mutations in the gene that codes for the protein p53 have been implicated in many types of cancer. the p53 protein has a diverse regulatory role, including stopping the cell cycle at g1/s checkpoint when there is damaged dna, inducing ner mechanisms, and initiating apoptosis. which of the following mechanisms might result in reduced levels of functional p53 in the cell? multiple choice gene amplification that leads to an abnormally large number p53 genes in the genome. a virus, such as hpv, inactivates p53. mutation in the promoter region of the p53 gene, causing an enhancer to be permanently bound to the dna. a mutation in a repressor of p53, so that the repressor cannot bind to the p53 protein. all of these will lead to reduced levels of the p53 protein in the cell.