Differential susceptibility of normal and PARP knock-out mouse fibroblaststo proteasome inhibitors

Recently we found a clearly reduced basal level of wt p53 protein in PARP-d eficient cells. Interestingly, PARP deficiency affected only regularly spli ced (RS) wt p53. No significant difference of the p53 transcription rate wa s observed between wt and PARP-lacking cells. To clarify whether the reduct ion of RS p53 protein is due to a lower translation rate or rather to its i nstability in the absence of functional PARP, we investigated the effect of the inhibition of proteasome activity and nuclear export on the p53 level. The p53 half-life was approximately eight-fold decreased in PARP-lacking c ells. Surprisingly, treatment with three proteasome inhibitors increased RS p53 in normal but not in PARP-deficient cells. However, the inhibition of nuclear export resulted in a considerable accumulation of RS p53 in the lat ter. Therefore, we decided to increase concentrations of the inhibitors. Th eir higher concentrations strongly affected viability of normal, but not of PARP-deficient cells, about 70% of MEFs died. Interestingly, higher concen trations of proteasome inhibitors resulted in the appearance of RS p53 in P ARP-lacking fibroblasts. Reconstitution of PARP-deficient cells with PARP r estored the normal susceptibility to proteasome inhibitors thereby unequivo cally demonstrating that the enhanced cytotoxicity of proteasome inhibitors and their action on p53 level depends on the presence of functional PARP. J. Cell. Biochem. 78:681-696, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.