title: Eggs in the balance.
abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), found in cigarette smoke and air pollution, interact with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) to cause reproductive defects. Mice lacking either Ahr or the pro-apoptotic protein Bax have an increased number of primordial follicles, and these mutant oocytes are resistant to PAH toxicity. A new study shows that the Bax promoter contains two core Ahr response elements, which are required for PAH stimulation of Bax promoter activity in oocytes. Thus, the toxic effects of PAH in oocytes are mediated directly by Ahr induction of the Bax pathway.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Matzuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494827:Bax protein, mouse; C494812:Bcl2l1 protein, mouse; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein