Upregulation of the elongation factor-α gene by p53 in association with death of an erythroleukemic cell line

Abstract

Genes upregulated by p53 were screened using an erythroleukemic cell line (1-2-3) that expresses only the temperature-sensitive p53 by the mRNA differential display method. One of the upregulated genes was identified as the elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) gene, an essential component of the eukaryotic translation apparatus. Three p53-responsive elements were found in the mouse EF-1α gene and in the corresponding human, rat, and frog genes. These elements conferred the capacity for induction by p53. EF-1α is also a microtubule-severing protein. Upon the temperature-shift, the cells developed the morphology and the localization of α-tubulin similar to those of the cells treated with vincristine, a drug that affects microtubules. The microtubule-severing associated with upregulation of EF-1α by p53 may be a cause of the cell death.