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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
The expression of p53-regulated genes in human cultured lymphoblastoid TSCE5 and WTK1 cell lines during spaceflight
Akihisa Takahashi1, Hiromi Suzuki, Katsunori Omori
1Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
Purpose:
The space environment contains two major biologically significant influences; space radiations and microgravity. The 53 kDa tumour suppressor protein (p53) plays a role as a guardian of the genome through the activity of p53-centered signal transduction pathways. The aim of this study was to clarify the biological effects of space radiations, microgravity, and the space environment on the gene expression of p53-regulated genes.
Materials And Methods:
Space experiments were performed with two human cultured lymphoblastoid cell lines; one line (TSCE5) bears a wild-type p53 gene status, and another line (WTK1) bears a mutated p53 gene status. Under one gravity or microgravity conditions, the cells were grown in the cell biology experimental facility (CBEF) of the International Space Station for 8 days without experiencing stress during launching and landing because the cells were frozen during these periods. Ground control samples also were cultured for 8 days in the CBEF on the ground during the spaceflight. Gene expression was analysed using an Agilent Technologies 44 k whole human genome microarray DNA chip.
Results:
p53-dependent up-regulated gene expression was observed for 111, 95, and 328 genes and p53-dependent down-regulated gene expression was found for 177, 16, and 282 genes after exposure to space radiations, to microgravity, and to both, respectively.
Conclusions:
The data provide the p53-dependent regulated genes by exposure to radiations and/or microgravity during spaceflight. Our expression data revealed genes that might help to advance the basic space radiation biology.
