Premium
Oxidative signaling pathway for externalization of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine during apoptosis
Author(s) -
Kagan Valerian E.,
Fabisiak James P.,
Shvedova Anna A.,
Tyurina Yulia Y.,
Tyurin Vladimir A.,
Schor Nina F.,
Kawai Kazuaki
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)01707-5
Subject(s) - phosphatidylserine , oxidative phosphorylation , externalization , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , oxidative stress , chemistry , membrane , biology , biochemistry , psychology , phospholipid , psychoanalysis
Active maintenance of membrane phospholipid asymmetry is universal in normal cell membranes and its disruption with subsequent externalization of phosphatidylserine is a hallmark of apoptosis. Externalized phosphatidylserine appears to serve as an important signal for targeting recognition and elimination of apoptotic cells by macrophages, however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for phosphatidylserine translocation during apoptosis remain unresolved. Studies have focused on the function of aminophospholipid translocase and phospholipid scramblase as mediators of this process. Here we present evidence that unique oxidative events, represented by selective oxidation of phosphatidylserine, occur during apoptosis that could promote phosphatidylserine externalization. We speculate that selective phosphatidylserine oxidation could affect phosphatidylserine recognition by aminophospholipid translocase and/or directly result in enzyme inhibition. The potential interactions between the anionic phospholipid phosphatidylserine and the redox‐active cationic protein effector of apoptosis, cytochrome c , are presented as a potential mechanism to account for selective oxidation of phosphatidylserine during apoptosis. Thus, cytochrome c ‐mediated phosphatidylserine oxidation may represent an important component of the apoptotic pathway.