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A teratologic suppressor role for p53 in benzo(a)pyrene–treated transgenic p53-deficient mice

Nature Genetics volume 10, pages 181–187 (1995)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 September 1995

Abstract

DNA damage may mediate birth defects caused by many drugs and environmental chemicals, therefore p53, a tumour suppressor gene that facilitates DNA repair, may be critically embryoprotective. We have studied the effects of the environmental teratogen, benzo[a]pyrene, on pregnant heterozygous p53–deficient mice. Such mice exhibited between 2– to 4–fold higher embryotoxicity and teratogenicity than normal p53–controls. Fetal resorptions reflecting in utero death were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction and found to be increased 2.6–fold and 3.6–fold respectively with heterozygous and homozygous p53–deficient embryos. These results provide the first direct evidence that p53 may be an important teratological suppressor gene which protects the embryo from DNA–damaging chemicals and developmental oxidative stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Pharmacology, 1 King's College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S2, Canada

    Christopher J. Nicol, Maureen L. Harrison, Inga L. Gimelshtein & Peter G. Wells

  2. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 19 Russell St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2S2, Canada

    Rebecca R. Laposa & Peter G. Wells

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  1. Christopher J. Nicol
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  5. Peter G. Wells
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Nicol, C., Harrison, M., Laposa, R. et al. A teratologic suppressor role for p53 in benzo(a)pyrene–treated transgenic p53-deficient mice. Nat Genet 10, 181–187 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0695-181

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