Apoptosis-inducing genes

Structural and functional characterization of apoptosis induced genes Systematic characterization of protein-protein interactions in man... 

Alterations to the P53 gene are the most common genetic defects known in cancer [5]. The protein product of P53 is involved in a number of pathways that directly and indirectly lead to apoptosis. Many genes that are involved in apoptosis can be induced by this protein, which is a transcriptional transactivator. The emerging hypothesis is that p53 is a central node of a complex apoptotic network that may function differ ently in diver se cell types and tissues. For example, Bax, the prototype proapoptotic member of the Bcl2 family, can be transcriptionally induced by p53 in certain, but not all, cell types. Like p53, Bax can modulate the extent to which cells are sensitive to apoptosis caused by therapeutic agents. 

Sandur, S.K. et ah, Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) suppresses NF-kappa B activation and NF-kappa B-regulated gene products through modulation of p65 and I-kappa-B-alpha kinase activation, leading to potentiation of apoptosis induced by cytokine and chemotherapeutic agent, J. Biol. Chem., 281, 17023, 2006. 

Cytochrome c is thought to be an essential component of the apoptopic pathway responsive to DNA damage and other forms of cellular stress. This notion is based on studies with cell lines from mice having the gene disrupted (Li et al., 2000). These cell lines are refractory to apoptosis induced by stimuli that affect mitochondria. 

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an example of a metabolic disease under active consideration for inducible gene therapy strategies. In this disorder, inflammatory cytokines have been shown to activate apoptosis in pancreatic beta cells. Experimental studies indicate that expression of insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can prevent the cytokine-mediated destruction of beta cells of the pancreas (Giannoukakis et al., 2001). Regulated expression of IGF-1 in human pancreatic islets, to preserve beta cell function, may be a useful approach in the treatment of certain types of diabetes (Demeterco and Levine, 2001). 

A-l AIF Akt ALG-2 cytosolic protein that binds to phosphorylated Bad, inactivating it anti-apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family apoptosis-inducing factor serine/threonine kinase apoptosis-linked gene-2... 

Lucas T, Pratscher B, Fink D, Wolschek M, Samorapoompi-chit P, et al. 2005. The human orthologue of a novel apoptosis response gene induced during rat myelomonocytic stem cell apoptosis maps to 20ql3.12. Stem Cells and Dev 14 556-63. 

Wang, R. Xiao, X. Q. Tang, X. C. Huperzine A attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis by regulating expression of apoptosis-related genes in rat PC12 cells. Neuroreport, 2001, 12(12) 2629-2634. 

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