ABERRANT EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION OF P53 IN T-CELLS IMMORTALIZED BY HTLV-I TAX1

The expression and function of p53 tumor suppressor protein was invest igated in T-cells immortalized by the Taxi protein of HTLV-I. Conforma tionally mild-type p53 was expressed at elevated levels in Taxi-immort alized T-cells by post-transcriptional mechanisms when compared with n ormal T-cells. Luciferase assays with a reporter plasmid containing p5 3-binding sites revealed an impairment in the transactivating function of p53 in Taxi-immortalized T-cells. Our results suggest an important role for Taxi in the aberrant expression and function of p53 observed in many HTLV-I transformed cells. (C) 1997 Federation of European Bio chemical Societies.