Open AccessDepletion of Wee-1 Kinase Is Necessary for both Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vpr- and Gamma Irradiation-Induced Apoptosis
Author(s) -
Huidong Yuan,
Yiming Xie,
Irvin S. Y. Chen
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.77.3.2063-2070.2003
Subject(s) - apoptosis , biology , hela , regulator , microbiology and biotechnology , cell cycle checkpoint , cell cycle , kinase , wee1 , programmed cell death , cell , biochemistry , gene , cyclin dependent kinase 1
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protein R (Vpr) induces G2 arrest, and prolonged G2 arrest leads to apoptosis. We find that in HeLa cells the cell cycle regulatory kinase, Wee-1, is depleted following prolonged G2 arrest induced by Vpr. Of note, small interfering RNAs directed to Wee-1 triggered apoptosis, suggesting a direct role for Wee-1 in apoptosis. In support of this hypothesis, overexpression of Wee-1 suppressed Vpr-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, similar results were observed with cells induced to undergo apoptosis gamma irradiation. Thus, Wee-1 may serve as a key regulator of both HIV type 1 Vpr- and gamma irradiation-mediated apoptosis and possibly serve as a general regulator linking the cell cycle to some pathways of apoptosis.