Apoptosis is defined on the basis of morphological changes like nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation, which are dependent on caspases. Many forms of caspase-independent cell death have been reported, but the mechanisms are still poorly understood. We found that hypoxic cell death was independent of caspases and was associated with significant nuclear shrinkage. Neither Bcl-2 nor Apaf-1 deficiency prevented hypoxic nuclear shrinkage. To understand the molecular mechanism of the nuclear shrinkage, we developed an in vitro system using permeabilized cells, which allowed us to purify a novel member of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) family that induced nuclear shrinkage. Purified PLA2 induced nuclear shrinkage in our permeabilized cell system. PLA2 inhibitors prevented hypoxic nuclear shrinkage in cells and cell death. Hypoxia caused elevation of PLA2 activity and translocation of intracellular PLA2s to the nucleus. Knockdown of the Ca2+-independent PLA2 delayed nuclear shrinkage and cell death. These results indicate that Ca2+-independent PLA2 is crucial for a caspase-independent cell death signaling pathway leading to nuclear shrinkage.
PLA2 activity is required for nuclear shrinkage in caspase-independent cell death
Abbreviations used in this paper: AA, arachidonic acid; AACOCF3, arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone; AIF, apoptosis-inducing factor; BEL, bromoenol lactone; cPLA2, cytosolic Ca2+-dependent PLA2; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; iPLA2, Ca2+-independent PLA2; LDH; lactate dehydrogenase; MAFP, methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate; MEF, mouse embryonic fibroblast; PACOCF3, palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone; PED6, (N-((6-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)amino)hexanoyl)-2-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-pentanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine); PLA2, phospholipase A2; siRNA, small interfering RNA; sPLA2, secretory PLA2; STS, staurosporine.
Koei Shinzawa, Yoshihide Tsujimoto; PLA2 activity is required for nuclear shrinkage in caspase-independent cell death . J Cell Biol 22 December 2003; 163 (6): 1219–1230. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200306159
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