Bcl-2 overexpression disrupts the morphology of PC12 cells through reduced ERK activation

Zhiping Mi, Zeljka Korade Mirnics, Nina Felice Schor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Bcl-2 has been hypothesized to regulate many cellular functions in addition to its well-characterized role in the prevention of programmed cell death. To understand the role of Bcl-2 in regulating cell morphology and to explore the mechanism of this effect, we examined the effects of Bcl-2 overexpression on the morphology of PC12 cells in culture. We demonstrate that the overexpression of Bcl-2 in PC12 cells results in altered cell morphology and reduced actin expression. Analysis of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation reveals that the morphological changes seen after bcl-2 transfection are associated with reduced ERK activation. Treatment of control (mock-transfected) PC12 cells with the mitogen-activated ERK-activating kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 converts their flat, process-bearing morphology into the rounded, process-free morphology of bcl-2-transfected cells, further confirming the association of ERK activation with altered cell shape. In conclusion, the present study describes a novel function of Bcl-2 in regulating cell shape through reduced ERK activation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)46-55
Number of pages10
JournalBrain Research
Volume1112
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 27 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Actin
  • Bcl-2
  • Cell shape
  • Cytoskeleton
  • p-ERK

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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