Tumor promotion by caspase-resistant retinoblastoma protein

The retinoblastorna (RB) protein regulates cell proliferation and cell death. RB is cleaved by caspase during apoptosis. A mutation of the caspase-cleavage site in the RB C terminus has been made in the mouse Rb-1 locus; the resulting Rb-Ml mice are resistant to endotoxin-induced apoptosis in the intestine. The Rb-Ml mice do not exhibit increased tumor incidence, because the Ml mutation does not disrupt the Rb tumor suppressor function. In this study, we show that Rb-Ml can promote the formation of colonic adenomas in the p53-null genetic background. Consistent with this tumor phenotype, Rb-Ml reduces colorectall epithelial apoptosis and ulceration caused by dextran sulfate sodium. By contrast, Rb-Ml does not affect the lymphoma phenotype of p53-null mice, in keeping with its inability to protect thymocytes and splenocytes from apoptosis. The Rb-Ml protein is expressed and phosphorylated in the tumors, thereby inactivating its growth suppression function. These results suggest that RB tumor suppressor function, i.e., inhibition of proliferation, is inactivated by phosphorylation, whereas RB tumor promoting function, i.e., inhibition of apoptosis, is inactivated by caspase cleavage.