Intervention of Death-Associated Protein Kinase 1–p53 Interaction Exerts the Therapeutic Effects Against Stroke

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) interacts with the tumor suppressor gene p53 via a direct binding of a death domain of DAPK1 to a DNA-binding motif (DM) of p53 (p53DM) and converges multiple cell death pathways in stroke. The goals of this study are to determine whether disruption of DAPK1-p53 interaction is therapeutically effective against stroke. METHODS: We synthesized a membrane-permeable p53DM peptide (Tat-p53DM) and tested the therapeutic effects of Tat-p53DM in a mouse model with stroke. RESULTS: We showed that Tat-p53DM blocked DAPK1-p53 interaction in brain cells in vivo. When administered 6 hours after stroke onset in adult male mice, Tat-p53DM was still therapeutically effective against brain damages and improved neurological functions. CONCLUSIONS: DAPK1-p53 interaction is a preferred target for therapeutic intervention of stroke.