# FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE P53 CELLULAR TUMOR ANTIGEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE · 1989 · $87,175

## Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the molecular biology of the
p53 oncoprotein and its relevance for normal and aberrant growth
control.  In light of present ambiguities, the precise sequence and
transforming potential of wild type p53 will be verified by
analysis of normal genomic DNA and new genomic DNA clones.  The in
vivo effects of point mutations present in p53 from tumor-derived
Meth A cells will be investigated by assaying for tumorgenicity in
nude mice.  The concept that mutations in p53 are a common feature
in certain tumor types will be tested by studying in detail the
protein and its gene in a series of chemically induced
fibrosarcomas.  If mutant, transformationally-activated p53 species
are frequently observed, this will strongly argue for a direct role
of p53 in carcinogenesis.  In parallel, transcriptional regulation
of p53 gene expression will be studied employing the cloned 5'
flanking regions of mouse, rat and human p53 genes.  This should
provide information on the structural DNA elements and the cellular
factors that play a role in controlling p53 gene activity in
various systems.  Another possible type of control will be explored
in Friend cells, where structural alterations in p53 mRNA appear
to be induced during erythroid differentiation.  To better
understand the biochemical activities of p53, attempts will be made
to isolate and study genes whose expression may be modulated by
p53, as well as to isolate cellular DNA sequences specifically
interacting with this protein and test for its possible involvement
in DNA replication.  Finally, the concept that abrogation of p53
synthesis may be advantageous for certain tumor cells will be
studied by introducing p53 expression plasmids into p53 negative
human SCLC cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179622
- **Project number:** 5R01CA040099-05
- **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:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $87,175
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-08-15 → 1991-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179622

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179622, FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE P53 CELLULAR TUMOR ANTIGEN (5R01CA040099-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179622. Licensed CC0.

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