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p63 and p73: roles in development and tumor formation

Ute M Moll1, Neda Slade

  • 1Department of Pathology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, BST L9 R134, R132-136, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8691, USA. umoll@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Molecular Cancer Research : MCR
|July 29, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The p53 protein family, including p53, p63, and p73, plays diverse roles in development and cancer. Mouse knockout studies reveal distinct functions, with p53 crucial for tumor suppression and p63/p73 vital for development.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • The p53 protein family, including p53, p63, and p73, is critical for cellular damage response, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis.
  • Despite structural similarities, functional diversity exists among p53 family members, as evidenced by distinct outcomes in mouse knockout studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the functional diversity and distinct roles of p53, p63, and p73 in cellular processes and disease.
  • To investigate the impact of alternative splicing and protein isoforms on the functions of the p53 family.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of mouse knockout studies for p53, p63, and p73.
  • Examination of genomic organization and alternative promoter usage in p63 and p73 genes.
  • Analysis of dominant-negative isoforms and their potential oncogenic roles.

Main Results:

  • p53 knockout mice show increased cancer susceptibility, while p63/p73 knockouts exhibit developmental abnormalities.
  • p63 and p73 possess complex genomic organization with alternative promoters generating dominant-negative isoforms.
  • Specific p63/p73 COOH-terminal extensions mediate unique protein interactions involved in development and cellular regulation.

Conclusions:

  • p53 family proteins have specialized roles spanning development (p63, p73), DNA damage response (p53, TAp63, TAp73), and oncogenesis (DeltaNp73).
  • Dominant-negative p73 isoforms may contribute to cancer development, highlighting the complexity of p53 family functions.

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