title: Unsymmetrically substituted polyamine analogue induces caspase-independent programmed cell death in Bcl-2-overexpressing cells.
abstract: The polyamine analogue, N1-ethyl-N11-[(cycloheptyl)methyl]-4,8-diazaundecane (CHENSpm)-induced programmed cell death in NCI H157 cells is accompanied by cytochrome c release, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-3, caspase-mediated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, G2-M arrest, and DNA and nuclear fragmentation. Overexpression of Bcl-2 completely inhibits CHENSpm-induced cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. However, Bcl-2 does not abrogate CHENSpm-induced programmed cell death. These results suggest that although cytochrome c release and activation of the caspase-3 protease cascade contribute to the rapid and efficient execution of apoptosis, a caspase cascade-independent pathway also exists and can be activated by CHENSpm treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Oncology Center Research Laboratories, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Woster
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Casero
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011073:Polyamines; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases