p53 Tumor Suppressor Functions Quiz

Cell Cycle Regulation

• Cdks (Cyclin-dependent kinases) have regulatory components that control cell cycle progression.
• Proteins associated with driving cell cycle progression inappropriately include Cdks and Cyclins.

Tumor Suppressor Proteins

• Tumor suppressor proteins, such as p53, function to suppress tumor formation by regulating cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death).
• p53 therapy is suggested for cancer treatment, highlighting its importance in preventing tumorigenesis.

Phosphorylation Events

• Phosphorylation events at different sites on a protein can lead to different effects, such as activation or inhibition, depending on the site and context.

Cancer

• The main cause of cancer is uncontrolled cell growth and division, often resulting from mutations in genes that regulate cell growth and division.

Wee1 Kinase

• Wee1 kinase is classified as a tumor suppressor, as it negatively regulates Cdk activity.

Cdk Inhibitor Proteins (CKIs)

• CKIs play a crucial role in regulating Cdks by inhibiting their activity, thereby controlling cell cycle progression.

p53 Response to DNA Damage

• p53 responds to DNA damage by inducing cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, or apoptosis, thereby preventing the propagation of damaged cells.

Importance of p53

• p53 is considered an important tumor suppressor due to its role in maintaining genomic stability and preventing tumorigenesis.

SCF-Mediated Ubiquitination

• When SCF (Skp, Cullin, F-box) adds ubiquitin to CKIs, it targets them for proteasomal degradation, leading to Cdks activation and cell cycle progression.

Li Fraumeni Syndrome

• Li Fraumeni syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by TP53 mutations, which increases the risk of developing cancer.

Test your knowledge on the functions of the important tumor suppressor p53 in regulating cell cycle and apoptosis. Learn about how p53 responds to DNA damage and controls the fate of damaged cells.