1.The p53 gene is one of the most widely mutated genes in human cancers resulting in a protein with a sufficient function as a transcription factor resulting in a cancer cell with an enhanced survival potential when mutated. The transcription function of p53 is stress activated resulting in is an inducible activity that responds to the evolving microenvironment of the cancer cell. They are also regulatory genes whose products do control the expression of other genes. It is so that changes in p53 and its related transcription factors can lead to cascading consequences because they can induce mutations. These mutations can lead to transformation of normal cells to cancerous cells. According to the article, p53 also functions as a tumor suppressor as well as play a vital role in neoplastic development. To sum up, with p53 playing such a significant role any mutation could and or would result it a chain of consequences.
2. It is quite informative to study cancer and its implications in mice because the p53 gene and its isoforms are apparent in mice as well as humans. P53 is important because it is thought to play a role in neoplastic development. The mutation of the p53 germ line can be seen in Li-Fraumeni human patients. Mice are transgenic for p53 and have short generations, which aids in research development for humans.
3. The p53 gene family members express multiple mRNA variants due to multiple splicing and alternative promoters. This gene family is paralogous, meaning that they are from the same family of genes. The isoforms of p53, p63 and p73, gained different functions from expressing different p53 proteins, which require a different domain of protein. The different domain accounts for the different function of the isoform.
4. Protein folding and mis-folding are important to study because they help in determining relationships of different folding mechanisms and their results. Different folding sequences can lead to a deeper understanding of the way a disease, such as cancer, work and can ultimately provide a pathway to treatment or a cure. The shape of the folded protein can also be used to understand its function and design drugs to influence the processes that it is involved in. Nevertheless, proper protein folding is essential to function; mis-folding or failure to fold is essential in research of diseases as well as the genes that are involved.
5. Typically, p53 is a “tumor-suppressor gene” which indicates that if it loses function, tumors will result. However, expression of some of the isoforms of p53 can actually contribute to tumor formation. Nevertheless, not all mutations in p53 result in a loss of function. Consequently, making it incredibly difficult to understand the clinical role of p53. Considering our interviewee Norma, it is significant to determine the status of p53 because it assists in being able to keep the cancer in remission and maintain no sudden mutations and or spread of the pancreatic cancer. Being that the p53 has so many functions, keeping in mind of it experimentally and biologically assessing gene expression in relation to p53 status may provide prognostic and biologically relevant consequences.
1 comment:
Your answers were rather thorough, though much of the information in your answers to #s 1 & 2 was superfluous and did not directly answer the question. Number 2 should have addressed the orthology of genes, ethical issues, and homologous physiology. The remainder of your answers were great, though #5 may have been better elucidated. As a result of these issues, you earned a 39 out of 50 for this assignment. Your next blog entry needs to tell me briefly what EACH of you learned about your topic from this paper and, collectively, why it's important for a doctor to know about evolution (Chpater 14 and info on WebCT might help). Also, be sure to thank your interviewee and refer them to your blog if you haven't already.
Good job,
Dr. Walker
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