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Updated: May 28, 2026
10:55
Purification of Ubiquitinated p53 Proteins from Mammalian Cells
Published on: March 21, 2022
Acetylation is indispensable for p53 antiviral activity
Cesar Muñoz-Fontela1, Dolores González, Laura Marcos-Villar
1Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|October 29, 2011
Summary
Acetylation of tumor suppressor p53 at lysine 379 is essential for its antiviral activity. This modification enables p53 to control virus replication by activating pro-apoptotic and interferon-stimulated genes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
Background:
- The tumor suppressor p53 is a transcriptional target of type I interferons (IFNs), playing a role in apoptosis and interferon pathway activation.
- Post-translational modifications, such as acetylation, are critical for regulating p53 activity.
- The specific role of p53 acetylation in antiviral responses remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of p53 acetylation to the antiviral activity mediated by p53.
- To determine if p53 acetylation is required for the transcriptional activation of antiviral and pro-apoptotic genes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of p53 acetylation status upon virus infection.
- Assessment of p53-dependent transcriptional transactivation of pro-apoptotic and IFN-stimulated genes.
- Evaluation of p53's role in controlling viral replication.
Main Results:
- Virus infection induces p53 acetylation specifically at lysine 379.
- Acetylation of p53 at lysine 379 is indispensable for the transcriptional activation of both pro-apoptotic and IFN-stimulated genes.
- This acetylation event is crucial for p53-mediated control of virus replication.
Conclusions:
- p53 acetylation at lysine 379 is a critical regulatory event in the antiviral response.
- This modification is essential for enabling p53's function in controlling viral infections.
- The study highlights p53 acetylation as a key mechanism in the host's defense against viruses.
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