Assays for identifying functional alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor

摘要

The present invention provides for various screening assays which are amenable to high throughput formats and identify a variety of useful mutations in tumor suppressor genes such as p53. Such mutations include those that activate the molecule, increase thermostability, increase transcriptional activity and facilitate resistance to inhibitory molecules. Also provided are methods of screening for accessory proteins that interact with tumor suppressors in both inhibitory and activating fashions, as well as cleavable mutants of p53 that are activated by viral proteases.