Radiation-induced irreversible G(0)/G(1) block is abolished in human diploid fibroblasts transfected with the human papilloma virus E6 gene: Implication of the p53-Cip1/WAF1 pathway

It has been shown previously with human diploid fibroblasts that a fraction of cells remains irreversibly blocked in the G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle when the cells are irradiated in confluent, density-inhibited cultures and released by subculture to low density. In the present study we demonstrate that this G(0)/G(1) block is abolished when a human fibroblast cell strain is transfected with the human papilloma virus 16 E6 gene. Corresponding to the abolition of the G(0)/G(1) block in the E6-transfected cells, the expression of both the p53 and WAF1 genes is also abolished, suggesting that the p53 pathway of DNA damage response may be involved in this phenomenon.

Duke Scholars

Author Chuan-Yuan Li Dermatology