Figure 2.

Dynamics of p53 states. (A) Under most conditions, wild-type p53 and cancer-associated mutants such as p53R175H are in very distinct functional states. (B) However, in response to cell-intrinsic signals and conditions (e.g. chaperone dysfunction) or signals from the microenvironment (e.g. growth factors, tissue damage), wild-type p53 may be toggled toward a ‘pseudomutant’ state. Likewise, genetically mutant p53 can be toggled toward a wild-type-like state by excessive chaperone activity and presumably also by signals from the microenvironment.