FASAY: a simple functional assay in yeast for identification of p53 mutation in tumors

Alteration of the p53 tumor suppressor gene is the most common genetic defe ct known to occur in human tumors. Germline p53 mutations significantly inc rease the risk of developing diverse malignancies. FASAY is a simple functi onal assay for germ-line and somatic mutations in the p53 gene altering the transactivation capability of the p53 protein. The method was succesfully used for mutation analysis of p53 in various cell lines, somatic tumor cell s and blood cells. In addition, FASAY was also found effective as a tool fo r basic research of binding of mutant p53 proteins to promoters of differen t p53 target genes.