A novel p53-inducible gene, PAG608, encodes a nuclear zinc finger protein whose overexpression promotes apoptosis

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Abstract
The biological effects of the p53 tumor suppressor protein are elicited, at least in part, through sequence‐specific transactivation of a battery of target genes. The differential display method was employed towards identifying additional p53 target genes, with emphasis on genes whose induction may contribute to p53‐mediated apoptosis. We report here the cloning of a novel p53‐inducible gene, designated PAG608 . PAG608 transcripts are induced by DNA damage in a p53‐dependent manner. PAG608 encodes a nuclear zinc finger protein, which appears to localize preferentially to nucleoli when expressed at moderate levels in transfected cells. Transient overexpression of PAG608 in human tumor‐derived cells leads to distinctive changes in nuclear morphology, and can promote apoptosis. Together with additional p53 target genes, PAG608 may therefore play a role in mediating the biological activities of p53.