Gain of function of mutant p53: The mutant p53/NF-Y protein complex reveals an aberrant transcriptional mechanism of cell cycle regulation

This article investigates the mechanistic aspects of mutant p53 "gain of function" in response to DNA damage. We show that mutant forms of p53 protein interact with NF-Y. The expression of cyclin A, cyclin B1, cdk1, and cdc25C, as well as the cdk1-associated kinase activities, is upregulated after DNA damage, provoking a mutant p53/NF-Y-dependent increase in DNA synthesis. Mutant p53 binds NF-Y target promoters and, upon DNA damage, recruits …