Caspases-3 and-7 are activated in goniothalamin-induced apoptosis in humanJurkat T-cells

Goniothalamin, a plant styrylpyrone derivative isolated from Goniothalamus andersonii, induced apoptosis in Jurkat T-cells as assessed by the external isation of phosphatidylserine. Immunoblotting showed processing of caspases -3 and -7 with the appearance of their catalytically active large subunits of 17 and 19 kDa, respectively. Activation of these caspases mas further ev idenced by detection of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage (PARP). Pre-tr eatment with the caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp fluorometh yl ketone (Z-VAD.FMK) blocked apoptosis and the resultant cleavage of these caspases and PARP, Our results demonstrate that activation of at least two effector caspases is a key feature of goniothalamin-induced apoptosis in J urkat T-cells, (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.