The codon 72 polymorphism of p53 influences cell fate following nutrient deprivation.

The TP53 gene is distinguished as the most frequently mutated gene in cancer. Unlike most cancer-relevant genes, the TP53 gene is also distinguished by the existence of coding region polymorphisms that alter p53 sequence, and in some cases, also alter p53 function. A common coding region variant at amino acid 72 of p53 encodes either proline (P72) or arginine (R72). P72 is the ancestral variant and is most common in populations near the equator. The frequency of the R72 variant increases in a linear manner with latitude. To date, why the R72 variant arose in humans and was possibly selected for has remained unclear. Here-in we show that this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) influences the phosphorylation of p53 and the transactivation of the key p53 target CDKN1A (p21) specifically in response to nutrient deprivation, but not in response to conventional cytotoxic agents. Following activation of the kinase AMPK, R72 cells show increased phosphorylation on serine-15 and increased transactivation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor CDKN1A (p21) and the metabolic response genes PPARGC1B (PGC-1β) and PRKAB2 (AMPK-β2). This is accompanied by increased growth arrest and decreased apoptosis in R72 cells compared with P72 cells. The combined data fit best with the hypothesis that the R72 polymorphism confers increased cell survival in response to nutrient deprivation. This differential response to nutrient deprivation may explain part of selection for this SNP at northern latitudes, where nutrient deprivation might have been more frequent.