title: The functions of Deoxyribonuclease II in immunity and development.
abstract: Apoptosis, which is usually accompanied by DNA degradation, is important not only for the homeostasis of metazoans but also for mammalian development. If DNA is not properly degraded in these processes, it can cause diverse diseases, such as anemia, cataracts, and some autoimmune diseases. A large effort has been made to identify these nucleases that are responsible for these effects. In contrast to Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I), Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) has been less well characterized in these processes. Additionally, enzymes of DNase II family in Trichinella spiralis, which is an intracellular parasitic nematode, are also considered involved in the development of the nematode. We have compiled information from studies on DNase II from various organisms and found some nonclassic features in these enzymes of T. spiralis. Here we have reviewed the characterization and functions of DNase II in these processes and predicted the functions of these enzymes in T. spiralis during host invasion and development.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Ministry of Education, Changchun, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ma-feng
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiu-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xue-lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei-fang
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qi-jun
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boireau
authors.forename: Ming-yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D017160:Trichinella spiralis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C019329:deoxyribonuclease II