p73 is transcriptionally regulated by DNA damage, p53, and p73

p73 is a member of the p53 family, Recent studies have shown that DNA damag e can stabilize p73 protein and enhance p73-mediated apoptosis in a c-Abl d ependent manner. To determine what regulates p73 transcriptionally, we anal ysed the expression of p73 in several cell lines following genotoxic stress es. We found that p73 is induced in certain cell lines when treated with th erapeutic DNA damaging agents. We also found that p53 and p73, but not muta nt p53(R249S) and p73 beta 292, directly induce the expression of the p73 g ene. In addition, we found one potential p53-binding site in the promoter o f the p73 gene. This binding site is responsive to p53, p73, and DIVA damag e. Taken together, these data suggest that p73 is transcriptionally regulat ed by DNA damage and p53, and is autoregulated.