Transcription-independent pro-apoptotic functions of p53

Induction of apoptosis is one of the central activities by which p53 exerts its tumor-suppressing function. Aside from its primary function as a transcription factor, it can promote apoptosis independent of transcription. Recent studies have started to define the mechanisms of non-transcriptional pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in cell biology 2005-12, Vol.17 (6), p.631-636
Main Authors: Moll, Ute M, Wolff, Sonja, Speidel, Daniel, Deppert, Wolfgang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apoptosis
Cytosol - metabolism
Humans
Mitochondrial Proteins - physiology
Nuclear Proteins - metabolism
Transcription Factors - physiology
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - physiology
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Summary:Induction of apoptosis is one of the central activities by which p53 exerts its tumor-suppressing function. Aside from its primary function as a transcription factor, it can promote apoptosis independent of transcription. Recent studies have started to define the mechanisms of non-transcriptional pro-apoptotic p53 activities operating within the intrinsic mitochondria-mediated pathway of apoptosis. So far, two different mechanisms have been described, each of which was assigned to a specific localization of the p53 protein, either in the cytosol or directly at the mitochondria. Although mechanistically different, both transcription-independent modes of apoptosis induction converge, as they both initiate permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane via activation of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bax or Bak.
ISSN:0955-0674
1879-0410
DOI:10.1016/j.ceb.2005.09.007