| First Author | Cheung CC | Year | 2010 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 107 |
| Issue | 26 | Pages | 11883-8 |
| PubMed ID | 20543135 | Mgi Jnum | J:161372 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4458955 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.1006529107 |
| Citation | Cheung CC, et al. (2010) Identification of BERP (brain-expressed RING finger protein) as a p53 target gene that modulates seizure susceptibility through interacting with GABAA receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(26):11883-8 |
| abstractText | p53 is a central player in responses to cellular stresses and a major tumor suppressor. The identification of unique molecules within the p53 signaling network can reveal functions of this important transcription factor. Here, we show that brain-expressed RING finger protein (BERP) is a gene whose expression is up-regulated in a p53-dependent manner in human cells and in mice. We generated BERP-deficient mice by gene targeting and demonstrated that they exhibit increased resistance to pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. Electrophysiological and biochemical studies of cultured cortical neurons of BERP-deficient mice showed a decrease in the amplitude of GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R)-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents as well as reduced surface protein expression of GABA(A)Rs containing the gamma2-subunit. However, BERP deficiency did not decrease GABA(A)Rgamma2 mRNA levels, raising the possibility that BERP may act at a posttranscriptional level to regulate the intracellular trafficking of GABA(A)Rs. Our results indicate that BERP is a unique p53-regulated gene and suggest a role for p53 within the central nervous system. |
