A versatile inducible plant model system for dissecting p53 function and discovering novel interaction networks

p53, a key tumor suppressor in animals, prevents DNA damage by arresting the cell cycle, activating repair, or inducing cell death. Mutations in p53 are found in over half of human cancers, making it vital for cancer research. To expand p53 research, we engineered Arabidopsis thaliana to express p53 under an inducible promoter, allowing precise control of its activity. The plant-produced p53 shares certain characteristics with mammalian p53 in molecular traits and subcellular localization. Interestingly, its overexpression triggers cell-cycle arrest followed by a developmental programmed cell death-like response. Copper ions also suppress p53 activity in this system. This tool also enables investigation of tissue regeneration using cell type-specific promoters, offering insights into p53's broader roles and the regulation of cell death in plants.