1. Role of the miRNAs downstream of the tumor suppressor p53 in cancer
The p53 protein is a transcription factor that acts in the center of a signaling pathway that gets activated by different kinds of cellular stress. Upon exposure to ionizing irradiation, oxidative stress, chemotherapeutic drugs or the activation of oncogenes, a cascade of kinases leads to the stabilization of p53 protein. Depending on the cellular context, this leads to programmed cell death (apoptosis), cell cycle arrest or cellular senescence.
Numerous protein-coding transcriptional target genes have been characterized and in a collaborative way contribute to the development of the functional consequences of p53 activation. We have previously characterized the miRNA34 family as direct target genes of the p53 signaling pathway. Presently, we are investigating the contribution of this miRNA family (and others) to the functional consequence of p53 activation in vivo and in vitro.
To know more... (pdf chapter of the last de Duve Institute report)
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