Mdm2 increases cellular invasiveness by binding to and stabilizing the Slug mRNA

Mdm2 is an oncoprotein that induces the degradation of the tumor suppressor, p53. Here, we show that Mdm2 increases the mRNA levels of Slug by binding to and stabilizing the Slug mRNA. While this effect of Mdm2 was observed in both p53-null and p53-expressing cancer cells, it increased the protein levels of Slug only in the former cells. Mdm2 consistently induced Slug-dependent events, such as decreases in E-cadherin levels and increases in cellular invasiveness, only in p53-null cells. Therefore, the binding of Mdm2 to the Slug mRNA appears to provide a novel mechanism through which Mdm2 promotes tumor progression in a manner independent of the presence of p53.