Rapamycin prevents strong phosphorylation of p53 on serine 46 and attenuates activation of the p53 pathway in A549 lung cancer cells exposed to actinomycin D.

•Actinomycin D strongly activates the p53 pathway in the A549 lung cancer cell line.•Actinomycin D promotes phosphorylation of p53 on Ser46.•Rapamycin inhibits phosphorylation of Ser46 in cells exposed to actinomycin D.•Rapamycin modulates the expression of selected genes regulated by p53.•Rapamycin significantly alters the division cycle of cells exposed to actinomycin D.