Conformational analysis of p53 in resting and concanavalin A-stimulated mouse lymphocytes

We report that p53 in resting and concanavalin A-stimulated Balb/c mouse lymphocytes cannot be distinguished on the basis of different reactivity with various epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies, regardless of whether the lymphocytes are stimulated with concanavalin A in the presence or absence of serum. Our results thus question the 'conformational hypothesis' put forward by Milner [Milner, J. (1991). Curr. Op. Cell Biol., 3, 282-286], according to which wild-type p53, depending on its conformational status, can act as a negative or a positive growth regulator.