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p53 Aggregates Penetrate Cells and Induce the Co-Aggregation of Intracellular p53.
PLoS One. 2013 Jul 3;8(7):e69242. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069242
Forget KJ, Tremblay G, Roucou X
Abstract:
.....The p53 protein, a transcription factor that plays a major role in cancer, has recently been suggested to be a possible prionoid. The protein has been shown to accumulate in multiple cancer cell types, and its aggregation has also been reproduced in vitro by many independent groups. These observations suggest a role for p53 aggregates in cancer development. This study aims to test the «prion-like» features of p53. Our results show in vitro aggregation of the full length and N-terminally truncated protein (p53C), and penetration of these aggregates into cells. According to our findings, the aggregates enter cells using macropinocytosis, a non-specific pathway of entry. Lastly, we also show that once internalized by the cell, p53C aggregates can co-aggregate with endogenous p53 protein. Together, these findings suggest prion-like characteristics for p53 protein, based on the fact that p53 can spontaneously aggregate, these aggregates can penetrate cells and co-aggregate with cellular p53.
PMID: 23844254
Free Full-Text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/23844254/