Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 26, 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

Identification of Tcf-4 as a transcriptional target of p53 signalling

Karen Rother1, Cindy Johne, Katja Spiesbach

  • 1Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Max-Bürger-Forschungszentrum, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, Leipzig D-04103, Germany.

Oncogene
|March 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor p53 directly regulates T-cell factor (Tcf)-4, a key Wnt/beta-catenin signaling component. This finding links p53 function to colon tumor progression and proliferation control.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • T-cell factor (Tcf)-4 is a key transcription factor in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling.
  • The tumor suppressor p53 induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis.
  • Mutations in p53 and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways are implicated in tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between p53 and Tcf-4.
  • To determine if p53 regulates Tcf-4 expression.
  • To elucidate the role of this interaction in colon cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a tet-off regulated human colon cell system to induce wild-type p53.
  • Measured Tcf-4 mRNA and protein levels post-p53 induction.
  • Assessed Tcf-4 promoter activity using a luciferase reporter assay with wild-type and mutant p53.

Main Results:

  • Wild-type p53 induction reduced Tcf-4 mRNA and protein levels.
  • Tcf-4 target gene uPAR mRNA was downregulated following p53 induction.
  • Wild-type p53 repressed Tcf-4 promoter activity, while a DNA-binding deficient p53 mutant did not.

Conclusions:

  • Identified Tcf-4 as a direct downstream target of p53.
  • Established a molecular link between p53 tumor suppressor function and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling.
  • Proposed a mechanism for p53 loss contributing to colon adenoma/carcinoma progression and highlighted the role in proliferation control across tissues.

More Related Videos

Analysis of the c-KIT Ligand Promoter Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation09:40

Analysis of the c-KIT Ligand Promoter Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation

Published on: June 27, 2017

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

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...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
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...