Additionally, they found that Bcl-3 is activated by DNA damage and is required for p53 to control Hdm2 gene expression. Thus the normal function of Bcl-3 appears to be to limit p53 activation and to suppress apoptosis. Constitutive expression of Bcl-3 in cancer, therefore, subverts the normal regulation of the p53 tumor suppressor mechanism leading to oncogenic potential.
Genes & Development