title: Deletions and insertions in the p53 tumor suppressor gene in human cancers: confirmation of the DNA polymerase slippage/misalignment model.
abstract: We analyzed all published deletions and insertions in the p53 gene to assess the relevance of mutagenesis models. Almost all deletions and insertions can be explained by one or more of the following DNA sequence features: monotonic base runs, adjacent or nonadjacent repeats of short tandem sequences, palindromes, and runs of purines or pyrimidines (homocopolymer runs). Increased length of monotonic runs correlates positively with increased frequency of events. Complex frameshift mutations can be explained by the formation of quasi-palindromes, with mismatch excision and replication using one strand of the palindrome as a template. Deletions and insertions in the p53 tumor suppressor gene may reflect both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mutagenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Grollman
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53