Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026

14:57
Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53
Published on: August 4, 2019
Wild-type p53 in cellular-transformation - a reassessment
1HEINRICH PETTE INST EXPTL VIROL & IMMUNOL,MARTINISTR 52,W-2000 HAMBURG 20,GERMANY.
International Journal of Oncology
|May 17, 2011
Summary
Previously identified mutant p53 cDNA is actually wild-type p53. This suggests wild-type p53 can induce cellular transformation, relevant to human tumors.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Genetics
Background:
- The tumor suppressor protein p53 plays a critical role in preventing cancer.
- Previous studies utilized p53 cDNA clones that were characterized as mutant.
- The functional implications of wild-type p53 in cellular transformation were not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the characterization of a specific mouse p53 cDNA clone (pP53-5).
- To investigate the potential for wild-type p53 to induce cellular transformation.
- To clarify the role of sequencing artifacts in p53 mutation analysis.
Main Methods:
- Sequencing of both DNA strands to resolve potential sequencing artifacts.
- Analysis of p53 cDNA clones isolated from mouse cells.
- Utilizing established cellular immortalization and transformation assays.
Main Results:
- The mouse p53 cDNA clone pP53-5 was re-characterized as wild-type p53, with previously identified mutations attributed to sequencing artifacts.
- Similar sequencing artifacts were identified in p53 cDNA from T3T3 cells, which were resolved by bidirectional sequencing.
- The wild-type p53 clone (pP53-5) induced cellular immortalization and transformation in assays.
Conclusions:
- Sequencing artifacts can lead to mischaracterization of p53 cDNA as mutant.
- Wild-type p53, under specific conditions, possesses the capability to induce cellular transformation.
- These findings have implications for understanding the role of wild-type p53 in human tumorigenesis, especially in cases of overexpression.
Related Concept Videos
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...
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...
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...
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.
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho
Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.

