# FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE P53 CELLULAR TUMOR ANTIGEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE · 1987 · $61,513

## Abstract

p53 is a cellular protein often found elevated in transformed cells.
Recently, p53 has been shown to be capable of transforming primary
embryonic cells in cooperation with Ha-ras.  This cotransformation system
and its modified versions will be employed in order to study the effects of
p53 on cell behavior and the molecular mechanisms leading to these
effects.  Transformants derived by p53 + Ha-ras cotransfection will be
analyzed for stability and cell cycle dependence of p53, regulation of
endogenous p53, and interrelationship between p53 and c-myc.  Special use
will be made of inducible p53-specifying constructs, which should enable a
rapid switch on and off of p53 synthesis and examination of the direct
consequences of such modulations.  In parallel, the immortalizing effect of
p53 on primary cells will be determined, as will the effects of p53
inactivation (using antisense cDNA vectors) on normal and transformed
cells.  The possibility that p53 acts as a gene modulator will be studied
by cloning mRNA species made in response to p53 activation and searching
for specific sites on the corresponding genes capable of interaction with
p53.

A further aspect will deal with the possible significance of amino acid
differences suggested to exist between p53 of normal and transformed
cells.  To establish the generality of this finding, more clones will be
generated from transformed cells and analyzed by nucleotide sequencing.
The normal and altered p53 genes will be directly compared for activity
following transfection into nontransformed cells.  Finally, the possible
relevance of p53 to SV40-mediated transformation will be probed by studying
the effects of p53 overproduction on the transforming potential of normal
and mutant SV40.  All these studies will help to elucidate the mode of
action of p53 and should be of broader relevance to the understanding of
the molecular mechanisms involved in neoplastic transformation.  (X)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179621
- **Project number:** 5R01CA040099-03
- **Recipient organization:** WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPJ8YBLFTKX6
- **Principal Investigator:** Moshe Oren
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $61,513
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-08-15 → 1988-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179621

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179621, FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE P53 CELLULAR TUMOR ANTIGEN (5R01CA040099-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179621. Licensed CC0.

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