Induction of apoptosis in T98G glioblastoma cells by transfection of GML, a p53 target gene

Expression of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored molecule-like prot ein (GML) gene, a p53 target, correlates with the sensitivity of some cance r cell lines to anticancer drugs and ionizing radiation. To investigate the function of GML further, we introduced the GML cDNA into various cancer ce ll lines under control of the tetracycline-regulated system. When we introd uced GML into human glioblastoma cell line T98G, which lacks wild-type p53 and expresses no endogenous GML, we observed significant growth suppression accompanied by G(2)/M arrest in two independent, stable cell lines. We con firmed induction of apoptosis by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis and nuclear staining. Our results indicated that GML could induce apoptosis of T98G without functional p53, and implied that GML plays a cru cial role in the apoptotic pathway in some cancer cells.