Evidences of an inhibitory effect and other functions of human P53 in Escherichia coli

Abstract

The human tumor suppressor P53 has so far been shown to inhibit growth in the yeast model as well as in other eukaryotic contexts. Despite a considerable number of sudies involving p53 in bacteria, the question of effects on cell growth and viability has never been explored. In this work, we report similar negative effect on cell viability of the protein expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3). This inhibition still needs to be characterized in lights of the distinction between yeast and other organisms with different P53-caused deaths and pathways. Primary tests leaned towards an active p53 in this bacterial context, both under normal and stresseful conditions. Special effects were noticed either with phage infection or antibiotic treatment, using a GST-p53 fusion form. These results open the way for further investigations involving P53 in prokaryote systems.