Gartner (2008)
Genes & Dev. 22, 2831-2842
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maintenance of Mitochondrial DNA by the Caenorhabditis elegans ATR Checkpoint Protein ATL-1.
C. Mori, T. Takanami, and A. Higashitani (2008)
Genetics 180, 681-686
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oligomerization of BAK by p53 Utilizes Conserved Residues of the p53 DNA Binding Domain.
E. C. Pietsch, E. Perchiniak, A. A. Canutescu, G. Wang, R. L. Dunbrack, and M. E. Murphy (2008)
J. Biol. Chem. 283, 21294-21304
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Cadmium-Induced Germline Apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans: The Roles of HUS1, p53, and MAPK Signaling Pathways.
S. Wang, M. Tang, B. Pei, X. Xiao, J. Wang, H. Hang, and L. Wu (2008)
Toxicol. Sci. 102, 345-351
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Programmed cell death of primordial germ cells in Drosophila is regulated by p53 and the Outsiders monocarboxylate transporter.
Y. Yamada, K. D. Davis, and C. R. Coffman (2008)
Development 135, 207-216
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
C. elegans orthologs of components of the RB tumor suppressor complex have distinct pro-apoptotic functions.
C. Schertel and B. Conradt (2007)
Development 134, 3691-3701
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Reduced Expression of the Caenorhabditis elegans p53 Ortholog cep-1 Results in Increased Longevity.
O. Arum and T. E. Johnson (2007)
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 62, 951-959
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Fatty Acid Desaturation and the Regulation of Adiposity in Caenorhabditis elegans.
T. J. Brock, J. Browse, and J. L. Watts (2007)
Genetics 176, 865-875
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Notch Regulator MAML1 Interacts with p53 and Functions as a Coactivator.
Y. Zhao, R. B. Katzman, L. M. Delmolino, I. Bhat, Y. Zhang, C. B. Gurumurthy, A. Germaniuk-Kurowska, H. V. Reddi, A. Solomon, M.-S. Zeng, et al. (2007)
J. Biol. Chem. 282, 11969-11981
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
DPL-1 DP, LIN-35 Rb and EFL-1 E2F Act With the MCD-1 Zinc-Finger Protein to Promote Programmed Cell Death in Caenorhabditis elegans.
P. W. Reddien, E. C. Andersen, M. C. Huang, and H. R. Horvitz (2007)
Genetics 175, 1719-1733
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
p53 and p73 display common and distinct requirements for sequence specific binding to DNA.
M. Lokshin, Y. Li, C. Gaiddon, and C. Prives (2007)
Nucleic Acids Res. 35, 340-352
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pax2/5/8 proteins promote cell survival in C. elegans.
D. Park, H. Jia, V. Rajakumar, and H. M. Chamberlin (2006)
Development 133, 4193-4202
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mutator Phenotype of Caenorhabditis elegans DNA Damage Checkpoint Mutants.
J. Harris, M. Lowden, I. Clejan, M. Tzoneva, J. H. Thomas, J. Hodgkin, and S. Ahmed (2006)
Genetics 174, 601-616
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
C. elegans GLA-3 is a novel component of the MAP kinase MPK-1 signaling pathway required for germ cell survival..
E. A. Kritikou, S. Milstein, P.-O. Vidalain, G. Lettre, E. Bogan, K. Doukoumetzidis, P. Gray, T. G. Chappell, M. Vidal, and M. O. Hengartner (2006)
Genes & Dev. 20, 2279-2292
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Characterization and Role of p53 Family Members in the Symbiont-Induced Morphogenesis of the Euprymna scolopes Light Organ..
M. S. Goodson, W. J. Crookes-Goodson, J. R. Kimbell, and M. J. McFall-Ngai (2006)
Biol. Bull. 211, 7-17
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Developmental Modulation of Nonhomologous End Joining in Caenorhabditis elegans.
I. Clejan, J. Boerckel, and S. Ahmed (2006)
Genetics 173, 1301-1317
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Homologous Recombination Is Required for Genome Stability in the Absence of DOG-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans.
