Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
14:57

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

Published on: August 4, 2019

Role of T antigen interactions with p53 in tumorigenesis

J M Pipas1, A J Levine

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.

Seminars in Cancer Biology
|March 13, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen disrupts cellular growth control by inactivating tumor suppressors Rb and p53. This interaction may contribute to human cancer development by blocking p53

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cellular growth is regulated by key tumor suppressor circuits, including the Rb and p53 families.
  • SV40 (Simian virus 40) is known to induce neoplastic transformation.
  • The virus encodes a large T antigen protein crucial for its oncogenic activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms by which SV40's large T antigen disables cellular growth regulatory circuits.
  • To elucidate the role of large T antigen interactions with Rb and p53 in tumorigenesis.
  • To explore the potential contribution of SV40 to human cancer via p53 pathway disruption.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of SV40 large T antigen's interactions with cellular tumor suppressor proteins.
  • Investigation of the impact of large T antigen on p53-mediated functions such as growth suppression and apoptosis.
  • Examination of the p53 pathway's status in human tumors.

Main Results:

  • SV40 large T antigen effectively blocks the function of both Rb and p53 tumor suppressor families.
  • Multiple mechanisms are employed by large T antigen to inhibit p53 activity.
  • Inhibition of p53-mediated growth suppression and apoptosis by large T antigen contributes to tumorigenesis.

Conclusions:

  • SV40's large T antigen is a key factor in neoplastic transformation by subverting critical cell growth controls.
  • The interaction between SV40 T antigen and p53 offers a potential mechanism for SV40's contribution to human cancers.
  • Given that the p53 pathway is frequently inactivated in human tumors, these findings highlight a significant link to oncogenesis.

More Related Videos

Purification of Ubiquitinated p53 Proteins from Mammalian Cells10:55

Purification of Ubiquitinated p53 Proteins from Mammalian Cells

Published on: March 21, 2022

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence04:56

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence

Published on: December 30, 2025

Related Concept Videos

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...