Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Two- and Three-Dimensional Live Cell Imaging of DNA Damage Response Proteins
10:24

Two- and Three-Dimensional Live Cell Imaging of DNA Damage Response Proteins

Published on: September 28, 2012

14.7K

Recognition of Local DNA Structures by p53 Protein

Václav Brázda1, Jan Coufal2

  • 1Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic. vaclav@ibp.cz.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 18, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor p53 protein binds DNA in various structures beyond typical B-DNA. These interactions with non-B DNA, like cruciforms, influence p53

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • The p53 protein is crucial for cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, senescence, and metabolism.
  • p53 mutations are frequent in human cancers, impacting its function.
  • p53 acts as a transcription factor, primarily known for binding linear B-DNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and describe non-B DNA structures.
  • To summarize the interactions between p53 and various local DNA structures.
  • To highlight the influence of DNA structure on wild-type and mutant p53 activity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on p53-DNA interactions.
  • Description of various non-B DNA structural motifs.
  • Analysis of binding affinities of p53 to different DNA structures.

Main Results:

  • p53 exhibits higher affinity for cruciform DNA structures compared to linear B-DNA.
  • p53 binds tightly to a range of non-B DNA structures, including quadruplex, triplex, loops, bulges, and hemicatenanes.
  • Local DNA structures significantly influence the activity of both wild-type and mutant p53.

Conclusions:

  • p53 interacts with diverse local DNA structures beyond canonical B-DNA.
  • These interactions are critical for understanding the complexity of the p53 pathway.
  • The findings offer insights into the functional consequences of p53 activation in normal and cancer cells.
Keywords:
local DNA structuresp53 proteinprotein-DNA interactions

More Related Videos

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence07:55

Visualization of DNA Repair Proteins Interaction by Immunofluorescence

Published on: June 26, 2020

11.3K
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

290

Related Concept Videos

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...
10.3K
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...
3.3K
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...
5.3K
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.
38.7K
Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
64.7K
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators02:04

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....
9.9K