p53-apoptosis

Figure 2 | p53 and apoptosis.   p53 induces the expression of proteins that target both the mitochondrial- and the death-receptor-induced apoptotic pathways, and specifically represses transcription from several death-inhibiting genes. Further activities of p53 that are entirely independent of transcriptional regulation have been proposed. They include the ability of p53 to drive relocalization of death receptors such as Fas/CD95 from the Golgi to the cell surface and to directly associate with mitochondria. Central to the regulation of p53 is Murine double minute 2 (Mdm2), which itself is a transcriptional target of p53. Mdm2 binds to p53 and targets p53 for ubiquitin/proteasome-dependent degradation. Ubiquitylation (Ub) of p53 by Mdm2 probably also enhances the export of p53 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where degradation takes place. Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma 2; Apaf, Apoptotic protease-activating-factor; Bax, Bcl-2 associated X protein; DR5, death receptor 5; Pidd, p53 protein induced, with death domain.

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© 2002 Nature Publishing Group