Figure 7.

Effect of p53 on redox homeostasis and ROS production. p53 is a redox‐sensitive transcription factor and influences intracellular antioxidant system both in unstressed/ low‐stressed cells and stressed cells. In case of unstressed or low‐stressed cells, p53 upregulates antioxidant defense enzymes such as GPX1, Mn‐SOD, and catalase to maintain redox homeostasis. Each of these enzymes catalyzes a specific reaction to detoxify ROS. However, during high oxidative stress condition, p53 induces the transcription of many pro‐oxidant and proapoptotic genes (such as Bax, Puma, Noxa) with the consequent release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, activation of caspases and apoptosis.