Which of the following proteins is a key tumor suppressor that regulates both cell-cycle checkpoints and apoptosis in response to DNA damage?
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Correct answer: p53
p53 acts as a tumor suppressor, inducing cell cycle arrest at checkpoints (e.g., G1/S or G2/M) to allow DNA repair; if damage is irreparable, p53 can also trigger apoptosis to prevent propagation of mutated cells.
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More Cell cycle and apoptosis questions
- Which phase immediately follows completion of DNA replication in the cell cycle and precedes mitosis?
- What is the main outcome of the metaphase (spindle) checkpoint during mitosis?
- Which of the following best describes apoptosis?
- Which apoptosis pathway is initiated by extracellular ligands binding to specialized receptors on the target cell membrane?
- Which of the following is a hallmark biochemical event during the execution phase of apoptosis?
- A cell with irreparable DNA damage fails the G2/M checkpoint. What is the most likely cellular fate?