title: An apoptotic endonuclease activated either by decreasing pH or by increasing calcium.
abstract: DNA fragmentation in isolated nuclei from the murine IL3-dependent bone marrow cell line BAF3 could be stimulated either by decreasing pH below 6.5 or by adding microM calcium at neutral pH. An endonuclease which could also be stimulated either by a decrease in pH, to 6.5, or by the presence of microM calcium at neutral pH, was purified 10(4)-fold from nuclei of BAF3 cells. Digestion of DNA with the purified enzyme resulted in 5'-terminal hydroxyl and 3'-terminal phosphate ends. These characteristics are distinct from those described for other mammalian endonucleases. The possible role of this enzyme in genome digestion during apoptosis is discussed.
authors.affiliation: CRC Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, Chester Beatty Laboratories, London, UK.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Furlong
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malde
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ascaso
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez Rivas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D004720:Endonucleases; D002118:Calcium