This animation shows how the p53 protein binds to DNA to initiate transcription.

p53 is a transcription factor, a protein that turns genes on. The animation illustrates how p53 recognizes and binds to a promoter, a specific region of DNA that initiates the transcription of the adjacent gene. After binding to the promoter, p53 recruits an RNA polymerase to transcribe the gene into mRNA.

This animation is a clip from a 2003 Holiday Lecture Series, Learning From Patients: The Science of Medicine. Depending on students’ background, it may be helpful to pause the animation at various points to discuss different structures.