Abstract
Reduced levels of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 connote poor prognosis in cancer. In human Burkitt lymphoma, and in pre-cancerous B cells and lymphomas arising in Eμ-Myc transgenic mice, p27Kip1 expression is markedly reduced. Furthermore, the Cks1 component of the SCFSkp2 complex that is necessary for p27Kip1 ubiquitylation and degradation, and to a lesser extent Skp2, are induced by Myc ex vivo and in Eμ-Myc B-cells and lymphomas, and up-regulation of CKS1 and SKP2 are hallmarks of Burkitt lymphoma. While loss of Skp2 has rather modest effects, the deletion of Cks1 in Eμ-Myc B-cells elevates p27Kip1 levels, reduces proliferation and delays lymphoma development. In contrast, Myc-induced apoptosis and transcriptional activity are not affected by Cks1 (or Skp2) loss. Therefore, Myc accelerates cell proliferation and promotes tumorigenesis through its ability to selectively induce Cks1.
Contribution of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1 to the confluence-dependent resistance of HT29 human colon carcinoma cells
