Open AccessEffects of zinc and cadmium on apoptotic DNA fragmentation in isolated bovine liver nuclei.
Author(s) -
R. Lohmann,
Detmar Beyersmann
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
environmental health perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 282
eISSN - 1552-9924
pISSN - 0091-6765
DOI - 10.1289/ehp.94102s3269
Subject(s) - endonuclease , dna fragmentation , calcium , apoptosis , cadmium , fragmentation (computing) , zinc , programmed cell death , dna , chemistry , dna damage , enzyme , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , ecology
Isolated nuclei from mammalian cells contain a calcium-dependent endonuclease. The produced DNA fragmentation is a necessary step in the sequence of events resulting in apoptosis (programmed cell death). We report here that zinc and cadmium inhibit the calcium-dependent endonuclease. The essential metal ion zinc may counterbalance the calcium-mediated apoptosis. In contrast to zinc, cadmium alone stimulates the endonuclease by replacing calcium. Thus cadmium exerts a dual effect: micromolar concentrations inhibit the apoptotic endonuclease in the presence but activate the enzyme in the absence of calcium.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom