DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/14P3-7W75

Defense Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Integrative Life Sciences

First Advisor

Sumitra Deb, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Swati P. Deb, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Steve Grossman, M.D., Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Kristoffer Valerie, Ph.D.

Fifth Advisor

Brad Windle, Ph.D.

Sixth Advisor

W. Andrew Yeudall, BDS, Ph.D.

Abstract

p53 is mutated in 50% of all human cancers, and up to 70% of lung cancer. Mutant p53 is usually expressed at elevated levels in cancer cells and has been correlated with a poor prognosis. Cancer cells that express mutant p53 show an increase in oncogenic phenotypes including an increase in growth rate, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, and an increase in motility and tumorigenicity to name a few. We have identified several genes involved in cell growth and survival that are upregulated by expression of common p53 mutants: NFκB2, Axl, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The aim of this study was to determine the role NFκB2, Axl, and EGFR play in mutant p53’s gain of function (GOF) phenotype and to determine a mechanism for upregulation of mutant p53 target gene upregulation.

Inhibition of mutant p53 in various cancer cell lines using RNAi in the form of transient siRNA transfection or stable shRNA cell line generation caused a decrease in the gain of function ability of those cells in the form of reduced chemoresistance, reduced cell growth and motility, and a reduction in tumor formation. Additionally, inhibition of NFκB2, Axl, and EGFR also showed similar effects. Promoter deletion analysis of the NFκB2 promoter did not show a specific mutant p53 response element needed for mutant p53 mediated transactivation. Similarly, deletion of the p53/p63 binding site on the Axl promoter did not inhibit mutant p53 transactivation. Sequence analysis of the NFκB2, Axl, and EGFR promoters revealed several transcription factor binding sites located throughout the promoters. ChIP analysis of mutant p53 and the promoter-specific transcription factor binding revealed that in the presence of mutant p53, individual transcription factor binding is increased to the NFκB2, Axl, and EGFR promoters as well as an increase in acetylated histone binding. This data suggests that mutant p53 promotes an increase in transcription by inducing acetylation of histones via recruitment of transcription factors to the promoters of mutant p53 target genes.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

8-6-2015

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