1. Functional Consequences for Apoptosis by Transcription Elongation Regulator 1 (TCERG1)-Mediated Bcl-x and Fas/CD95 Alternative Splicing.
- Author
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Montes M, Coiras M, Becerra S, Moreno-Castro C, Mateos E, Majuelos J, Oliver FJ, Hernández-Munain C, Alcamí J, and Suñé C
- Subjects
- Caspase 3 genetics, Caspase 3 metabolism, Cytochromes c genetics, Cytochromes c metabolism, HEK293 Cells, HeLa Cells, Humans, Jurkat Cells, Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1, Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases genetics, Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases metabolism, Transcriptional Elongation Factors genetics, bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein genetics, bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein metabolism, bcl-X Protein genetics, fas Receptor genetics, Alternative Splicing physiology, Apoptosis physiology, Transcriptional Elongation Factors metabolism, bcl-X Protein metabolism, fas Receptor metabolism
- Abstract
Here, we present evidence for a specific role of the splicing-related factor TCERG1 in regulating apoptosis in live cells by modulating the alternative splicing of the apoptotic genes Bcl-x and Fas. We show that TCERG1 modulates Bcl-x alternative splicing during apoptosis and its activity in Bcl-x alternative splicing correlates with the induction of apoptosis, as determined by assessing dead cells, sub-G1-phase cells, annexin-V binding, cell viability, and cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP-1. Furthermore, the effect of TCERG1 on apoptosis involved changes in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. We also found that depletion of TCERG1 reduces the expression of the activated form of the pro-apoptotic mitochondrial membrane protein Bak, which remains inactive by heterodimerizing with Bcl-xL, preventing the initial step of cytochrome c release in Bak-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. In addition, we provide evidence that TCERG1 also participates in the death receptor-mediated apoptosis pathway. Interestingly, TCERG1 also modulates Fas/CD95 alternative splicing. We propose that TCERG1 sensitizes a cell to apoptotic agents, thus promoting apoptosis by regulating the alternative splicing of both the Bcl-x and Fas/CD95 genes. Our findings may provide a new link between the control of alternative splicing and the molecular events leading to apoptosis.
- Published
- 2015
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