Overview:

p73 gamma is a member of the p53 family of transcription factors which are involved in cellular responses to stress and development. There are four isoforms of p73 (p73 alpha, p73 beta, p73 delta and p73 gamma) which differed in their abilities to form homodimeric and heterodimeric interactions with each other and with p53 (1). The p73 isoforms also differed in their abilities to activate transcription of the p21(Waf1) promoter and to inhibit colony formation. The p73 protein is expressed at very low levels in normal tissues and is differentially expressed in a number of tumors. p73 is a stress-response gene that activates transcription of p53-responsive genes and inhibits cell growth in a p53-like manner by inducing apoptosis (2).

Gene Aliases:

TP73, TAp73alpha

Genbank Number:

O15350-3

References:

1. De Laurenzi, V. et al: Two new p73 splice variants, gamma and delta, with different transcriptional activity. J. Exp. Med. 188: 1763-1768, 1998. 2. Jost. C. A. et.al: p73 is a human p53-related protein that can induce apoptosis. Nature 389: 191-194, 1997.