title: Zfra is a small wizard in the mitochondrial apoptosis.
abstract: Zfra (zinc finger-like protein that regulates apoptosis) is a naturally occurring short peptide consisting of 31 amino acids, which regulates tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated cell death by interacting with receptor adaptor protein TRADD (TNF receptorassociated death domain protein) and downstream JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), NF-κB (Nuclear factor kappa B) and WWOX/WOX1 (WW domain-containing oxidoreductase). Cytochrome c release is generally considered as a pivotal step in apoptosis. Remarkably, overexpressed Zfra induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, which involves suppression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression (without causing cytochrome c release), counteracting the apoptotic function of tumor suppressor p53 and WWOX, and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential for ultimately leading to cell death. Control of cellular aging and apoptosis by Zfra, p53 and WWOX is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Subhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dudekula
authors.forename: Ming-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Li-Jin
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shean-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nan-Shan
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase
chemical_list: C466684:APBB2 protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase; C486071:WWOX protein, human