question: How many TAp73 isoforms have been identified in humans?
answer: The TP73 gene, due to the presence of two promoters (P1 and P2) in its 5' flanking region, encodes a fully transcriptionally active domain (TAp73) and the amino terminus deleted (ΔNp73). TAp73 possesses pro-apoptotic properties, while deltaNp73 has anti-apoptotic functions. Alternative 3'-end splicing results in generation of at least seven TAp73 distinctive isoforms ( α, β, γ, etc ).