Out of the jaws of death: PRMT5 steers p53

Abstract

The tumour suppressor p53 triggers either cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis. Now, arginine methylation joins a panoply of other post-translational modifications that regulate p53. PRMT5 mediates p53 methylation, which disposes the cell to arrest rather than death.

Figure 1. PRMT5 regulation of p53

(a) PRMT5 mediates arginine methylation of p53. PRMT5 associates with the cofactor Strap, which associates with additional cofactors JMY and p300/CBP. These cofactors associate with p53. Sites of methylation on p53 are shown. (b) Coordination of p53 modifications. P300/CBP acetylates p53, which leads to histone acetylation. Similarly, PRMT5 methylation of histones may be triggered by p53 methylation.