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Reaper‐induced apoptosis in a vertebrate system
Author(s) -
Evans Erica K.,
Kuwana Tomomi,
Strum Susan L.,
Smith Jesse J.,
Newmeyer Donald D.,
Kornbluth Sally
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/16.24.7372
Subject(s) - library science , biology , experimental biology , computational biology , computer science
The reaper protein of Drosophila melanogaster has been shown to be a central regulator of apoptosis in that organism. However, it has not been shown to function in any vertebrate nor have the cellular components required for its action been defined. In this report we show that reaper can induce rapid apoptosis in vitro using an apoptotic reconstitution system derived from Xenopus eggs. Moreover, we show that a subcellular fraction enriched in mitochondria is required for this process and that reaper, acting in conjunction with cytosolic factors, can trigger mitochondrial cytochrome c release. Bcl‐2 antagonizes these effects, but high levels of reaper can overcome the Bcl‐2 block. These results demonstrate that reaper can function in a vertebrate context, suggesting that reaper‐responsive factors are conserved elements of the apoptotic program.