p53 Protects Cells from Death at the Heatstroke Threshold Temperature

Abstract

Gong et al. report that in contrast to promoting apoptosis in hyperthermia conditions, both zebrafish and human tumor repressor p53 protect cells from death by preventing a hyperreactive heat shock response at 40°C, the heatstroke threshold temperature (HTT). They may provide a strategy for individualized therapy for p53-deficient cancers.