Evolutionarily conserved expression pattern and trans-regulating activity of Xenopus p51/p63

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 313; no. 2; pp. 230 - 236
• Main Authors: Tomimori, Yoshiya, Katoh, Iyoko, Kurata, Shun-ichi, Okuyama, Takeshi, Kamiyama, Ryuichi, Ikawa, Yoji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 09.01.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Anura; Cell Line, Tumor; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Epidermis; Evolution, Molecular; Female; Freshwater; Gene Expression; Genes, Tumor Suppressor; HeLa Cells; Humans; Larva - growth & development; Larva - metabolism; Larva - ultrastructure; Male; Metamorphosis; p51; p51/p63 gene; p53; p63; Phosphoproteins - chemistry; Phosphoproteins - genetics; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Promoter Regions, Genetic - genetics; Protein Structure, Tertiary; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Tadpole; Tissue Distribution; Trans-Activators - chemistry; Trans-Activators - genetics; Trans-Activators - metabolism; Trans-Activators - pharmacology; Transcription Factors; Transcriptional Activation; Transfection; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Xenopus; Xenopus - growth & development; Xenopus - metabolism; Xenopus laevis; Xenopus Proteins; Xenopus; Tadpole; Epidermis; ΔN; p63; p51; TA; Metamorphosis; p53
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.11.113

p51/p63, a member of the p53 gene family, is structurally conserved among a wide range of organisms, although the transactivator (TA) and N-terminally truncated (ΔN) isotype producing property seems to vary. Since p51/p63 is thought to play important roles in skin, limb, and craniofacial development in mammals, we examined Xenopus laevis larval and adult tissues for expression of p51/p63. Temporal analyses indicated enhanced transcription of the ΔN form of p51/p63 in premetamorphosis phase (at stage 44–48). p51/p63-positive cells in the inner layer of larval skin expanded to the suprabasal layers during the stratification. The epithelium of limb buds and the maxillofacial ectodermal tissues in tadpoles had a high level expression of p51/p63. The cloned ΔN-A/γ type Xenopus p51/p63 exhibited a dominant-negative activity against the human TA-A/γ isotype in a reporter assay. These results suggest that tissue-specific p51/p63-inducing mechanism and isotype-specific transcriptional regulator activities of p51/p63 are conserved between mammals and frogs.