Stem cells: The promises and perils of p53

Krizhanovsky, V., Lowe, S. W. (2009) Stem cells: The promises and perils of p53. Nature, 460 (7259). pp. 1085-1086.

Abstract

Mutations that inactivate the p53 tumour-suppressor-protein network occur in most human cancers and, consequently, the roles and regulation of p53 activity in tumour formation are the topic of intense research. Inherited germline mutations in the p53 gene promote cancer in mice and humans, and p53 loss interacts with various mutant genes to transform normal cells into tumour cells. p53 is a stress-response protein, which suppresses tumour formation by triggering programmed cell death (apoptosis); by activating cell-cycle checkpoints that prevent damaged cells from proliferating; or by promoting senescence (permanent cell-cycle arrest). Thus, inactivation of p53 facilitates the expansion of aberrant cells and leads to rampant genome instability. Five papers1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in this issue describe how disruption of the p53 network also enhances the production of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells*. Although these observations catapult p53 into the centre of stem-cell research, time will tell whether they represent a promise or a warning...

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function > genes: types
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function > genes: types > p53
therapies > stem cells
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Lowe lab
CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Animal Services
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 2009
Date Deposited: 19 Feb 2013 19:14
Last Modified: 29 Dec 2014 19:32
PMCID: PMC2974062
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27461

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