Final answer:
The E6 protein of HPV binds to p53 and marks it for degradation, thereby inactivating the tumor suppressor role of p53 and promoting cancer progression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to cause cervical cancer and encodes the E6 protein, which has a specific interaction with the p53 protein, a tumor suppressor. The E6 protein binds to p53 and marks it for degradation, which inactivates p53.
Normally, p53 functions by detecting DNA damage and either stopping the cell cycle for repairs or initiating apoptosis to prevent the proliferation of cells with damaged DNA. When HPV's E6 protein binds to p53, it prevents these protective mechanisms, allowing for the accumulation of mutations and unregulated cell division, which can lead to cancer.