Drosophila pro-apoptotic Bcl-2/Bax homologue reveals evolutionary conservation of cell death mechanisms

Citation
H. Zhang et al., Drosophila pro-apoptotic Bcl-2/Bax homologue reveals evolutionary conservation of cell death mechanisms, J BIOL CHEM, 275(35), 2000, pp. 27303-27306
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
ISSN journal
00219258 → ACNP
Volume
275
Issue
35
Year of publication
2000
Pages
27303 - 27306
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-9258(20000901)275:35<27303:DPBHRE>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Genetic analysis of programmed cell death in Drosophila reveals many simila rities with mammals. Heretofore, a missing link in the fly has been the abs ence of any Bcl-2/Bax family members, proteins that function in mammal as r egulators of mitochondrial cytochrome c release. A Drosophila homologue of the human killer protein Bok (DBok) was identified. The predicted structure of DBok is similar to pore-forming Bcl-2/Bax family members. DBok induces apoptosis in insect and human cells, which is suppressible by anti-apoptoti c human Bcl-2 family proteins. A caspase inhibitor suppressed DBok-induced apoptosis but did not prevent DBob-induced cell death. Moreover, DBok targe ts mitochondria and triggers cytochrome c release through a caspase-indepen dent mechanism. These characteristics of DBok reveal evolutionary conservat ion of cell death mechanisms in flies and humans.