Q00987

MDM2 also known as murine double minute 2 is an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. MDM2 plays a critical role in regulating the tumor suppressor protein p53 by targeting p53 for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Nuclear localization of MDM2 is essential for interaction with p53, as MDM2 binds directly to p53′s transactivation domain, inhibiting transcriptional activity and promoting degradation. This regulation is crucial because p53 controls cell cycle progression and induces cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Overexpression or amplification of MDM2 can lead to decreased p53 activity, allowing cells with damaged DNA to proliferate unchecked, which contributes to tumorigenesis. MDM2 is frequently overexpressed in various human cancers, making MDM2 an important focus in cancer research and a potential target for therapeutic intervention.