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The deubiquitylation enzyme USP7/HAUSP plays a major role in regulating genome stability and cancer prevention by controlling the key proteins involved in the DNA damage response. Despite this important role in controlling other proteins, USP7 itself has not been recognized as a target for regulation. Here, we report that USP7 regulation plays a central role in DNA damage signal transmission. We find that stabilization of Mdm2, and correspondingly p53 downregulation in unstressed cells, is accomplished by a specific isoform of USP7 (USP7S), which is phosphorylated at serine 18 by the protein kinase CK2. Phosphorylation stabilizes USP7S and thus contributes to Mdm2 stabilization and downregulation of p53. After ionizing radiation, dephosphorylation of USP7S by the ATM-dependent protein phosphatase PPM1G leads to USP7S downregulation, followed by Mdm2 downregulation and accumulation of p53. Our findings provide a quantitative transmission mechanism of the DNA damage signal to coordinate a p53-dependent DNA damage response.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.molcel.2012.01.021

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell

Publication Date

30/03/2012

Volume

45

Pages

801 - 813

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins, Casein Kinase II, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Cell Cycle Proteins, DNA Damage, DNA-Binding Proteins, Down-Regulation, HeLa Cells, Humans, Molecular Sequence Data, Phosphoprotein Phosphatases, Phosphorylation, Protein Phosphatase 2C, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2, Radiation, Ionizing, Serine, Signal Transduction, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, Tumor Suppressor Proteins, Ubiquitin Thiolesterase, Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7