Figure 1
From: Knockout and transgenic mice of Trp53: what have we learned about p53 in breast cancer?
Activation of p53 and responses. The p53 protein can exist in multiple states within cells. Under normal conditions, levels of p53 protein are very low due to rapid turnover. Activation of cellular stress pathways causes covalent modification and tetramerization of p53, stabilizing the protein and leading to accumulation within the nucleus. The cellular outcome depends on the balance of factors present in cells that may antagonize or promote particular responses.