P53

P53 (pronounced: pee-fifty-three), also known as TP53 or tumor protein p53, is a gene that codes for a protein that regulates the cell cycle and hence functions as a tumor suppressor. It is very important for cells in multicellular organisms to suppress cancer.

Pronunciation

IPA: /piː fɪfti θriː/

Etymology

The name P53 is derived from its molecular mass, which is approximately 53 kilodalton (kDa). The 'P' stands for protein.

Function

P53 has many mechanisms of anticancer function, and plays a role in apoptosis, genomic stability, and inhibition of angiogenesis. In its anti-cancer role, p53 works through several mechanisms:

It can activate DNA repair proteins when DNA has sustained damage.
It can induce growth arrest by holding the cell cycle at the G1/S regulation point on DNA damage recognition.
It can initiate apoptosis, the programmed cell death, if the DNA damage proves to be irreparable.

Mutations

Mutations in the P53 gene can lead to the production of a faulty P53 protein that is unable to carry out its normal functions. This can lead to an increased rate of cell division and the development of tumors, which is why P53 is known as a tumor suppressor gene.

Related Terms

Apoptosis: A form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.
Cell cycle: The series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication.
Tumor suppressor gene: A gene that protects a cell from one step on the path to cancer.
DNA repair: The collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome.
Angiogenesis: The physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on P53
Wikipedia's article - P53

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P53

P53