Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
11:14

Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay

Published on: November 10, 2013

57.8K

Metal-Based Anticancer Complexes and p53: How Much Do We Know?

Samah Mutasim Alfadul1, Egor M Matnurov1, Alexander E Varakutin1

  • 1Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.

Cancers
|June 22, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is vital for genome stability but often mutated in cancer. This review explores how metals like zinc influence p53 function, potentially offering new cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The p53 protein is crucial for genomic integrity and is frequently mutated in various cancers.
  • p53 family members, p63 and p73, also contribute to cancer development and progression.
  • Current therapeutic strategies involve organic molecules targeting wild-type or mutant p53 functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of metals in the structure and function of the p53 protein.
  • To explore the potential of metal-p53 interactions as a cancer vulnerability.
  • To review the effects of various metal complexes on p53 and its associated signaling pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on the impact of metals on p53.
  • Analysis of studies detailing the dependence of wild-type p53 on zinc.
  • Examination of research on zinc supplementation restoring mutant p53 conformation.

Main Results:

  • Wild-type p53 protein function is dependent on the presence of zinc atoms.
  • Zinc supplementation can restore the altered conformation of mutant p53 protein.
  • Various metal complexes (Zn, Cu, Fe, Ru, Au, Ag, Pd, Pt, Ir, V, Mo, Bi, Sn) impact p53 protein and signaling.

Conclusions:

  • The interaction between p53 and metals, particularly zinc, presents a potential avenue for cancer therapy.
  • Metal-based compounds offer diverse mechanisms to modulate p53 activity in cancer.
  • Further research into metal-p53 interactions could lead to novel anti-cancer strategies.
Keywords:
bioinorganiccopperironmetal anticancer complexesp53 familyplatinumrutheniumzinc

More Related Videos

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P5314:57

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

Published on: August 4, 2019

9.6K
Functionalized Spirocyclic Heterocycle Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Assay05:17

Functionalized Spirocyclic Heterocycle Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Assay

Published on: February 9, 2021

1.6K

Related Concept Videos

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...
4.6K
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
14.6K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
7.5K
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.1K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
2.0K
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....
6.9K