Down-regulation of survivin by ultraviolet C radiation is dependent on p53 and results in G2–M arrest in A549 cells

Deregulation of survivin expression is implicated in tumorigenesis. To examine the regulation of survivin expression in response to DNA damage, we exposed A549 human lung cancer cells to ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation, which induces DNA single-strand breakage. UVC irradiation induced G2–M arrest that was accompanied by accumulation of p53 and subsequent down-regulation of survivin. Depletion of p53 by RNA interference prevented the UVC-induced down-regulation of survivin. Furthermore, depletion of survivin resulted in G2–M arrest, suggesting that down-regulation of survivin by p53 contributes to the p53-dependent G2–M checkpoint triggered by DNA damage.