title: NAP protects against cytochrome c release: inhibition of the initiation of apoptosis.
abstract: NAPVSIPQ (NAP), an 8 amino acid peptide derived from activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), provides neuroprotection through interaction with microtubules. Previous results have demonstrated NAP protection against oxygen-glucose deprivation in hippocampal cells in culture. Furthermore, in vivo studies have shown that NAP reduces caspase 3 activation in rats subjected to permanent mid-cerebral artery occlusion (a rat model of stroke). Oxygen-glucose deprivation (ischemia) has been associated with microtubule breakdown and cytochrome c release from mitochondria leading to apoptosis. Here, NAP in concentrations ranging from 10(-14)M to 10(-8)M completely blocked cytochrome c release in cortical neurons subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation. Furthermore, quantitative microscopy coupled to microtubule immunocytochemistry suggested that NAP prevented microtubule degradation under oxidative stress. As cytochrome c release is a known initiator of the apoptotic pathway, it is suggested that NAP inhibits the early events of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zemlyak
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapolsky
authors.forename: Illana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gozes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000172:deficiency; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D045304:Cytochromes c; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen