Figure 1.

p53 regulation of autophagy and cell death. In basal conditions, cytoplasmic p53 inhibits autophagy via mTOR activation, and can induce apoptosis by increasing ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and by triggering MOMP (mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization). In the context of tumour cell survival where p53 function is lost, either by mutation or by inhibition, mTOR is inhibited, thereby leading to autophagy induction. Enhancement of autophagy, including mitophagy, contributes to cell survival by inhibiting ROS and MOMP.