title: Gamma-radiation-induced ATM-dependent signalling in human T-lymphocyte leukemic cells, MOLT-4.
abstract: ATM kinase (ATM) is essential for activation of cell cycle check points and DNA repair in response to ionizing radiation (IR). In this work we studied the molecular mechanisms regulating DNA repair and cell death in human T-lymphocyte leukemic cells, MOLT-4. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow-cytometric detection of annexin V. Early apoptotic cells were determined as sub-G1 cells and late apoptotic cells were determined as APO2.7-positive ones. Proteins involved in ATM signalling pathway were analysed by Western-blotting. We observed a rapid (0.5 h) phosphorylation of ATM declining after 6 h after irradiation by all the doses studied (1.5, 3.0, and 7.5 Gy). Checkpoint kinase-2 (Chk-2) was also phosphorylated after 0.5 h but its phosphorylated form persisted 4, 2, and 1 h after the doses of 1.5, 3.0, and 7.5 Gy, respectively. The amount of p53 protein and its form phosphorylated on Ser-392 increased 1 h after irradiation (1-10 Gy). The lethal dose of 7.5 Gy caused an immediate induction and phosphorylation of p53 after 0.5 h post-irradiation. At the time of phosphorylation of p53, we found simultaneous phosphorylation of the oncoprotein Mdm2 on Ser-166. Neither ATM nor its downstream targets showed a dose-dependent response after 1 h when irradiated by the doses of 1-10 Gy. MOLT-4 cells were very sensitive to the effect of IR. Even low doses, such as 1.5 Gy, induced apoptosis 16 h after irradiation (evaluated according to the cleavage of nuclear lamin B to a 48-kDa fragment). IR-induced molecular signalling after exposure to all the tested doses was triggered by rapid phosphorylation of ATM and Chk-2. Subsequent induction of p53 protein and its phosphorylation was accompanied by concomitant phosphorylation of its negative regulator, oncoprotein Mdm2, and followed by induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiobiology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences in Hradec Králové, University of Defence in Brno, Czech Republic. tichy@pmfhk.cz
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tichý
authors.forename: Darina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Záskodová
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezácová
authors.forename: Jirina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vávrová
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vokurková
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pejchal
authors.forename: Zdena
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vilasová
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osterreicher
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; C576324:ATM protein, human; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; C578634:CHEK2 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases