Pathways connecting telomeres and p53 in senescence, apoptosis, and cancer |
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Authors: | Artandi Steven E Attardi Laura D |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. sartandi@stanford.edu |
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Abstract: | The ends of eukaryotic chromosomes are protected by specialized structures termed telomeres that serve in part to prevent the chromosome end from activating a DNA damage response. However, this important function for telomeres in chromosome end protection can be lost as telomeres shorten with cell division in culture or in self-renewing tissues with advancing age. Impaired telomere function leads to induction of a DNA damage response and activation of the tumor suppressor protein p53. p53 serves a critical role in enforcing both senescence and apoptotic responses to dysfunctional telomeres. Loss of p53 creates a permissive environment in which critically short telomeres are inappropriately joined to generate chromosomal end-to-end fusions. These fused chromosomes result in cycles of chromosome fusion-bridge-breakage, which can fuel cancer initiation, especially in epithelial tissues, by facilitating changes in gene copy number. |
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Keywords: | Telomere Telomerase p53 Senescence Apoptosis Chromosomal instability Cancer |
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