Identification of a p53 response element in the promoter region of the hMSH2 gene required for expression in A2780 ovarian cancer cells.

Defects in the human MSH2 mismatch repair system have been implicated in cellular mutagenesis, tumorigenesis, and chemotherapeutic resistance. The current studies characterized the 5' upstream proximal promoter region of the hMSH2 gene using transient transfection of A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Serial deletions of a 1.88-kb fragment of the proximal promoter region of the hMSH2 gene revealed that promoter activity was restricted to the first -281 bp. Targeted deletions within this -281 bp region coupled with specific sequence mutagenesis identified a response element for the p53 tumor suppressor protein located between -242 and -222 bp. The -242 hMSH2 p53 element is configured as a direct tandem repeat palindrome with 80% homology to the p53 consensus binding sequence. Co-transfection of an hMSH2 reporter and p53 expression vector into the p53-null cell line SK-OV-3 produced 10-fold enhanced transcription, which was lost when the -242 to -222 p53 binding site was mutated. These results clearly demonstrate the presence of a previously unidentified p53 response element in the hMSH2 proximal promoter. Its location at -242 bp upstream of the start site of transcription is distinct from two previously reported p53 sites at -447 and -416, which transactivate in Saos-2 cells (Scherer, S. J., Maier, S. M., Seifert, M., Hanselmann, R. G., Zang, K. D., Muller-Hermelink, H. K., Angel, P., Welter, C., and Schartl, M. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 37469-37473). Finally, in sharp contrast to their activity in Saos-2 cells, deletion of the -447 and -416 sites in A2780 cells had no effect on hMSH2 promoter activity. Thus, it appears that p53 regulates hMSH2 expression through multiple cell type-specific DNA response elements.