title: Specific recognition of a transcriptional element within the human h-ras protooncogene by the p53 tumor-suppressor.
abstract: The nuclear phosphoprotein p53 is frequently inactivated in human cancer. Although it was previously classified as an oncoprotein, p53 has emerged as a tumor suppressor controlling cell cycle progression by regulating gene transcription. A major biochemical property of wild-type p53 is its ability to bind DNA in a sequence-specific manner. The human c-H-ras gene contains within its first intron sequences that partially match the p53 consensus binding site. We determined that these sequences represent a bona fide p53 element, since in vitro translated wild-type p53 recognized them with high affinity. Furthermore, wild-type p53 activated transcription from a reporter plasmid containing the c-H-ras element as an enhancer. These findings suggest that p53 regulates cellular growth by coordinate transcription of genes that suppress and promote cellular proliferation.
authors.affiliation: UNIV CRETE,SCH MED,IRAKLION,GREECE. UNIV PENN,DEPT MOLEC ONCOL,PHILADELPHIA,PA 19104. UNIV PENN,DEPT PATHOL & LAB MED,PHILADELPHIA,PA 19104.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zoumpourlis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zachos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Halazonetis