p53/p63/p73 isoforms: an orchestra of isoforms to harmonise cell differentiation and response to stress

Cell Death Differ. 2006 Jun;13(6):962-72. doi: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4401914.

Abstract

p63, p73 and p53 compose a family of transcription factors involved in cell response to stress and development. p53 is the most frequently mutated gene in cancer (50%) and loss of p53 activity is considered to be ubiquitous to all cancers. Recent publications may have a profound impact on our understanding of p53 tumour suppressor activity. p63, p73 and p53 genes have a dual gene structure conserved in drosophila, zebrafish and man. They encode for multiple p63, p73 or p53 proteins containing different protein domains (isoforms) due to multiple splicing, alternative promoter and alternative initiation of translation. In this review, we describe the different isoforms of p63, p73, p53 and their roles in development and cancer. The changes in the interactions between p53, p63 and p73 isoforms are likely to be fundamental to our understanding in the transition between normal cell cycling and the onset of tumour formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Protein p73
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • TP63 protein, human
  • TP73 protein, human
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Trp73 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Protein p73
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • DNA