The deubiquitinating enzyme USP11 controls an IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha)-p53 signaling pathway in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha).

Post-translational modification and degradation of proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome system are key regulatory events in cellular responses to various stimuli. The NF-kappaB signaling pathway is controlled by the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Although mechanisms of ubiquitination in the NF-kappaB pathway have been extensively studied, deubiquitination-mediated regulation of the NF-kappaB signaling remains poorly understood. The present studies show that a deubiquitinating enzyme, USP11, specifically regulates IkappaB kinase alpha (IKKalpha) among the NF-kappaB signaling molecules. Knocking down USP11 attenuates expression of IKKalpha in the transcriptional, but not the post-translational, level. However, down-regulation of USP11 dramatically enhances NF-kappaB activity in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, indicating that IKKalpha does not require activation of NF-kappaB. Instead, knock down of USP11 or IKKalpha is associated with abrogation of p53 expression upon exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In concert with these results, silencing of USP11 is associated with transcriptional attenuation of the p53-responsive genes, such as p21 or Bax. Importantly, the ectopic expression of IKKalpha into cells silenced for USP11 restores p53 expression, demonstrating that USP11 functions as an upstream regulator of an IKKalpha-p53 signaling pathway.