Updated: 8 сентября, 2026 12:18 пп
Researchers from Israel and Germany have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that can lead to the development of oncological diseases.
Jnews.az reports that the discovery explains how a defect in a key anti-cancer protein leads to DNA damage in cells.
The role of the p53 protein and nucleotide deficiency
The p53 protein, produced by the TP53 gene, serves as one of the body’s main defense systems against cancer. It functions as a quality control mechanism that detects severe malfunctions in cells and stops their multiplication.
During the study, it was revealed that p53 also controls the consumption level of building blocks needed for DNA copying. When this protein is damaged or lost, cells begin to produce excessive RNA. This consumes nucleotides and leaves fewer resources for DNA replication.
The resulting deficiency leads to replication stress, which results in DNA breaks, damage to chromosome ends, and the formation of micronuclei. In severe cases, chromosomes can shatter and reassemble incorrectly—a phenomenon observed in many types of cancer.
Analysis results and perspectives
Specialists studied cells from patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare hereditary disease with a high risk of developing tumors due to alterations in the TP53 gene. A similar mechanism was also discovered in other human cell types, including breast tissue.
An analysis of thousands of tumors across 31 types showed that neoplasms with defective or absent p53 indeed feature high RNA levels. In experiments, scientists were able to lower the level of DNA damage by restoring the supply of building blocks or reducing RNA production.
The authors of the study noted that the obtained data will help develop new treatments for cancers with p53 defects in the future. At the same time, they emphasized that for now, this is scientific research, not ready-made therapeutic methods. The results were published in the peer-reviewed journal «Molecular Cell».
