APOPTIN, A PROTEIN ENCODED BY CHICKEN ANEMIA VIRUS, INDUCES CELL-DEATH IN VARIOUS HUMAN HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANT-CELLS IN-VITRO

Apoptin, a small protein encoded by chicken anemia virus (CAV) was exp ressed in various human hematologic malignant cell lines derived from leukemias and lymphoma. Three of these cell lines contain bcl-2 or BCR -ABL proteins, known to block apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic co mpounds. By immunofluorescence and propidium-lodide staining apoptin w as shown to induce apoptosis in all analysed cell lines. Early after e xpression, apoptin exhibited a fine-granular distribution in the still intact nucleus. Later, apoptin became aggregated and the nucleus segm ented. The data with truncated apoptin indicate that for optimal induc tion of apoptosis apoptin has to be located in the nucleus.