Identification of p53 Proteins and Targets
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
Other
View All
Overview
abstract
Mutational inactivation of the p53 gene product is one of the most frequent genetic alterations in human cancers. Depending on the promoter or gene context, the p53 protein can function as a transcriptional activator or repressor. During the late 1970s and first half of the 1980s, p53 was believed to encode a protein with oncogenic potential. However, later work established a tumor suppressor role for the gene. Earlier studies had utilized cloned p53 genes that had subtle point mutations in a conserved region encoding a domain involved in DNA binding. Binding to specific DNA sequence elements is a function critical for the tumor suppressor activity of p53. Mutations observed in the p53 protein in human cancers interfere with the specific DNA-binding activity of the protein and alter its biophysical properties. This article discusses the technology used to identify mutant and wild-type p53 proteins. A number of protein targets for p53 that may be important in mediating or regulating p53 function have been identified. The methods utilized in detecting p53 protein-protein interactions are addressed. In addition, the strategies applied toward the identification of target DNA sequences for p53 are included. 1995 by Academic Press, Inc.
