Cancer is a complex disease that involves changes or mutations in a person’s DNA. These mutations can cause cells to grow and reproduce abnormally, leading to the development of a tumor.

In recent years, scientists have discovered that a protein called p53 plays a vital role in preventing cancer. However, researchers have now found that a “split personality” version of this protein can contribute to cancer growth.

What is p53?

The p53 protein is known as the “guardian of the genome” because it helps to prevent mutations that might cause cancer. p53 works by detecting DNA damage and stopping cells from dividing until the damage is repaired.

If the DNA damage is too severe, p53 can trigger a process called apoptosis, which causes the damaged cell to die.

Scientists have found that mutations in the p53 gene are present in more than half of all cancers. Mutations in p53 can prevent it from functioning correctly, which allows cancer cells to grow and divide uncontrollably.

The “split personality” version of p53

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute in London have discovered a previously unknown form of the p53 protein in cancer cells. This form is called p53β, and it differs from the standard p53 protein in crucial ways.

The standard p53 protein is made up of a single chain of amino acids. p53β, on the other hand, is made up of two chains that are connected by a specific protein modification called poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, or PARylation for short.

This modification causes p53β to behave differently from the standard p53 protein. Specifically, p53β can promote the growth and survival of cancer cells, rather than preventing them.

How does p53β contribute to cancer growth?

The researchers found that p53β promotes cancer growth by binding to a specific gene called SREBP.

This gene is involved in the production of lipids, which are molecules that are important for many cellular processes, including energy storage and signaling.

By binding to SREBP, p53β increases the production of lipids in cancer cells, which provides them with the energy they need to grow and divide.

Additionally, the researchers found that p53β can also promote the survival of cancer cells by preventing them from undergoing apoptosis.

What does this mean for cancer treatment?

The discovery of the “split personality” version of p53 has significant implications for cancer treatment.

For many years, scientists have been trying to find ways to reactivate the standard p53 protein in cancer cells, with the hope that this will inhibit cancer growth and induce cell death.

However, the discovery of p53β suggests that simply reactivating p53 may not be enough to treat cancer. Instead, researchers may need to find ways to specifically block p53β to prevent it from promoting cancer growth.

The researchers involved in this study have already begun exploring potential ways to block p53β. They have identified some chemical compounds that can prevent p53β from binding to SREBP, which could be used to inhibit its activity in cancer cells.

Conclusion

The discovery of the “split personality” version of p53 is an important step in understanding how cancer cells grow and divide.

By revealing the role that p53β plays in promoting cancer growth, researchers have identified a potential new target for cancer treatment.

While there is still much work to be done before we can develop effective treatments that target p53β, this study provides an important starting point for future research in this area.