Diva/Boo is a negative regulator of cell death in human glioma cells

Diva is a novel proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family which binds apoptosis activating factor-1 (APAF-1). Diva is identical with Boo which w as identified as a novel antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein. Here, we repor t that Diva promotes the cell cycle exit of human glioma cells in response to serum deprivation and inhibits apoptosis of these cells induced by CD95 ligand or chemotherapeutic drugs. In glioma cells, Diva interferes with apo ptotic signaling downstream of cytochrome c release, but upstream of caspas e activation, consistent with an inhibitory effect on the mitochondrial amp lification step involving the apoptosome and APAF-1. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.