P53 protein is a DNA-binding cell cycle-regulating transcription factor that governs cell division and the fine balance between cell death and cell survival. P53 plays a critical role in tumour suppression and hence it is often described as "the guardian of the genome". This also refers to its role in conserving stability by preventing genome mutation. Defects in p53 are linked to >50% of human cancers, and restoring p53 function to these cancer cells can induce growth arrest and apoptosis. When p53 has been damaged, it can also lead to autoimmune disorders. Activation and regulation of the p53 transcription pathway is controlled by a range of post-translational modifications including acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and SUMOylation.
Recombinant protein expressed with N-terminal GST-tag.
