The mechanism accounting for DNA damage strength modulation of p53 dynamical properties

The P53 protein levels exhibit a series of pulses in response to DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs). However, the mechanism regarding how damage strength regulates physical parameters of p53 pulses remains to be elucidated. This paper established two mathematical models translating the mechanism of p53 dynamics in response to DSBs; the two models can reproduce many results observed in the experiments. Based on the models, numerical analysis suggested that the interval between pulses increases as the damage strength decreases, and we proposed that the p53 dynamical system in response to DSBs is modulated by frequency. Next, we found that the ATM positive self-feedback can realize the system characteristic that the pulse amplitude is independent of the damage strength. In addition, the pulse interval is negatively correlated with apoptosis; the greater the damage strength, the smaller the pulse interval, the faster the p53 accumulation rate, and the cells are more susceptible to apoptosis. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanism of p53 dynamical response and give new insights for experiments to probe the dynamics of p53 signaling.