Modulation of Bax mitochondrial insertion and induced cell death in yeast by mammalian protein Kinase C alpha

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Rui D Silva (Author) Other; Stephen Manon (Author) Other; Jorge Goncalves (Author) FFUP; Lucilia Saraiva (Author) FFUP; Manuela Corte Real (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Experimental Cell Research

Vol. 317

Pages: 781-790

ISSN: 0014-4827

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 19 Citations

Scopus - 20 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-T0A

DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.12.001

Abstract (EN): Protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha) is a classical PKC isoform whose involvement in cell death is not completely understood. Bax, a major member of the Bcl-2 family, is required for apoptotic cell death and regulation of Bax translocation and insertion into the outer mitochondrial membrane is crucial for regulation of the apoptotic process. Here we show that PKCa increases the translocation and insertion of Bax c-myc (an active form of Bax) into the outer membrane of yeast mitochondria. This is associated with an increase in cytochrome c (cyt c) release, reactive oxygen species production (ROS), mitochondrial network fragmentation and cell death. This cell death process is regulated, since it correlates with an increase in autophagy but not with plasma membrane permeabilization. The observed increase in Bax c-myc translocation and insertion by PKC alpha is not due to Bax c-myc phosphorylation, and the higher cell death observed is independent of the PKC alpha kinase activity. PKC alpha may therefore have functions other than its kinase activity that aid in Bax c-myc translocation and insertion into mitochondria. Together, these results give a mechanistic insight on apoptosis regulation by PKC alpha through regulation of Bax insertion into mitochondria.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10