The first 30 years of p53: growing ever more complex.
Thirty years ago p53 was discovered as a cellular partner of simian virus 40 large T-antigen, the oncoprotein of this tumour virus. The first decade of p53 research saw the cloning of p53 DNA and the realization that p53 is not an oncogene but a tumour suppressor that is very frequently mutated in human cancer. In the second decade of research, the function of p53 was uncovered: it is a transcription factor induced by stress, which can promote cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and senescence. In the third decade after its discovery new functions of this protein were revealed, including the regulation of metabolic pathways and cytokines that are required for embryo implantation. The fourth decade of research may see new p53-based drugs to treat cancer. What is next is anybody's guess.
Arnold J. Levine is at the Institute for Advanced Study, School of Natural Sciences, Einstein Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA. alevine@ias.edu
Arnold J
AJ
Levine
Moshe
M
Oren
D000818:Animals; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53