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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Direct oxidative modifications of signalling proteins in mammalian cells and their effects on apoptosis

K England1, T G Cotter

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Redox Report : Communications in Free Radical Research
|December 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can harm cells, but cells have defenses. This review explores how ROS directly modify proteins, impacting cell signaling and apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cellular metabolism produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), essential signaling molecules.
  • Excessive ROS can cause oxidative stress, leading to cell damage and death (apoptosis or necrosis).
  • While indirect effects of ROS are known, direct impacts on proteins are less understood due to technological limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the direct effects of ROS on protein modifications.
  • To elucidate the role of these modifications in cell signaling pathways.
  • To understand the implications for apoptosis and potential therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on ROS-mediated protein modifications.
  • Analysis of studies demonstrating direct protein modifications (nitrosylation, carbonylation, etc.).
  • Examination of evidence linking these modifications to cell signaling and apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • ROS can directly modify signaling proteins through various mechanisms like nitrosylation, carbonylation, disulfide bond formation, and glutathionylation.
  • These modifications alter protein activity, influencing cell signaling events, particularly those related to cell death and survival.
  • Redox modifications offer a regulatory layer for cell signaling in response to the cellular environment.

Conclusions:

  • Direct protein modifications by ROS are crucial for regulating cell signaling pathways.
  • Understanding these redox modifications is key to modulating cell pathways, with potential applications in cancer therapy.
  • Oxidative stress-mediated protein changes can significantly impact apoptosis, either by altering specific signaling or by generally reducing cellular function.

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