Final answer:
HPV E6 protein binding to p53 inactivates the tumor suppressor, preventing it from halting cell division or initiating apoptosis in the presence of DNA damage. This disruption can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer development.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the high-risk types of Human papillomavirus (HPV) infect a cell, they can lead to cervical cancer. The virus produces a protein known as E6 that has the ability to bind to the cellular protein p53. p53 is critical in a normal cell's defense against cancer as it can detect DNA damage and either stop the cell cycle for repairs to be made or initiate apoptosis (cell death) to prevent the spread of damaged DNA. When E6 binds to p53, it effectively inactivates this crucial tumor suppressor protein. Consequently, this disrupted activity of p53 allows the cell to continue dividing even when DNA damage is present, which can accumulate mutations and lead to cancer.