Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Two- and Three-Dimensional Live Cell Imaging of DNA Damage Response Proteins
Published on: September 28, 2012
Damaged-DNA Binding Protein-2 Drives Apoptosis Following DNA Damage
Srilata Bagchi1, Pradip Raychaudhuri
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (M/C 669), Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, 900 S, Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL-60607, USA. pradip@uic.edu.
Abstract:
Apoptosis induced by DNA damage is an important mechanism of tumor suppression and it is significant also in cancer chemotherapy. Mammalian cells activate the pathways of p53 to induce apoptosis of cells harboring irreparable DNA damages. While p53 induces expression of various pro-apoptotic genes and directly participates in the disruption of mitochondrial membrane polarization, it also increases expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 that is a dominant inhibitor of caspase-activation and apoptosis. Here we discuss how Damaged-DNA Binding Protein-2 (DDB2) subdues the level of p21 in cells harboring irreparable DNA damage to support activation of the caspases. We speculate a model in which DDB2 detects and couples the presence of un-repaired DNA damages to the proteolysis of p21, leading to the induction of apoptosis.
Related Concept Videos
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Overview of DNA Repair
Chemically...
Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

