# FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE P53 CELLULAR TUMOR ANTIGEN

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE · 1992 · $100,164

## Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the molecular biology of the p53
protein and its relevance to growth control and neoplasia.  Wild type
(wt) p53 now appears to act as a tumor suppressor, and the high frequency
of tumors exhibiting aberrant p53 expression suggests that the abrogation
of wt p53 activity may play a major role in human cancer.  This study
intends to address possible mechanisms underlying the tumor suppressor
and anti-proliferative functions of wt p53.  One set of experiments will
test the hypothesis that wt p53 may promote terminal differentiation.
This will entail the introduction of wt p53 expression plasmids into a
number of cell types capable of induced differentiation, in an attempt to
see whether wt p53 can alleviate the need for added inducers.  In
parallel, an attempt will be made to isolate cell clones which are
resistant to the anti-proliferative effect of wt p53.  This, as well as a
number of other facets of this project, will rely on the use of a
temperature-sensitive p53 mutant, p53vall35.  Resistant and sensitive
lines will be used for cell fusion, and eventually for the molecular
cloning of genes involved in p53-mediated growth regulation.  The
relevance of p53 aberrations to neoplasia will be further assessed by
introducing wt p53 expression into a variety of cell lines, and
correlating the outcome with the target cell genotype and the type of
vector encoding p53.  A mouse model, based on the use of immunocompetent
animals, will also be explored in order to investigate in vivo aspects of
p53 pertinent to its role in neoplasia.  Furthermore, the possibility
that certain mutant forms of p53 carry overt oncogenic activities will be
tested, using as recipients cells which make no endogenous p53.  Finally,
the p53 gene promoter will be further characterized, with emphasis on a
potential novel regulatory element.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179624
- **Project number:** 5R01CA040099-08
- **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:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $100,164
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-08-15 → 1994-07-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179624

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179624, FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE P53 CELLULAR TUMOR ANTIGEN (5R01CA040099-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179624. Licensed CC0.

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