Carcinogenesis · Pathology

What is the primary mechanism by which the p53 protein prevents carcinogenesis following DNA damage?

  1. It directly repairs double-strand breaks in DNA
  2. It induces cell cycle arrest at G1/S via p21 and promotes DNA repair or apoptosis
  3. It stimulates the production of growth factors to replace damaged cells
  4. It binds to and neutralizes chemical carcinogens in the cytoplasm
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: It induces cell cycle arrest at G1/S via p21 and promotes DNA repair or apoptosis

Known as the 'Guardian of the Genome,' p53 senses DNA damage and upregulates p21 to stall the cell cycle. This allows time for repair; if repair fails, p53 triggers senescence or apoptosis via BAX.

Difficulty: Medium Question 5 of 20

Practice all 20 Carcinogenesis questions

Keep practicing

More Carcinogenesis questions