Effects Of Elements On The Cancer Suppressing Gene P53

There are evidences to show environmental and occupational exposures of people to excess levels of elements resulting in health risk. Though p53 is generally known as a cancer suppressor gene through its expression and production of anti-cancer protein, elements with carcinogenic properties, like arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel, chromium VI, affect both p53 expression and its functions such as DNA repair, cell growth arrest and apoptosis. There is one more mechanism of element indirect interference with p53 over expression by affecting its regulatory agent of MDM-2. In addition to carcinogenic effect, certain other elements e.g., cobalt, beryllium, etc., at minimum doses involve in p53 expression to act as cancer preventive agents.