Gain of function of a p53 hot spot mutation in a mouse model of Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome carry inherited mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and are predisposed to tumor development. To examine the mechanistic nature of these p53 missense mutations, we generated mice harboring a G-to-A substitution at nucleotide 515 of p53 (p53^+/515A) corresponding to the p53R175H hot spot mutation in human cancers. Although p53^+/515A mice display a similar tumor spectrum and survival curve as p53^+/- mice, tumors from p53^+/515A mice metastasized with high frequency. Correspondingly, the embryonic fibroblasts from the p53 ^515A/515A mutant mice displayed enhanced cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and transformation potential. The disruption of p63 and p73 in p53^-/- cells increased transformation capacity and reinitiated DNA synthesis to levels observed in p53^515A/515A cells. Additionally, p63 and p73 were functionally inactivated in p53^515A cells. These results provide in vivo validation for the gain-of-function properties of certain p53 missense mutations and suggest a mechanistic basis for these phenotypes.