Nutrient availability dictates the regulation of metabolism by the ribosomal protein-MDM2-p53 pathway.

Nutrient availability alters ribosomal biogenesis, causing ribosomal proteins to act as secondary messengers of nutrient response by binding to MDM2 and activating p53. Recent work suggests that the ribosomal protein (RP)-MDM2-p53 pathway responds to the deficiency or overabundance of nutrients through seemingly contradictory mechanisms; however, both of these responses promote organism survival.