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Down‐regulation of human RNA/DNA helicase SUV3 induces apoptosis by a caspase‐ and AIF‐dependent pathway
Author(s) -
Szczesny Roman J.,
Obriot Helene,
Paczkowska Aleksandra,
Jedrzejczak Robert,
Dmochowska Aleksandra,
Bartnik Ewa,
Formstecher Pierre,
Polakowska Renata,
Stepien Piotr P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1042/bc20060108
Subject(s) - biology , rna helicase a , helicase , microbiology and biotechnology , degradosome , smarca4 , chromatin , rna silencing , rna , gene , genetics , chromatin remodeling , rna interference , non coding rna
Background information . The nuclear gene hSUV3 (human SUV3 ) encodes an ATP‐dependent DNA/RNA helicase. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae the orthologous Suv3 protein is localized in mitochondria, and is a subunit of the degradosome complex which regulates RNA surveillance and turnover. In contrast, the functions of human SUV3 are not known to date. Results . In the present study, we show that a fraction of human SUV3 helicase is localized in the nucleus. Using small interfering RNA gene silencing in HeLa cells, we demonstrate that down‐regulation of hSUV3 results in cell cycle perturbations and in apoptosis, which is both AIF‐ and caspase‐dependent, and proceeds with the induction of p53. Conclusions . In addition to its mitochondrial localization, human SUV3 plays an important role in the nucleus and is probably involved in chromatin maintenance.