Thermodynamic stability of wild-type and mutant p53 core domain. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Some 50% of human cancers are associated with mutations in the core domain of the tumor suppressor p53. Many mutations are thought just to destabilize the protein. To assess this and the possibility of rescue, we have set up a system to analyze the stability of the core domain and its mutants. The use of differential scanning calorimetry or spectroscopy to measure its melting temperature leads to irreversible denaturation and aggregation and so is useful as only a qualitative guide to stability. There are excellent two-state denaturation curves on the addition of urea that may be analyzed quantitatively. One Zn2+ ion remains tightly bound in the holo-form of p53 throughout the denaturation curve. The stability of wild type is 6.0 kcal (1 kcal = 4.18 kJ)/mol at 25 degrees C and 9.8 kcal/mol at 10 degrees C. The oncogenic mutants R175H, C242S, R248Q, R249S, and R273H are destabilized by 3.0, 2.9, 1.9, 1.9, and 0.4 kcal/mol, respectively. Under certain denaturing conditions, the wild-type domain forms an aggregate that is relatively highly fluorescent at 340 nm on excitation at 280 nm. The destabilized mutants give this fluorescence under milder denaturation conditions.

publication date

  • December 23, 1997

has restriction

  • green

Date in CU Experts

  • September 4, 2015 2:01 AM

Full Author List

  • Bullock AN; Henckel J; DeDecker BS; Johnson CM; Nikolova PV; Proctor MR; Lane DP; Fersht AR

author count

  • 8

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 14338

end page

  • 14342

volume

  • 94

issue

  • 26