Cytosolic and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ concentrations determine the extent and the morphological type of apoptosis, respectively.
During apoptosis, an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) accompanies the depletion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The actual roles of each of the two events in apoptosis are difficult to understand. In this work, we have modulated the basal [Ca(2+)](c) and the thapsigargin (THG)-dependent reticular flux (i.e., by chelating extracellular Ca(2+) or by modulating intracellular Ca(2+) by 3-aminobenzamide [3-ABA]). We have found that these treatments alter these Ca(2+) parameters in a differential way and, accordingly, affect apoptosis differentially. We have found that the increase in [Ca(2+)](c) is related to the extent of apoptosis, whereas the ER depletion affects the apoptotic nuclear morphology by shifting it towards the cleavage mode.
Cerella
Claudia
C
Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita di Roma Tor Vergata, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy. sanclacer@libero.it
D'Alessio
Maria
M
De Nicola
Milena
M
Magrini
Andrea
A
Bergamaschi
Antonio
A
Ghibelli
Lina
L
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003600:Cytosol / Q000502:physiology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011691:Puromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020298:U937 Cells
D001549:Benzamides; D011691:Puromycin; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D005047:Etoposide; C025160:3-aminobenzamide; D002118:Calcium