Apoptosis. Mitochondria--the death signal integrators.
Many of the intricate pathways of apoptosis that instruct a cell to kill itself involve the convergence of key proteins on the membranes of mitochondria. Such proteins induce the permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes and the release of caspase enzymes and nuclease activators that set in motion the final stages of programmed cell death. Now, as Brenner and Kroemer discuss in their Perspective, a proapoptotic transcription factor called TR3 has been found to move from its normal location in the nucleus to the mitochondria and to promote release of cytochrome c, a key event in apoptosis (Li et al.)
Brenner
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C
Apoptosis, Cancer and Immunity Laboratory, National League Against Cancer, CNRS-UMR1599, Institut Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France. catherine.brenner@utc.fr
Kroemer
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G
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D010539:Permeability; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D020218:Response Elements; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C539821:NR4A1 protein, human; C539818:Nr4a1 protein, mouse; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor