title: Apoptotic crosstalk between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria controlled by Bcl-2.
abstract: Apoptosis involves mitochondrial steps such as the release of the apoptogenic factor cytochrome c which are effectively blocked by Bcl-2. Although Bcl-2 may have a direct action on the mitochondrial membrane, it also resides and functions on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and there is increasing evidence for a role of the ER in apoptosis regulation as well. Here we uncover a hitherto unrecognized, apoptotic crosstalk between the ER and mitochondria that is controlled by Bcl-2. After triggering massive ER dilation due to an inhibition of secretion, the drug brefeldin A (BFA) induces the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria in a caspase-8- and Bid-independent manner. This is followed by caspase-3 activation and DNA/nuclear fragmentation. Surprisingly, cytochrome c release by BFA is not only blocked by wild-type Bcl-2 but also by a Bcl-2 variant that is exclusively targeted to the ER (Bcl-2/cb5). Similar findings were obtained with tunicamycin, an agent interfering with N-linked glycosylations in the secretory system. Thus, apoptotic agents perturbing ER functions induce a novel crosstalk between the ER and mitochondria that can be interrupted by ER-based Bcl-2.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Häcki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monney
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rossé
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fellay
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borner
mesh_terms: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D020126:Brefeldin A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003374:Coumarins / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014415:Tunicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000590:Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D003374:Coumarins; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C102580:acetyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-amino-4-methylcoumarin; C096713:benzyloxycarbonylvalyl-alanyl-aspartyl fluoromethyl ketone; D014415:Tunicamycin; D020126:Brefeldin A; D003513:Cycloheximide; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; C505528:Casp8 protein, rat; C506435:Casp9 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases