The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome is an E3 ubiquitin ligase for Mdm2

The Mdm2 proto-oncoprotein is the primary negative regulator for p53. While it is believed that Mdm2 degradation is regulated via its own E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, recent development of knock-in mouse models demonstrates that Mdm2 E3 ligase function is dispensable for self-degradation in vivo. Here, we show that the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APCC) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase for Mdm2 degradation. We demonstrate that APC2, a scaffold subunit of APCC, binds to Mdm2 and is required for Mdm2 polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Downregulation of APC2 by RNAi results in transcription-independent accumulation of Mdm2 and attenuation of stress-induced p53 stabilization, leading to decreased senescence and increased cell survival. Furthermore, APC2 expression is frequently downregulated in human cancers; in tumor cell lines, APC2 downregulation correlates with Mdm2 overexpression. Our study shows the regulation of Mdm2 by the E3 ubiquitin ligase APCC and has important therapeutic implications for tumors with Mdm2 overexpression.