Abstract
5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) is an activator of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) and a regulator of de novo purine synthesis. There are several earlier reports indicating that AICAR treatment suppresses cell growth via regulation of AMPK or de novo purine synthesis. We found cell growth to be suppressed by AICAR treatment in HepG2 because of p53 accumulation, which was associated with p53-Ser15 phosphorylation. Moreover, a motif very similar to the consensus motif of AMPK phosphorylation was found around p53-Ser15, and Ser15 phosphorylation was detected in AICAR treated HepG2 as was in vitro phosphorylation by AMPK. Our results suggest that AICAR may regulate cell growth via p53 phosphorylation, and also indicate the possibility of p53 phosphorylation.
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
Publication types
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
- AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
- Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / analogs & derivatives*
- Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / pharmacology*
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
- Cell Division / drug effects
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
- Cyclins / biosynthesis
- Cyclins / drug effects
- Enzyme Activation / drug effects
- G1 Phase / drug effects
- Humans
- Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
- Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism*
- Phosphorylation / drug effects
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
- Ribonucleotides / pharmacology*
- S Phase / drug effects
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology
Substances
- CDKN1A protein, human
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
- Cyclins
- Hypoglycemic Agents
- Multienzyme Complexes
- Ribonucleotides
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
- Aminoimidazole Carboxamide
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
- AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
- AICA ribonucleotide