title: DeltaNp53 or p44: priming the p53 pump.
abstract: The human protein DeltaNp53 and its murine counterpart p44 are isoforms of the tumor suppressor p53 lacking the transactivation domain present in the first 39 (40 in mouse) amino acids of the full-length protein. This makes them similar in structure to the DeltaN isoforms of the other members of the p53 superfamily of transcription factors, p63 and p73. The principle way both the human and the murine proteins are generated is by alternative translation of the p53 mRNA utilizing a start site in exon 4. Choice of start site depends on an interaction between p53 and its cognate RNA. When the balance between DeltaNp53 (p44) and full-length p53 is altered, the function of p53 as a transcription factor is disturbed. One consequence of over-expressing p44 in mice is an acceleration of the aging process and altered expression of genes in the IGF-1 signaling cascade [Maier, B., Gluba, W., Bernier, B., Turner, T., Mohammad, K., Guise, T., et al. (2004). Modulation of mammalian lifespan by the short isoform of p53. Genes & Development, 18, 306-319]. This links p53 to the single most important growth factor pathway known to regulate lifespan in lower organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Room 6116, MR-4, Lane Road Extended, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1392, USA. hs2n@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scrable
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C503486:WDR77 protein, mouse; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D004265:DNA Helicases; C518330:RUVBL2 protein, mouse