RPL23 Links Oncogenic RAS Signaling to p53-Mediated Tumor Suppression

The ribosomal protein (RP)–MDM2 interaction is a p53 response pathway critical for preventing oncogenic c-MYC–induced tumorigenesis. To investigate whether the RP-MDM2-p53 pathway is a broad antioncogenic mechanism, we crossed mice bearing an MDM2C305F mutation, which disrupts RPL11 binding to MDM2, with mice expressing an oncogenic HrasG12V transgene. Interestingly, the MDM2C305F-mutant mice, which are hypersensitive to c-MYC–induced tumorigenesis, are not hypersensitive to oncogenic HrasG12V-induced tumorigenesis. Unlike c-MYC, which induces expression of RPL11, RAS overexpression leads to an increase in RPL23 mRNA and protein whereas RPL11 expression remains unchanged. The induction of RPL23 involves both MEK and PI3K signaling pathways and requires mTOR function. Increased expression of RPL23, which maintains binding to MDM2C305F mutant, correlates with increased p53 expression in MDM2C305F cells. Furthermore, RAS overexpression can induce p53 in the absence of p19ARF, and the induction can be abolished by downregulation of RPL23. Thus, although the RPL11–MDM2–p53 pathway coordinates with the p19ARF–MDM2–p53 pathway against oncogenic c-MYC–induced tumorigenesis, the RPL23–MDM2–p53 pathway coordinates with the p19ARF–MDM2–p53 pathway against oncogenic RAS-induced tumorigenesis. Cancer Res; 76(17); 5030–9. ©2016 AACR.