DNA synthesis inhibition in response to benzo[a]pyrene dihydrodiol epoxide is associated with attenuation of p34cdc2: Role of p53

Our previous findings demonstrated that DNA damage by polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) triggers a cellular protective response of growth inhibition (G1-S cell cycle arrest and inhibition of DNA synthesis) in human fibroblasts associated with accumulation of p53 protein, a growth-inhibitory transcription factor. Here, we report that BPDE (the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of the PAH benzo[a]pyrene) treatment triggers a variable extent of inhibition of DNA synthesis/cell growth, which does not correspond to the extent of increased p53 accumulation. BPDE treatment of cells significantly attenuates expression of p34cdc2, a cell cycle activating protein. Although the role of cdc2 down-regulation in inhibition of cell cycle progression is well known, cdc2 down-regulation in response to cellular insult by PAHs has not been reported. Unlike p53 accumulation, there is a correspondence between DNA synthesis/cell growth inhibition and cdc2 down-regulation by BPDE. BPDE-induced cdc2 down-regulation is p53 dependent, although there is no correspondence between p53 accumulation and cdc2 down-regulation. BPDE-induced cdc2 down-regulation corresponded with accumulation of the cell cycle inhibitor protein p21 (transactivation product of p53). DNA synthesis/cell growth inhibition in response to DNA-damaging PAHs may involve down-regulation of cdc2 protein mediated by p53 activation (transactivation ability), and the extent of p53 accumulation is not the sole determining factor in this regard.