Science

P53 Nuclear Localization
Mariam Savabi
Dr. Diane Janick-Buckner, Faculty Mentor

P53 is a protein that is considered the 'guardian of the genome.' P53 inhibits tumor development by activating one of two pathways involved in the control of the cellular life cycle: the pathway which causes growth arrest, or the pathway which triggers programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Essentially, P53 monitors cell cycles, cell death and DNA repair. If the protein detects a mutation or a problem with the cell, the protein then induces apoptosis, or cell death. In 50% of cancers P53 is found to be mutated or altered so that the protein cannot fulfill its function. When P53 is altered it cannot enter the nucleus which is where it monitors the conduct of the cell's DNA. P53's lack of nuclear localization suggests that the pathway that P53 travels to enter the nucleus has been altered. My study concentrated on testing a series of cell lines, where the cells had been altered to see if P53 localized in the nucleus.

Keywords: nuclear localization, protein , cancer, DNA, apoptosis, UV fluorescence, P53, cell cycles

Topic(s):Biology

Presentation Type: Poster

Session: 7-6
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15 pm

Add to Custom Schedule