Abstract
We have assessed the distribution of caspase-3 in subcellular fractions from rabbit brain hippocampus and find that in controls the pro-caspase-3 form is distributed mainly in the cytoplasm. In animals treated intracisternally with the neurotoxin aluminum-maltolate, although pro-caspase-3 levels are higher in the cytosolic fractions, p17, the active caspase-3, is localized mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum. This distribution is confirmed by immunohistochemistry which demonstrates the co-localization of p17 with calnexin, a specific marker of the endoplasmic reticulum. Based on the apparent translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum of active caspase-3, an executioner of cell death, the results suggest that this organelle is an important site in the caspase-3 mediated apoptosis cascade. Inhibition of the latter enzyme by directly targeting its main site of activation could represent a strategy to prevent this adverse event.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 217-221 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
Volume | 324 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 24 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Aluminum
- Apoptosis
- Calnexin
- Caspase-3
- Cytosol
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Hippocampus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience