title: Activation of caspase-3, proteolytic cleavage of DFF and no oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation in apoptotic Molt-4 cells.
abstract: A variety of endonucleases has been implicated in apoptotic DNA fragmentation. DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) is one of the endonucleases responsible for DNA fragmentation. Since an oligonucleosomal DNA ladder is not induced in apoptotic Molt-4 cells, we investigated whether or not the absence of ladder formation is related to an inability of DFF endonuclease in the cells. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA level of DFF-40 and DFF-45 in Molt-4 cells was approximately the same, compared with in other cells, which exhibit different levels of the fragmentation in apoptosis. When Molt-4 cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by neocarzinostatin (NCS) treatment, both caspase-3 activation and DFF-45 cleavage were observed. Furthermore, DFF immunoprecipitated from Molt-4 cells exhibited DNA degradation activity. These results suggest that functional expression of DFF is not sufficient for the induction of DNA fragmentation in Molt-4 cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Mitahora-higashi, Gifu 502-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D009353:Zinostatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C109664:caspase-activated DNase inhibitor; D009353:Zinostatin; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases