p53, longevity assurance and longevity suppression

In the past decade significant advances in the genetics of aging have provided important new mechanistic insights into this complex biological process. Among the genes that assure longevity are the tumor suppressor genes. Of these, p53 is particularly important for suppressing cancers, but it might have the paradoxical effect of facilitating aging as a result of its antiproliferative activities. Evidence that p53 activity affects aging in mammals will be presented.

Section editors:Siu Sylvia Lee – Cornell University, Ithaca, USAJavier Apfeld – Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA