title: Neural precursor cells possess multiple p53-dependent apoptotic pathways.
abstract: Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are markedly sensitive to apoptotic insults. p53-Dependent transcriptional activation of proapoptotic genes has been hypothesized to regulate NPC death in response to DNA damage. Recent studies of non-NPCs have also indicated that p53 may directly interact with Bcl-2 molecules and thereby regulate death independently of transcription. The contribution of transcription-independent p53 activation in NPC death has not been characterized. In this study, we found that apoptosis caused by chemotherapeutic agents in NPCs required p53 expression and new macromolecular synthesis. In contrast, NPC death induced by staurosporine, a broad kinase inhibitor, is regulated by p53 in the absence of macromolecular synthesis. The apoptosis effector molecules Bax and Bak, Apaf-1, and caspase-9 were shown to be downstream of p53 in both pathways. These findings indicate that p53 is in a unique position to regulate at least two distinct signaling portals that activate the intrinsic apoptotic death pathway in NPCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, SC 961, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0017, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Klocke
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D016158:Genes, p53; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009153:Mutagens; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D020169:Caspases; D019311:Staurosporine