Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence
04:56

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence

Published on: December 30, 2025

The dark side of a tumor suppressor: anti-apoptotic p53

R U Jänicke1, D Sohn, K Schulze-Osthoff

  • 1Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany. janicke@uni-duesseldorf.de

Cell Death and Differentiation
|March 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor p53 can prevent cell death by activating genes that counteract apoptosis. However, this survival function may paradoxically contribute to tumor formation.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Molecular oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • DNA damage triggers cell cycle arrest or apoptosis.
  • The tumor suppressor p53 is a key regulator of cellular fate following DNA damage.
  • p53 acts through both transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of p53-regulated proteins that promote cell survival.
  • To explore how p53's pro-survival functions can contribute to tumorigenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on p53 and apoptosis.
  • Analysis of approximately forty p53-regulated anti-apoptotic proteins.
  • Examination of the role of these proteins in cellular processes and organismal health.

Main Results:

  • p53 activates numerous genes that counteract apoptosis.
  • These p53-regulated proteins interfere with diverse cellular processes to promote survival.
  • The anti-apoptotic activities of p53 are crucial for normal development.

Conclusions:

  • p53's role in promoting cell survival is essential for maintaining organismal health.
  • Dysregulation of p53's pro-survival pathways can contribute to cancer development.
  • Understanding these pathways offers insights into potential therapeutic strategies for cancer.

More Related Videos

Procedure and Key Optimization Strategies for an Automated Capillary Electrophoretic-based Immunoassay Method09:32

Procedure and Key Optimization Strategies for an Automated Capillary Electrophoretic-based Immunoassay Method

Published on: September 10, 2017

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P5314:57

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

Published on: August 4, 2019

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...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...