Bcl-2 affects survival but not neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells.
Past studies have shown that serum-free cultures of PC12 cells are a useful model system for studying the mechanisms of neuronal death after neurotrophic factor deprivation. These cultures, as well as NGF-deprived cultures of sympathetic neurons, manifest and endonuclease activity that leads to "apoptotic" internucleosomal DNA cleavage. Overexpression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 blocks apoptotic death in various cell types. To study the actions of this protein in neuronal cells, we derived PC12 cell lines stably transfected with a cDNA encoding human bcl-2. It is reported here that lines expressing high levels of the exogenous bcl-2 protein are protected from both death and apoptotic DNA fragmentation caused by removal of trophic support. However, expression of high levels of exogenous bcl-2 neither mimics nor interferes with promotion of neurite outgrowth by NGF.
Batistatou
A
A
Department of Pathology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
Merry
D E
DE
Korsmeyer
S J
SJ
Greene
L A
LA
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012313:RNA; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases