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14:57
Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
Regulation of AIF expression by p53
P Stambolsky1, L Weisz, I Shats
1Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Cell Death and Differentiation
|May 27, 2006
Summary
The tumor suppressor p53 positively regulates the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) gene, enhancing caspase-independent cell death. This p53-AIF interaction may also support mitochondrial function and cell protection.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The tumor suppressor p53 is crucial for preventing cancer by maintaining genomic stability and controlling cell death.
- Apoptosis-Inducing Factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial protein involved in programmed cell death, particularly in caspase-independent pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transcriptional regulation of the AIF gene by the tumor suppressor p53.
- To elucidate the role of the p53-AIF interaction in apoptosis and cellular maintenance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of AIF gene expression regulation by p53.
- Identification and characterization of a p53 responsive element in the AIF gene.
- Assessment of cell death and DNA fragmentation in cells with and without functional p53.
Main Results:
- p53 positively regulates AIF gene expression, even at basal levels.
- p53 binds to a responsive element in the AIF gene, driving DNA fragmentation.
- Loss of functional p53 impairs caspase-independent cell death, highlighting AIF's role.
Conclusions:
- p53 sensitizes cells to caspase-independent death by upregulating AIF.
- Constitutive AIF induction by p53 may contribute to cytoprotective mitochondrial maintenance functions.
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