title: Pro-apoptotic effect of maize lipid transfer protein on mammalian mitochondria.
abstract: To assess the effect of lipids and lipid exchange in the pro-apoptotic release of cytochrome c, we investigated the ability of a plant lipid transfer protein (LTP) to initiate the apoptotic cascade at the mitochondrial level. The results show that maize LTP is able to induce cytochrome c release from the intermembrane space of mouse liver mitochondria without significant mitochondrial swelling, similarly to mouse full-length Bid. This effect is influenced by the presence of specific lipids, since addition of lysolipids like lysophosphatidylcholine strongly stimulates the LTP-induced release of cytochrome c while it is inhibited by removal of endogenous free lipids with a complete suppression of the LTP-induced release of cytochrome c. The results are discussed in light of the possible role of lipid exchange in apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department Scientific and Technologic, Faculty of Science, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy. massimo.crimi@univr.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crimi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astegno
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zoccatelli
authors.forename: Mauro Degli
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Esposti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D017209:Apoptosis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D010940:Plant Proteins; C511920:lipid transfer proteins, plant; D045304:Cytochromes c