Chapter 19, Problem 25PDQ

Summary Introduction

To describe: The steps by which the gene p53 responds to cellular stress and DNA damage to promote apoptosis or cell-cycle arrest and to explain why people wih one mutant copy of a recessive tumor-suppressor gene is at higher risk of cancer development when compared to people without the recessive gene.

Introduction: p53 is an essential tumor suppressor gene and it is stimulated by certain cellular stresses such as carcinogens, hypoxia, ionizing radiation, and oxidative stress. Once the gene p53 get activated, it leads to cell-cycle arrest and induces apoptosis or promotes DNA repair through certain pathways.