Changes in the amount and localization of human ribosomal proteins during apoptosis were determined. When total lysates of Jurkat cells undergoing apoptosis induced by doxorubicin were analyzed by Western blotting, degradation of three ribosomal proteins, S18, L5, and L14, was detected at 48 h after the induction of apoptosis. Decreases in the amounts of these three ribosomal proteins were also observed in ribosome-enriched fractions. These changes were partly abolished by the addition of the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. Moreover, formation of the 80S ribosome complex appeared to be inhibited at 48 h after apoptosis induction. On the other hand, the rate of protein synthesis, assessed by measuring the incorporation of [ 38 S]Met into bulk proteins, decreased as early as 12 h after the addition of doxorubicin. These results indicate that changes in the amount of ribosomal proteins and the overall structure of ribosomes in apoptosing cells occur after protein synthesis declines. Finally, analyses by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting showed that six ribosomal proteins, S15, PO, L5, L6, L36a, and L41, were relocalized and expressed at the cell surface during apoptosis. The above results collectively indicate that ribosomes are structurally altered in apoptotic cells following inactivation of protein synthesis.Key words: apoptosis, protein degradation, protein synthesis, ribosomal protein, ribosome.Degradation of chromosomal DNA at the last stage in the though the precise function of individual ribosomal proteins process of apoptosis should result in the complete cessation and RNA has not yet been clarified, it is reasonable to of gene expression in cells fated to die. However, the rate of expect that the inhibition of protein synthesis in apoptotic protein synthesis decreases even before chromosomal DNA cells is the consequence of structural modification of these is degraded (1^1), suggesting the presence of an active molecules. In fact, the 28S ribosomal RNA is selectively mechanism that inhibits gene expression at the level of degraded in apoptotic cells (3,(5)(6)(7). This event occurs at relprotein synthesis in apoptotic cells. The molecular basis for atively early stages of apoptosis via both caspase-depenthis event, however, is not fully understood. dent and -independent mechanisms. It is, however, not A variety of proteins and nucleic acids are involved in clear whether degradation of the 28S RNA leads to strucprotein synthesis. The ribosome stands at the center of the tural changes of ribosomes or the inhibition of protein syntranslational machinery, and the eukaryotic 80S ribosome thesis. On the other hand, factors that are closely related to complex consists of two subunits, 40S and 60S, each of the translation reaction have been shown to undergo degrawhich contains a large number of proteins and RNA. Al-dation in apoptotic cells: eukaryotic translation initiation factors eIF2, eIF3, eIF4B, and eIF4G are degraded in a 1 This study was supported by Grante-in-Aid for Scientific Rese...