title: Naf1alpha is phosphorylated in mitotic phase and required to protect cells against apoptosis.
abstract: Naf1alpha is an HIV Nef-associated factor expressed ubiquitously in human cells. Previously, we reported that Naf1alpha is phosphorylated with EGF through MEK/ERK2 pathway. In this study, we found an additional phosphorylation of Naf1alpha when cells are in mitotic phase (M phase) or arrested in M phase with anti-mitosis reagents, and disappeared when the cells exit from mitotic phase to G1 phase. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Naf1alpha plays an important role in preventing cells from apoptosis: over-expression of Naf1alpha in Saos-2 cells suppressed trichostatin A (TSA)-induced apoptosis either of random culture or of cell population synchronized in M phase. In addition, knock-down of Naf1alpha expression with small interfering RNA sensitized Saos-2 cells to TSA-induced apoptosis. Physiological significance of these findings is discussed in relation to protection of cells from the apoptosis induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cellular Oncology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan.
authors.forename: Shengliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Marthandan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C526493:Naf1alpha protein, human