Final answer:
When p53 is unable to act as a 'death executioner,' it fails to induce apoptosis in cells with irreparable DNA damage, leading to uncontrolled cell division and potentially cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When p53 does not act like a death executioner, it means that it fails to carry out its role in monitoring DNA and signaling for apoptosis when DNA damage is irreparable. Normally, p53 works at the G1 checkpoint of the cell cycle to monitor DNA integrity and oxygen supply.
If p53 finds damage, it activates repair mechanisms, and if repairs are unsuccessful, it induces apoptosis to prevent the proliferation of cells with potentially cancerous mutations.
However, if p53 is mutated, it may not detect DNA damage or signal to repair enzymes effectively. This leads to the damaged DNA remaining uncorrected, and without the ability of mutated p53 to signal apoptosis, the cell can continue to divide, potentially leading to cancer.
When p53 is unable to act as a 'death executioner,' it fails to induce apoptosis in cells with irreparable DNA damage, leading to uncontrolled cell division and potentially cancer.