The tumor suppressor gene p53 is mutated in most known cancers. The biotech comp
ID: 83894 • Letter: T
Question
The tumor suppressor gene p53 is mutated in most known cancers. The biotech company Oncode has recently announced that it will develop a cancer vaccine that will generate a humoral immune response against human p53. Your mutual fund manager asks you for advice investing in Oncode (successful cancer prevention would be quite profitable). What would your advice be? Justify your answer by addressing the following points: What is p53, where is it found in the cell, and what are its three functions that prevent cancer formation (normally vs. in cancer cells)? What would be the outcome of inducing a humoral immune response (in general)? Is humoral immunity against p53 going to be a useful prevention strategy against cancer? Explain why or why not. Consider the location and function of p53 as well as the location and function of the antibody after it is administered.Explanation / Answer
The p53 is a gene that codes for a protein which regulates the cell cycle and suppress the formation of tumour. Hence it is a tumour suppressor gene. The coded protein contains transcriptional activation domain, DNA binding domain and oligomerization domain. The p53 gene is located in seventeenth chromosome. It plays three major functions in the suppression of tumour. A mutaion in yhe p53 gene results in the abnormal proliferation of cells which results in cancer.
Growth arrest is the primary function of p53 gene. It will stop the progression of cell cycle and prevent the teplication of damaged DNA. DNA repair is the another function. The gene regulates the transcription of protein for the DNA repair. Apoptosis is the third major function of p53. It is the mechan8sm of cell death. It is the final stage to avoid the proliferation of cells containing abnormal DNA.
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