Question

Which of the following can lead to p53 stabilization and activation? [27]

A. Hypoxia
B. Overexpression of Myc
C. DNA damage
D. Telomere loss
E. All of the above

Answer 1

All of the above factors, including hypoxia, overexpression of Myc, DNA damage, and telomere loss, can lead to p53 stabilization and activation. P53 is a crucial transcription factor involved in cell cycle regulation and the initiation of DNA repair or apoptosis in response to cellular stress.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which of the following can lead to p53 stabilization and activation: hypoxia, overexpression of Myc, DNA damage, telomere loss, or all of the above. The correct answer is E. All of the above. This is because p53 is a transcription factor that is activated by various cellular stressors, including hypoxia, DNA damage, and other factors which can include overexpression of Myc and telomere loss. Upon activation, p53 can lead to cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis if DNA damage is irreparable. It's crucial to note that the Human papillomavirus (HPV) encoded E6 protein binds to p53 and marks it for degradation, which inactivates p53, contributing to the inability to control cell proliferation and potentially leading to cancer development.