Lidamycin regulates p53 expression by repressing Oct4 transcription.

•We found that lidamycin (LDM) up-regulates tumor suppressor gene p53 expression by repressing Oct4 transcription.•Suppression of Oct4 expression leads to activation of p53 by low-dose LDM.•Knockdown Oct4 by siRNA results in p53 activation.•Ectopical expression of Oct4 blocks p53 activation by low-dose LDM.•Oct4 is downregulated by low-dose LDM through LDP directly binding to Oct4 promoter.