Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Cytoplasmic p53: bax and forward.

Jerry E Chipuk1, Douglas R Green

  • 1La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Division of Cellular Immunology, San Diego, California 92121, USA.

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|March 17, 2004
PubMed
Summary

The tumor suppressor p53 (protein 53) has a newly discovered role in the cytoplasm. It directly activates pro-apoptotic proteins, promoting programmed cell death and genomic stability.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Beyond the veil of cell death.

Cell chemical biology·2026
Same author

Cytokines driven by caspase-1 and RIPK3 are antagonistic.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Author Correction: cBAF complex components and MYC cooperate early in CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell fate.

Nature·2026
Same author

The mannosyltransferase DPM1 regulates the activity of ER-stress sensor IRE1 in colorectal cancer.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Autophagy modulation in cancer.

Nature reviews. Drug discovery·2026
Same author

ISG15 negatively regulates RIPK3-mediated cell death and viral pathogenesis.

Cell reports·2026

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The p53 (protein 53) protein is a crucial tumor suppressor in multicellular organisms.
  • Its known functions include inducing cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis, thereby maintaining genomic stability and tissue homeostasis.
  • Traditionally, p53's function is attributed to its nuclear role in regulating gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extranuclear functions of p53.
  • To explore the role of cytoplasmic p53 in inducing apoptosis.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which p53 interacts with apoptotic regulators.

Main Methods:

  • The study likely involved cell-based assays to examine p53 localization and function.
  • Techniques may include Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and apoptosis assays.
  • Analysis of interactions between p53 and Bcl-2 family proteins was probably performed.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests p53 plays a role in the cytoplasm to induce apoptosis.
  • p53 was shown to directly activate the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein Bax.
  • p53 can also release pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins from inhibitors like Bcl-x(L).

Conclusions:

  • Cytoplasmic p53 directly promotes apoptosis through interactions with Bcl-2 family proteins.
  • These findings suggest p53 functions analogously to BH3-only proteins in initiating apoptosis.
  • The extranuclear activity of p53 contributes to its tumor suppressor role by enhancing programmed cell death pathways.

Related Experiment Videos