Downregulation of ΔNp63α in keratinocytes by p14 ARF-mediated SUMO-conjugation and degradation

The tumor suppressor p14^ARF inhibits cell growth in response to oncogenic stress in a p53-dependent and independent manner. However, new physiologic roles for ARF activation have been proposed. We have previously demonstrated that ARF interacts with p63, influencing its transcriptional activity. p63 is a member of the p53 family involved in skin and limb development, as well as in the homeostasis of mature epidermis. Here, we show that, in human keratinocytes, as well as in tumor-derived cell lines, ARF targets ΔNp63α, the most abundantly expressed p63 isoform, to proteasomal degradation by stimulating its sumoylation. Interestingly, we have observed an increase of ARF expression in differentiating keratinocytes, that is concomitant to the already described upregulation of SUMO2/3. Remarkably, we found that ΔNp63α is preferentially sumoylated by SUMo2, instead of SUMo1, and p14ARF increases the efficiency of this process.