TP53

**What is the TP53 gene?**



Tumor protein 53, also known as TP53, is a tumor suppressor gene located on the short p-arm of chromosome 17, shown in the the figure above under the yellow arrow. It is commonly referred to as the "guardian of the genome" for its critical function in suppressing tumorigenesis. TP53 codes for the tumor suppressor protein, p53, which remains in the nucleus and performs its function there.

p53 deals with cells with damaged DNA by deciding the ultimate fates of these cells. p53 'evaluates' whether the DNA damage is capable of being repaired; if so, p53 forms tetramers bind to DNA and activate the transcription of genes that can repair the damaged DNA .However if the DNA is damaged beyond repair, p53 stops cells from replication and triggers the apoptosis of these cells.

The function of p53 is not limited to the regulation of cells with damaged DNA. In fact, p53 is responsible for determining cell fate under conditions such as lack of nucleotides for replication, hypoxia, and blockage of transcription. The figure below illustrates the various functions of TP53 in its mediation of celluar stress response.



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