Medical Hypotheses
Volume 65, Issue 1 , Pages 32-34, 2005

p53 Protein is activated by Pin1: And also by Cu-SOD prion-like enzyme

School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK

Received 12 January 2005; accepted 27 January 2005. published online 13 April 2005.

Summary 

Peptidyl-proline isomerase (Pin1) is able to trigger some conformationally important change in the p53 protein: there is notable protection by p53 (tumour suppressor protein) of human cells that prevents their entry into the carcinogenesis-committed routeway. Pin1 controls the ready (low energy change) equilibrium between the cis and trans distinctive folding configurations differentially at a proline residue: this amino acid residue in proteins is unique in bending sharply its peptide chain (to 90° change): in the cis rather than trans orientation with respect to the peptide bond to residue X “upstream” linked as XCONHR.

Moreover p53 protein can arrest a cell cycle progression (or trigger apoptosis) by acting as a transcription factor to nuclear DNA acting at p53 nuclear responsive element controlling a larger number of genes that produce proteins that stop cell growth or stimulate apoptosis, in stressed cells.

Oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is carcinogenic but also stops cell growth and triggers apoptosis, Cu-SOD removes ROS (see figure). Could superoxide dismutase (Cu-SOD), therefore, provide the DNA-damage direct second route (first route is binding of Pin1) in DNA-damaged cells to p53 activation?

The p53 protein that prevents carcinogenesis is activated by Pin1. In addition, this p53 tumour suppressor protein is activated by Cu-SOD.

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PII: S0306-9877(05)00105-2

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.01.041

Medical Hypotheses
Volume 65, Issue 1 , Pages 32-34, 2005