J. L. Youds, N. J. O'Neil, and A. M. Rose (2006)
Genetics 173, 697-708
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Distinct p53 acetylation cassettes differentially influence gene-expression patterns and cell fate.
C. D. Knights, J. Catania, S. D. Giovanni, S. Muratoglu, R. Perez, A. Swartzbeck, A. A. Quong, X. Zhang, T. Beerman, R. G. Pestell, et al. (2006)
J. Cell Biol. 173, 533-544
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Coordination and communication between the p53 and IGF-1-AKT-TOR signal transduction pathways.
A. J. Levine, Z. Feng, T. W. Mak, H. You, and S. Jin (2006)
Genes & Dev. 20, 267-275
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Conserved Checkpoint Monitors Meiotic Chromosome Synapsis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
N. Bhalla and A. F. Dernburg (2005)
Science 310, 1683-1686
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Loss of function of def selectively up-regulates {Delta}113p53 expression to arrest expansion growth of digestive organs in zebrafish.
J. Chen, H. Ruan, S. M. Ng, C. Gao, H. M. Soo, W. Wu, Z. Zhang, Z. Wen, D. P. Lane, and J. Peng (2005)
Genes & Dev. 19, 2900-2911
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A conserved RNA-protein complex component involved in physiological germline apoptosis regulation in C. elegans.
P. R. Boag, A. Nakamura, and T. K. Blackwell (2005)
Development 132, 4975-4986
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
tp53 mutant zebrafish develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
S. Berghmans, R. D. Murphey, E. Wienholds, D. Neuberg, J. L. Kutok, C. D. M. Fletcher, J. P. Morris, T. X. Liu, S. Schulte-Merker, J. P. Kanki, et al. (2005)
PNAS 102, 407-412
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Exploiting the p53 Pathway for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Cancer.
D.P. LANE (2005)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 70, 489-497
   Abstract »    PDF »
Nutrient Availability Regulates SIRT1 Through a Forkhead-Dependent Pathway.
S. Nemoto, M. M. Fergusson, and T. Finkel (2004)
Science 306, 2105-2108
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
c-Myc Sensitization to Oxygen Deprivation-induced Cell Death Is Dependent on Bax/Bak, but Is Independent of p53 and Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1.
J. K. Brunelle, M. T. Santore, G. R. S. Budinger, Y. Tang, T. A. Barrett, W.-X. Zong, E. Kandel, B. Keith, M. C. Simon, C. B. Thompson, et al. (2004)
J. Biol. Chem. 279, 4305-4312
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Drosophila melanogaster MNK/Chk2 and p53 Regulate Multiple DNA Repair and Apoptotic Pathways following DNA Damage.
M. H. Brodsky, B. T. Weinert, G. Tsang, Y. S. Rong, N. M. McGinnis, K. G. Golic, D. C. Rio, and G. M. Rubin (2004)
Mol. Cell. Biol. 24, 1219-1231
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
p53 and stress in the ER.
E. S. Stavridi and T. D. Halazonetis (2004)
Genes & Dev. 18, 241-244
   Full Text »    PDF »
Modulation of mammalian life span by the short isoform of p53.
B. Maier, W. Gluba, B. Bernier, T. Turner, K. Mohammad, T. Guise, A. Sutherland, M. Thorner, and H. Scrable (2004)
Genes & Dev. 18, 306-319
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Promoter that Acquired p53 Responsiveness During Primate Evolution.
A. Contente, H. Zischler, A. Einspanier, and M. Dobbelstein (2003)
Cancer Res. 63, 1756-1758
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Drosophila p53 preserves genomic stability by regulating cell death.
N. Sogame, M. Kim, and J. M. Abrams (2003)
PNAS 100, 4696-4701
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
CIAP1 and the serine protease HTRA2 are involved in a novel p53-dependent apoptosis pathway in mammals.
S. Jin, M. Kalkum, M. Overholtzer, A. Stoffel, B. T. Chait, and A. J. Levine (2003)
Genes & Dev. 17, 359-367
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)