What is TP53 and what role does it play in cancer?
The TP53 gene is a gene that is mutated in many cancers.
It is the most common gene mutation found in cancer cells.
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A tumor-suppressor gene, TP53 codes for a protein that inhibits the development and growth of tumors.
Most often, an accumulation of mutations inbothoncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes is responsible for the development of cancer.
These genes code for proteins that control cell division.
Using the analogy above, tumor-suppressor genes can be thought of as the brakes on a car.
These are referred to as “gain-of-functions.
There are two primary types of gene mutations: germline and somatic.
The mutations are present from birth and affect every cell in the body.
Germline mutations in the TP53 gene are uncommon and associated with a specific cancer syndrome known as Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Somatic or acquired mutations are by far the most common throw in of mutation associated with cancer.
Often times, however, the toxin leading to the mutation is unknown.
What Happens If the TP53 Gene Is Inactivated?
Some of these include:
Once Mutated, Always Mutated?
This is an area in which dietary approaches may be exploited in the future as well.
That said, the evidence isn’t nearly at the point at which researchers would make dietary recommendations.
It’s also important to emphasize caution when it comes to these natural products.
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