Role of p27(Kip1) as a transcriptional regulator

The protein p27(Kip1) is a member of the Cip/Kip family of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors. It interacts with both the catalytic and the regulatory subunit (cyclin) and introduces a region into the catalytic cleave of the Cdk inducing its inactivation. Its inhibitory capacity can be modulated by specific tyrosine phosphorylations. p27(Kip1) also behaves as a transcriptional regulator. It associates with specific chromatin domains through different transcription factors. ChIP on chip, ChIP-seq and expression microarray analysis allowed the identification of the transcriptional programs regulated by p27(Kip1). Thus, important cellular functions as cell division cycle, respiration, RNA processing, translation and cell adhesion, are under p27(Kip1) regulation. Moreover, genes involved in pathologies as cancer and neurodegeneration are also regulated by p27(Kip1), suggesting its implication in these pathologies. The carboxyl moiety of p27(Kip1) can associate with different proteins, including transcriptional regulators. In contrast, its NH2-terminal region specifically interacts with cyclin-Cdk complexes. The general mechanistic model of how p27(Kip1) regulates transcription is that it associates by its COOH region to the transcriptional regulators on the chromatin and by the NH2-domain to cyclin-Cdk complexes. After Cdk activation it would phosphorylate the specific targets on the chromatin leading to gene expression. This model has been demonstrated to apply in the transcriptional regulation of p130/E2F4 repressed genes involved in cell cycle progression. We summarize in this review our current knowledge on the role of p27(Kip1) in the regulation of transcription, on the transcriptional programs under its regulation and on its relevance in pathologies as cancer and neurodegeneration.