alleryStart learning →A cell has DNA damage that its repair enzymes cannot fix. What can p53 do next?
ATrigger apoptosis, a cell suicide
BTrigger repair a second time over
CTrigger entry into the S phase
DTrigger a rise in cyclin levels
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Trigger apoptosis, a cell suicide
1. p53 acts mainly at the G1 checkpoint and watches for damaged DNA.
2. Its first response is to halt the cycle and call in repair enzymes.
3. If the damage cannot be repaired, dividing would pass it to both daughter cells.
4. So p53 can instead trigger apoptosis, a controlled death of the cell.
5. Letting the cell enter S phase is exactly the outcome p53 exists to prevent.
_Source: OpenStax Biology 1e (CC BY 4.0), Chs 10 and 11, section 10.3 Control of the Cell Cycle_
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