The candidate tumor suppressor ING1b can stabilize p53 by disrupting the regulation of p53 by MDM2.

ING1b is a candidate tumor suppressor that can stimulate the transcriptional activity of p53 and inhibit cell proliferation. The molecular basis of how ING1b activates p53 function remains unclear. Here we show that ING1b could stimulate the activity of p53 by increasing the level and stability of the p53 protein. The stabilization and activation of p53 by ING1b could be reversed by MDM2 in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, ING1b could reverse the inhibition and degradation of p53 caused by MDM2 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, ING1b and MDM2 bound to p53 in a mutually exclusive manner. In agreement with these observations, we found that similarly to MDM2, ING1b binds to the NH(2)-terminal region of p53. These data suggest a model in which ING1b disrupts the interaction between p53 and MDM2, leading to the stabilization of p53 and growth inhibition.