Transcriptional repression of Sin3B by Bmi-1 prevents cellular senescence and is relieved by oncogene activation

Oncogene. 2015 Jul 23;34(30):4011-4017. doi: 10.1038/onc.2014.322. Epub 2014 Sep 29.

Abstract

The Polycomb group protein Bmi-1 is an essential regulator of cellular senescence and is believed to function largely through the direct repression of the Ink4a/Arf locus. However, concurrent deletion of Ink4a/Arf does not fully rescue the defects detected in Bmi-1(-/-) mice, indicating that additional Bmi-1 targets remain to be identified. The expression of the chromatin-associated Sin3B protein is stimulated by oncogenic stress, and is required for oncogene-induced senescence. Here we demonstrate that oncogenic stress leads to the dissociation of Bmi-1 from the Sin3B locus, resulting in increased Sin3B expression and subsequent entry into cellular senescence. Furthermore, Sin3B is required for the senescent phenotype and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species elicited upon Bmi-1 depletion. Altogether, these results identify Sin3B as a novel direct target of Bmi-1, and establish Bmi-1-driven repression of Sin3B as an essential regulator of cellular senescence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Mice
  • Oncogenes
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Bmi1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Sin3b protein, mouse
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1