Gene expression profiles induced by knockdown and overexpression of p63 variants in MCF-10A mammary epithelial cell line

p63 is critical for epithelial development yet little is known about the transcriptional programmes it regulates. The p63 transactivating (TA) isoforms contain an amino-terminal exon that encodes a p53-like transactivation domain, whereas N-isoforms lack this domain but contain the common DNA binding domain (DBD), suggesting that TAp63 and Np63 isoforms may have opposing functions. By characterising transcriptional changes and cellular effects following modulation of p63 expression, we have defined a vital role for p63 in cellular adhesion. Knockdown of p63 expression caused downregulation of cell adhesion-associated genes, cell detachment and anoikis in mammary epithelial cells and keratinocytes. Conversely, overexpression of the TAp63 or Np63 isoforms of p63 upregulated cell adhesion molecules, increased cellular adhesion and conferred resistance to anoikis.

15

Carroll DK, Carroll JS, Leong CO, Cheng F, Brown M, Mills AA, Brugge JS, Ellisen LW