Bcl-2 is an apoptotic target suppressed by both c-Myc and E2F-1

CM Eischen, G Packham, J Nip, BE Fee, SW Hiebert… - Oncogene, 2001 - nature.com
CM Eischen, G Packham, J Nip, BE Fee, SW Hiebert, GP Zambetti, JL Cleveland
Oncogene, 2001nature.com
Malignant transformation occurs in cells that overexpress c-Myc or that inappropriately
activate E2F-1. Transformation occurs after the selection of cells that have acquired
resistance to apoptosis that is triggered by these oncogenes, and a key mediator of this cell
death process is the p53 tumor suppressor. In IL-3-dependent immortal 32D. 3 myeloid cells
the ARF/p53 apoptotic pathway is inactivated, as these cells fail to express ARF.
Nonetheless, both c-Myc and E2F-1 overexpression accelerated apoptosis when these cells …
Abstract
Malignant transformation occurs in cells that overexpress c-Myc or that inappropriately activate E2F-1. Transformation occurs after the selection of cells that have acquired resistance to apoptosis that is triggered by these oncogenes, and a key mediator of this cell death process is the p53 tumor suppressor. In IL-3-dependent immortal 32D. 3 myeloid cells the ARF/p53 apoptotic pathway is inactivated, as these cells fail to express ARF. Nonetheless, both c-Myc and E2F-1 overexpression accelerated apoptosis when these cells were deprived of IL-3. Here we report that c-Myc or E2F-1 overexpression suppresses Bcl-2 protein and RNA levels, and that restoration of Bcl-2 protein effectively blocks the accelerated apoptosis that occurs when c-Myc-or E2F-1-overexpressing cells are deprived of IL-3. Blocking p53 activity with mutant p53 did not abrogate E2F-1-induced suppression of Bcl-2. Analysis of immortal myeloid cells engineered to overexpress c-Myc and E2F-1 DNA binding mutants revealed that DNA binding activity of these oncoproteins is required to suppress Bcl-2 expression. These results suggest that the targeting of Bcl-2 family members is an important mechanism of oncogene-induced apoptosis, and that this occurs independent of the ARF/p53 pathway.
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