UP-REGULATION OF THE ELONGATION FACTOR-1-ALPHA GENE BY P53 IN ASSOCIATION WITH DEATH OF AN ERYTHROLEUKEMIC CELL-LINE

Genes upregulated by p53 were screened using an erythroleukemic cell l ine (1-2-3) that expresses only the temperature-sensitive p53 by the m RNA differential display method. One of the upregulated genes was iden tified as the elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha) gene, an essentia l component of the eukaryotic translation apparatus, Three p53-respons ive elements were found in the mouse EF-1 alpha gene and in the corres ponding human, rat, and frog genes. These elements conferred the capac ity for induction by p53. EF-1 alpha is also a microtubule-severing pr otein. Upon the temperature-shift, the cells developed the morphology and the localization of alpha-tubulin similar to those of the cells tr eated with vincristine, a drug that affects microtubules. The microtub ule-severing associated with upregulation of EF-1 alpha by p53 may be a cause of the cell death. (C) 1997 by The American Society of Hematol ogy.