p53: emerging roles in stem cells, development and beyond

Development. 2018 Apr 13;145(8):dev158360. doi: 10.1242/dev.158360.

Abstract

Most human cancers harbor mutations in the gene encoding p53. As a result, research on p53 in the past few decades has focused primarily on its role as a tumor suppressor. One consequence of this focus is that the functions of p53 in development have largely been ignored. However, recent advances, such as the genomic profiling of embryonic stem cells, have uncovered the significance and mechanisms of p53 functions in mammalian cell differentiation and development. As we review here, these recent findings reveal roles that complement the well-established roles for p53 in tumor suppression.

Keywords: Development; Differentiation; Embryonic stem cells; lncRNA; p53.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cellular Reprogramming / genetics
  • Cellular Reprogramming / physiology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, p53*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / physiology
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / deficiency
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / physiology*

Substances

  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53