p53, p63, p73 family of proteins are transcription factors with crucial roles in regulating cellular processes such apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and DNA damage response. The three family members have both overlapping and unique biological functions. Sequence and structural homology are greatest in the DNA binding domains (DBD), which is the site of the majority of p53 mutations. Structurally unstable p53 DBD mutants can associate with themselves or p63 and p73 DBDs, impeding tumor suppressor functions. Evidence suggests that these proteins associate to form amyloid-like oligomers and fibrils through an aggregation-prone sequence within the DBDs. Despite having high sequence and structure similarities, p63 and p73 DBDs appear to have considerably lower tendencies to be incorporated into p53 aggregates, relative to p53. The backbone resonance assignments of p73 DBD reported here complement those previously reported for p53 and p63, allowing comparisons and providing molecular insights into their biological functions and roles in aggregation and tumor development.
Keywords: Aggregation; Amyloid; Cancer; DNA binding domain; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Tumor suppressor; p53 family; p73.