Interaction between angiogenin and the p53 TAD2 domain in cancer cells can inhibit the function of the p53 tumor suppressor and promote cell survival. Based on a model structure using NMR and mutational analysis, positively charged 31 RRR33 and 50 KRSIK54 motifs of human angiogenin were identified as p53-binding sites that could interact with negatively charged D48/E51 and E56 residues of the p53 TAD2 domain, respectively. These results suggest that 31 RRR33 and 50 KRSIK54 motifs of human angiogenin might play a critical role in the regulation of p53-mediated apoptosis and angiogenesis in cancer cells. This study identifies potential target sites for screening angiogenin-specific inhibitors that could not only inhibit p53 binding but could also simultaneously inhibit cell binding, internalization, DNA binding, and nuclear translocation of human angiogenin.
Keywords: Angiogenin; angiogenesis; p53.
© 2017 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.