The piwi-like2 (piwil2) gene is widely expressed in tumors and protects cells from apoptosis induced by a variety of stress stimuli. However, the role of Piwil2 in Fas-mediated apoptosis remains unknown. Here we present evidence that Piwil2 inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis. By a bacterial two-hybrid screening, we identify a new Piwil2-interacting partner, keratin 8 (K8), a major intermediate filament protein protecting cell from Fas-mediated apoptosis. Our results show that Piwil2 binds to K8 and p38 through its PIWI domain and forms a Piwil2/K8/P38 triple protein-protein complex. Thus Piwil2 increases the phosphorylation level of K8 Ser-73 and then inhibits ubiquitin-mediated degradation of K8. As a result, kno... More
The piwi-like2 (piwil2) gene is widely expressed in tumors and protects cells from apoptosis induced by a variety of stress stimuli. However, the role of Piwil2 in Fas-mediated apoptosis remains unknown. Here we present evidence that Piwil2 inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis. By a bacterial two-hybrid screening, we identify a new Piwil2-interacting partner, keratin 8 (K8), a major intermediate filament protein protecting cell from Fas-mediated apoptosis. Our results show that Piwil2 binds to K8 and p38 through its PIWI domain and forms a Piwil2/K8/P38 triple protein-protein complex. Thus Piwil2 increases the phosphorylation level of K8 Ser-73 and then inhibits ubiquitin-mediated degradation of K8. As a result, knockdown of Piwil2 increases Fas protein level at the membrane. In addition to our previous finding, that Piwil2 inhibits expression of p53 through Src/STAT3 pathway, here we demonstrate that Piwil2 represses p53 phosphorylation through p38. Our present study indicates that Piwil2 plays a role in Fas-mediated apoptosis for the first time and can also affect p53 phosphorylation in tumor cells, revealing a novel mechanism of Piwil2 in apoptosis, and supports that Piwil2 plays an active role in tumorigenesis.
