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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Cell Death Associated with Abnormal Mitosis Observed by Confocal Imaging in Live Cancer Cells
Published on: August 21, 2013
Nuclear and mitochondrial conversations in cell death: PARP-1 and AIF signaling
Suk Jin Hong1, Ted M Dawson, Valina L Dawson
1Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway Street, Suite 731, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Abstract:
Different cell-death mechanisms control many physiological and pathological processes in humans. Mitochondria play important roles in cell death through the release of pro-apoptotic factors such as cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), which activate caspase-dependent and caspase-independent cell death, respectively. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) is emerging as an important activator of caspase-independent cell death. PARP-1 generates the majority of long, branched poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymers following DNA damage. Overactivation of PARP-1 initiates a nuclear signal that propagates to mitochondria and triggers the release of AIF. AIF then shuttles from mitochondria to the nucleus and induces peripheral chromatin condensation, large-scale fragmentation of DNA and, ultimately, cytotoxicity. Identification of the pro-death and pro-survival signals in the PARP-1-mediated cell-death program might provide novel therapeutic targets in human diseases.
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