Click and Learn Student Handout
The p53 Gene and Cancer Advanced
Name: Luis Gutierrez
INTRODUCTION
This handout should be used with the Click and Learn “The p53 Gene and Cancer”
(http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/p53-gene-and-cancer). It is intended as a full introduction to
the p53 molecule, its interaction with other molecules, and its role in cancer.
PROCEDURE
1. On slide 1, “p53” is referred to as a molecule, a protein, and a gene; it is also referred to as being
mutated. In your own words, and based on your knowledge of molecular genetics, how are these
terms related?
• These terms are both related as the cause of cancer and plays a role in cancer. P53 is the
guardian of the genome and when it is mutated it can cause cancer.
2. Read slide 2 and define the following terms:
a. Oncogene:
• Accelerate cell division and growth. May be mutated and get stuck like stuck gas pedals.
P53 interacts with some oncogenes.
b. Tumor suppressor gene:
• Like p53 they normally act like brakes. Mutations cause brakes to fail.
c. DNA repair gene:
• Function to fix minor damage to DNA when it has replicated. When these genes are
mutated, then, DNA damage can accumulate and lead to cancer.
3. Based on the information on slide 2, how is p53 related to oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes?
• P53 interacts with some oncogenes and is one of the tumor suppressor genes.
4. Watch the video clip on slide 2 and answer the following questions:
a. How is a mutated oncogene analogous to a 100-pound weight on the gas pedal in a car?
Published August 2014
Revised May 2016
www.BioInteractive.org
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Click and Learn Student Handout
The p53 Gene and Cancer Advanced
• A mutated oncogene is analogous to a 100-pound weight on the gas pedal in a car because
it causes the cell to grow and the foot can’t get taken off of the pedal like in the analogy.
b. How does the car analogy apply to a mutated tumor suppressor gene?
• The car analogy applies to a mutated tumor suppressor gene by being like a dysfunctional
break. As a result, they
c. What is required for a cell to “spin out of control”?
• When several breaks and an accelerator/when many cells get mutated that cell spins out
of control and becomes cancer.
5. What three conditions or factors activate p53 to shut down cell division (slide 3)?
• When p53 has low oxygen concentration, DNA damage, and chemotherapeutic agents, it
may shut down cell division.
6. Why is p53 called the “guardian of the genome”?
• P53 is called the guardian genome because the p53 guards against changes to cells that
might lead to tumor formation and cancer.
7. The p53 protein contains three domains. In your own words, what is the function of each domain
(slide 4)?
a. Transactivation domain:
• Allows p53 to activate other genes after binding to their regulatory regions.
b. DNA binding domain:
• Responsible for p53’s ability to bind to the regulatory sequences of genes. Most mutations
in the p53 protein found in cancers are in this domain
c. Complexing domain:
• Responsible for bringing four individual p53 molecules together.
Published August 2014
Revised May 2016
www.BioInteractive.org
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Click and Learn Student Handout
The p53 Gene and Cancer Advanced
8. Slide 5 explains p53’s function. What is a transcription factor?
• A transcription factor is a protein that regulates the activity of other genes.
9. Based on the information given in slides 3 and 5, for what set of cancer genes does p53 act as a
transcription factor?
• P53 regulates cell division and acts as transcription factors to against to changes in cells
that lead to tumor formation and a metastatic cancer.
10. What are the two roles of Mdm2 (slide 6)?
• Mdm2 prevents p53 from properly binding to DNA and activating other genes and tags
p53 for degradation by the proteasome, the component of the cell that removes uneeded
proteins.
11. Watch the video clip on slide 6 and answer the following questions:
a. What is the purpose of ubiquitin?
• Ubiquitin is a protein that degrades proteins with proteasomes.
b. What is the role of the proteasome?
• Proteasomes is the major machinery that degrades proteins.
12. Hypothesize how Mdm2 “tags” p53 for degradation.
• Mdm2 changes the shape of the p53 for degradation and then the ubiquitin gets stuck at
the proteasome.
13. Read slide 7 and watch the animation. Answer the following:
a. How does p53 “turn on” transcription?
• P53 turns on transcription by binding to a specific site in DNA and makes mRNA with an
mRNA polymerase.
Published August 2014
Revised May 2016
www.BioInteractive.org
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Click and Learn Student Handout
The p53 Gene and Cancer Advanced
b. Name two cell processes that are regulated by p53?
• Two cell processes regulated by p53 include the cell cycle and programmed cell death.
c. Cancer can be defined as “uncontrolled cell division.” Based on this definition, explain how
mutations in the p53 gene play a role in cancer.
• Mutations in the p53 gene play a role in cancer because p53, when mutated, causes an
acceleration in the process of cell division and leads to uncontrolled cell division forming a
tumor and causing cancer.
Published August 2014
Revised May 2016
www.BioInteractive.org
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