Requirement for p53 and p21 to Sustain G2 Arrest After DNA Damage

F Bunz, A Dutriaux, C Lengauer, T Waldman, S Zhou… - Science, 1998 - science.org
F Bunz, A Dutriaux, C Lengauer, T Waldman, S Zhou, JP Brown, JM Sedivy, KW Kinzler
Science, 1998science.org
After DNA damage, many cells appear to enter a sustained arrest in the G2 phase of the cell
cycle. It is shown here that this arrest could be sustained only when p53 was present in the
cell and capable of transcriptionally activating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21.
After disruption of either the p53 or the p21 gene, γ radiated cells progressed into mitosis
and exhibited a G2DNA content only because of a failure of cytokinesis. Thus, p53 and p21
appear to be essential for maintaining the G2 checkpoint in human cells.
After DNA damage, many cells appear to enter a sustained arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. It is shown here that this arrest could be sustained only when p53 was present in the cell and capable of transcriptionally activating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. After disruption of either the p53 or the p21 gene, γ radiated cells progressed into mitosis and exhibited a G2DNA content only because of a failure of cytokinesis. Thus, p53 and p21 appear to be essential for maintaining the G2 checkpoint in human cells.
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