Spliced MDM2 isoforms promote mutant p53 accumulation and gain-of-function in tumorigenesis

Mdm2 controls the levels of the tumour suppressor p53 in cells and p53 is often mutated in cancer. Here, Zheng et al. show that a particular Mdm2 isoform that is altered in cancer leads to elevated levels of mutant p53 protein and enhanced gain-of-function of the protein.