p53

p53 is well known as a major tumor suppressor, primarily due to its multiple functions in cell cycle arrest, senescence or apoptosis, which protect cells against aberrant cell division and propagation of damaged DNA. The gene encoding p53, TP53 in humans, is mutated or dysfunctional in more than 50% of human cancers. More recent studies show that p53 not only acts in tumor suppression but also in differentiation and development, senescence, aging, and metabolism. The addition of metabolic regulation to the compendium of p53 functions in tumor suppression underscores the importance of p53 in cellular homeostasis, along with its roles in maintenance of genome stability and cellular surveillance.