title: Complementation of two mutant p53: implications for loss of heterozygosity in cancer.
abstract: Remarkably, a cancer cell rarely possesses two mutant p53 proteins. Instead, mutation of one allele is usually associated with loss of the second p53 allele. Why do not two mutant p53 co-exist? We hypothesize that two different p53 may complement each other, when expressed at equal levels. By titrating trans-deficient and DNA-binding-deficient p53 in cells with mutant p53 and by co-transfecting distinct mutant p53 in p53-null cells, we demonstrated activation of p53-dependent transcription. We suggest that, due to complementation of two mutant p53, cancer cells need to delete the second p53 allele rather than mutate it.
authors.affiliation: Brander Cancer Research Institute, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Zoya N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Demidenko
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fojo
authors.forename: Mikhail V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Blagosklonny
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53