Mechanisms of p53-mediated apoptosis

Crit Rev Oncog. 1998;9(1):83-98. doi: 10.1615/critrevoncog.v9.i1.60.

Abstract

p53-mediated apoptosis of cells with DNA damage or oncogene overexpression is a major mechanism for its function as a tumor suppressor. Both transcriptionally dependent and transcriptionally independent activities of p53 can play a role in mediating cell death. It appears that p53 can induce apoptosis by multiple pathways in a manner which is regulated in a cell type and signal-specific fashion. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms of p53-dependent apoptosis holds a promise of manipulating these pathways in cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • HLA-DR5 Antigen / genetics
  • HLA-DR5 Antigen / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / genetics
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / chemistry
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • fas Receptor / genetics
  • fas Receptor / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HLA-DR5 Antigen
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • fas Receptor
  • Caspases