Transcriptional squelching by ectopic expression of E2F-1 and p53 is alleviated by proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and lactacystin

The transcription factors p53 and E2F-1 play important roles in the control of cell cycle progression. In transient transfection experiments, expression of E2F-1, other E2F family members, or p53 squelched transcription from cotransfected plasmids in a dose-dependent manner. Although the proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and lactacystin markedly increased the level of expression of E2F-1 and p53, these inhibitors completely alleviated squelching by both proteins. Several observations indicate MG-132 alleviates squelching by influencing the conformation of newly synthesized p53 and E2F-1:MG-132 increased the fraction of wild type p53 bound by a monoclonal antibody which preferentially recognizes mutant conformers of p53, increased binding of hsp70 to p53 and inhibited nuclear accumulation of both p53 and E2F-1, but not the pocket protein p107. The protease inhibitors ALLN and ALLM did not influence expression of E2F-1 or p53, nor did they alleviate squelching by either transcription factor. Because MG-132 and lactacycstin are highly specific inhibitors of the proteasome protease, our results suggest that the proteasome influences post-translational processes involved in proper folding and cytoplasmic clearing of E2F-1 and p53.