What is the primary function of the p53 gene?
A gene that makes a protein that is found inside the nucleus of cells and plays a key role in controlling cell division and cell death. Mutations (changes) in the p53 gene may cause cancer cells to grow and spread in the body.
What is a p53 test?
A TP53 genetic test looks for a change, known as a mutation, in a gene called TP53 (tumor protein 53). Genes are the basic units of heredity passed down from your mother and father. TP53 is a gene that helps stop the growth of tumors.
What is the primary direct target of p53?
Primary and Secondary Targets The tumor suppressor function of p53 mainly stems from its ability to act as a transcription factor that could sense and integrate growth, oncogenic and stress signals in a concerted manner to maintain cell growth.
What is the p53 gene and why is it important?
By stopping cells with mutated or damaged DNA from dividing, p53 helps prevent the development of tumors. Because p53 is essential for regulating DNA repair and cell division, it has been nicknamed the “guardian of the genome.”
What happens if the p53 gene mutates?
The p53 gene is one of the key rule-enforcers. It is known as a ‘tumor suppressor’ because it is important in killing cells that have become potentially cancerous. If the p53 gene gets a damaging mutation, then p53 will stop doing it’s job to protect you from cancer.
What does p53 do?
The p53 gene is one type of tumor suppressor gene. This gene codes for proteins that function as a safety net, preventing abnormal cells from developing into cancer cells.
What is TP53 gene?
The TP53 gene, located on chromosome 17, is a tumor suppressor gene, responsible for the production of the p53 protein, a transcription regulatory protein which works in concert with a number of other proteins, together forming the p53 pathway 1,2. Inherited mutations in this gene result in the rare hereditary cancer condition known…