Besides tumor suppression, what’s p53 busy for during embryogenesis?

p53 is well known as a tumor suppressor by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Inactivation of p53 inhibitors Mdm2 and Mdm4 leads to embryonic lethality. However, the regulation of p53 activity is not fully understood.

A recent article published on Nature Communications by Dr. Riascos-Bernal and his colleagues shows that β-catenin promotes vascular SMC (smooth muscle cell) proliferation and survival during artery formation by inhibiting p53 activity. Loss of SMC β-catenin causes impaired arterial maturation and embryonic lethality. The vascular phenotype caused by loss of β-catenin is suppressed when lacking p53. Moreover, the authors proved that β-catenin C-terminal indirect interactions are required for repression of p53 activity. This study is the first report to demonstrate that SMC β-catenin is essential for developmental vascular maturation and p53 is involved in this process.

For further related study, arigo’s antibodies and reagents are ready for you!

p53 and β-catenin antibody available for identification of associated protein complex

Endothelial marker CD31 and SMC markers Sm22α and α-SMA

CD31 antibody (ARG52748)

CD31 antibody [JC/70A] (ARG56119)

alpha Smooth Muscle Actin antibody [SP171] (ARG52489)