p53proteiini

p53 proteiini, also known as tumor protein p53 or TP53, is a crucial tumor suppressor protein in multicellular organisms. It is encoded by the TP53 gene. p53 plays a vital role in maintaining genomic stability and preventing tumor formation. It functions as a transcription factor, meaning it regulates the expression of other genes. When cellular stress, such as DNA damage, oncogene activation, or hypoxia, is detected, p53 becomes activated. Upon activation, p53 can induce several cellular responses, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence, and apoptosis (programmed cell death). These responses aim to eliminate damaged cells or halt their proliferation, thereby preventing the accumulation of potentially cancerous mutations. The p53 pathway is frequently inactivated or mutated in human cancers, making it one of the most commonly altered genes in malignant tumors. Mutations in TP53 can lead to a loss of its tumor-suppressive functions, allowing damaged cells to survive and divide uncontrollably. The complex regulatory network involving p53 highlights its central importance in cancer prevention and the development of cancer therapies that target the p53 pathway is an active area of research.