Donehower LA, Harvey M, Slagle BL, McArthur MJ, Montgomery CA Jr, Butel JS, Bradley A:
Mice deficient for p53 are developmentally normal but susceptible to
spontaneous tumours.
Nature 1992 Mar 19;356(6366):215-21
ABSTRACT
Mutations in the p53 tumour-suppressor gene are the most frequently
observed genetic lesions in human cancers. To investigate the role
of the p53 gene in mammalian development and tumorigenesis, a null
mutation was introduced into the gene by homologous recombination in
murine embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for the null allele
appear normal but are prone to the spontaneous development of a
variety of neoplasms by 6 months of age. These observations indicate
that a normal p53 gene is dispensable for embryonic development,
that its absence predisposes the animal to neoplastic disease, and
that an oncogenic mutant form of p53 is not obligatory for the
genesis of many types of tumours.
