Regulation of apoptosis at cell division by p34cdc2 phosphorylation of survivin

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Nov 21;97(24):13103-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.240390697.

Abstract

The interface between apoptosis (programmed cell death) and the cell cycle is essential to preserve homeostasis and genomic integrity. Here, we show that survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis over-expressed in cancer, physically associates with the cyclin-dependent kinase p34(cdc2) on the mitotic apparatus, and is phosphorylated on Thr(34) by p34(cdc2)-cyclin B1, in vitro and in vivo. Loss of phosphorylation on Thr(34) resulted in dissociation of a survivin-caspase-9 complex on the mitotic apparatus, and caspase-9-dependent apoptosis of cells traversing mitosis. These data identify survivin as a mitotic substrate of p34(cdc2)-cyclin B1 and suggest that survivin phosphorylation on Thr(34) may be required to preserve cell viability at cell division. Manipulation of this pathway may facilitate the elimination of cancer cells at mitosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Division / physiology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Kinetics
  • Melanoma
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Survivin
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • BIRC5 protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Survivin
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase