Final answer:
When high-risk types of HPV infect a cell, the E6 protein encoded by the virus binds to p53, inactivating its tumor suppressor function and allowing the cell to continue growing while impairing apoptosis. This leads to the accumulation of mutations in the cell's DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
When high-risk types of HPV enter a cell, they neutralize proteins that the host cells use as checkpoints in the cell cycle, including p53. In a normal cell, p53 detects DNA damage in the cell's genome and either halts the progression of the cell cycle or initiates apoptosis to prevent the accumulation of mutations.
However, when E6 protein encoded by HPV binds to p53, it inactivates p53's tumor suppressor function, allowing the cell to continue growing and impairing apoptosis, leading to the accumulation of mutations in the cellular DNA