We examined the influence of ROS on the phosphorylation and complex formation of Bcl-2 family proteins in Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) antisense-transfected squamous cell carcinoma cells, OSC-4 cells. The increase of intracellular ROS level induced by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) and γ γ γ γ-ray treatment was greater in antisense-transfected cells than in control vector-transfected cells, and apoptosis was more extensively induced in the former. Antisense-transfected cells expressed high levels of Bax and Bak, but low levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X L when treated with CDDP, peplomycin, 5-fluorouracil or γ γ γ γ-rays. After treatment with these agents, the phosphorylation of protein kinase A, Bcl-2 (Thr56) and Bad (Ser155) was increased, especially in antioxidant (N-acetylcysteine and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate)-pretreated control cells, but the phosphorylation levels were very low in the antisense-transfected cells. Bcl-2 ubiquitination was increased, but ubiquitination of Bad and Bax was decreased in the antisense-transfected cells, although their ubiquitination was increased by the antioxidants. These results reveal that ROS induce apoptosis by regulating the phosphorylation and ubiquitination of Bcl-2 family proteins, resulting in increased proapoptotic protein levels and decreased antiapoptotic protein expression. here are multiple signal pathways to induce apoptosis, including those originating from mitochondria and Fas.
1-4)The signal originating from Fas and Fas-associated proteins passes to caspase 3 through caspase 8 and other caspases.
5-7)The mitochondrial signal is also transduced to caspase 3 via cytochrome c, apoptosis protease-activating factor-1, ATP, and caspase 9. 8) These two pathways exhibit cross-talk with a proapoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, Bid. 9) Bcl-2 family proteins including Bid control the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria regulating VDAC.
10)Bcl-2 family proteins are divided into two groups, proapoptotic and antiapoptotic, according to their chemical structure, that is, BH3 and BH4.11, 12) Proapoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins form heterodimers and inhibit each other's activity. [13][14][15] The dimerization is influenced by phosphorylation of the amino acid residues of the proapoptotic members, Bax, Bak, and Bik.14-17) The expression level of each Bcl-2 family protein is controlled by transcription, heterodimerization, and ubiquitination.13-26) Phosphorylation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins inhibits the binding of these proteins and polyubiquitin. [27][28][29][30] Apoptosis is therefore deeply associated with the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 family proteins.Recently, it has been established that some growth factors induce survival signal-activating kinases such as PKA and PKB, the MAP family, ERK1/2, and AP-1. [31][32][33][34] The activation of these kinases finally results in an increase in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression. 29,35,36) Suppression of these kinase activities is, therefore, required for the induction of apoptosis.ROS possess both cell-impairing and cel...