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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Oct 19.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Cancer. 2011 May;11(5):317–323. doi: 10.1038/nrc3051

Figure 2. The p53–p63 pathway regulates homeostasis in epithelial tissues.

Figure 2

This figure represents some of the ways in which p53 and p63 family members can regulate epithelial homeostasis. a | During the development and maintenance of epithelial tissues, p63 can directly or indirectly regulate the expression of various classes of genes, including genes that encode cell–cell adhesion proteins, such as p53 apoptosis effector related to PMP-22 (PERP). These proteins can then assemble into the intercellular adhesive complexes adherens junctions and desmosomes, which promote adhesion between adjacent epithelial cells. Adhesion between cells within a tissue contributes to its integrity, organization and function. b | Cellular stressors such as DNA damage or oncogene expression activate p53. As a sensor of stress, p53 induces the expression of genes that are involved in apoptosis, including PERP and NOXA. PERP and NOXA, and other proteins, contribute to the apoptotic programme, triggering the death of cells the survival of which would be detrimental to a tissue. Both cell–cell adhesion and apoptosis are important cellular mechanisms that contribute to tumour suppression.