The yeast p53 functional assay: a new tool for molecular epidemiology. Hopes and facts

The assumption of molecular epidemiology that carcinogens leave fingerprint s has suggested that analysis of the frequency, type, and site of mutations in genes frequently altered in carcinogenesis may provide clues to the ide ntification of the factors contributing to carcinogenesis. In this mini-rev iew, we revise the development, and validation of the yeast-based p53 funct ional assay as a new tool for molecular epidemiology. We show that this ass ay has some very interesting virtues but also has some drawbacks. The yeast functional assay can be used to determine highly specific mutation fingerp rints in the human p53 cDNA sequence. Discrimination is possible when compa ring mutation spectra induced by sufficiently different mutagens, However, we also reported that the same carcinogen may induce distinguishable mutati on spectra due to known influencing factors. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.