标题：Identification of BERP (brain-expressed RING finger protein) as a p53 target gene that modulates seizure susceptibility through interacting with GABAA receptors
期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：2010
卷号：107
期号：26
页码：11883-11888
DOI：10.1073/pnas.1006529107
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：p53 is a central player in responses to cellular stresses and a major tumor suppressor. The identification of unique molecules within the p53 signaling network can reveal functions of this important transcription factor. Here, we show that brain-expressed RING finger protein (BERP) is a gene whose expression is up-regulated in a p53-dependent manner in human cells and in mice. We generated BERP-deficient mice by gene targeting and demonstrated that they exhibit increased resistance to pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures. Electrophysiological and biochemical studies of cultured cortical neurons of BERP-deficient mice showed a decrease in the amplitude of GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents as well as reduced surface protein expression of GABAARs containing the {gamma}2-subunit. However, BERP deficiency did not decrease GABAAR{gamma}2 mRNA levels, raising the possibility that BERP may act at a posttranscriptional level to regulate the intracellular trafficking of GABAARs. Our results indicate that BERP is a unique p53-regulated gene and suggest a role for p53 within the central nervous system.
