Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
14:57

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

Published on: August 4, 2019

Specific recognition of a transcriptional element within the human h-ras protooncogene by the p53 tumor-suppressor

D Spandidos1, V Zoumpourlis, G Zachos

  • 1UNIV CRETE,SCH MED,IRAKLION,GREECE. UNIV PENN,DEPT MOLEC ONCOL,PHILADELPHIA,PA 19104. UNIV PENN,DEPT PATHOL & LAB MED,PHILADELPHIA,PA 19104.

International Journal of Oncology
|May 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor p53 protein binds DNA and activates transcription of the c-H-ras gene. This suggests p53 regulates cell growth by controlling genes that promote or suppress proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The p53 protein, a nuclear phosphoprotein, is crucial in human cancer, acting as a tumor suppressor.
  • Wild-type p53 regulates cell cycle progression and gene transcription.
  • p53 exhibits sequence-specific DNA binding capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between wild-type p53 and the human c-H-ras gene.
  • To determine if p53 can bind to and activate transcription via sequences within the c-H-ras gene.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro translation of wild-type p53.
  • DNA binding assays to assess p53 affinity for c-H-ras sequences.
  • Reporter plasmid assays to measure transcriptional activation.

Main Results:

  • Wild-type p53 demonstrated high-affinity binding to specific sequences in the first intron of the c-H-ras gene.
  • These c-H-ras sequences function as a bona fide p53 binding element.
  • p53 activated transcription when these elements were included in a reporter plasmid.

Conclusions:

  • p53 directly interacts with and regulates the transcription of the c-H-ras gene.
  • This interaction suggests a mechanism by which p53 influences cellular growth.
  • p53 coordinates the transcription of genes involved in both suppression and promotion of cellular proliferation.

More Related Videos

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence04:56

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

Published on: December 30, 2025

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells12:19

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

Published on: January 21, 2012

Related Concept Videos

The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
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...
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...