Life or death: p53-induced apoptosis requires DNA binding cooperativity.

ABSTRACT: The tumor suppressor p53 provides exquisite protection from cancer by balancing cell survival and death in response to stress. Sustained stress or irreparable damage trigger p53's killer functions to permanently eliminate genetically-altered cells as a potential source of cancer. To prevent the unnecessary loss of cells that could cause premature aging as a result of stem cell attrition, the killer functions of p53 are tightly regulated and balanced against protector functions that promote damage repair and support survival in response to low stress or mild damage. In molecular terms these p53-based cell fate decisions involve protein interactions with cofactors and modifying enzymes, which modulate the activation of distinct sets of p53 target genes. In addition, we demonstrate that part

SUBMITTER: Schlereth K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3055192 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature