p53 Suppresses Growth and Triggers Apoptosis

• Outcome depends on the stage of the cell cycle

  • If the cell is committed to mitosis
  • p53 triggers a program of cell death
    • apoptosis

• Damage to DNA activates p53

  • Early in the cycle, p53 activates a checkpoint that prevents further progress until DNA damage has been repaired.
  • If it is too late to exercise the checkpoint, p53 triggers apoptosis.

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