Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A Simple and Efficient Method to Detect Nuclear Factor Activation in Human Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry
08:26

A Simple and Efficient Method to Detect Nuclear Factor Activation in Human Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry

Published on: April 9, 2013

Overexpression of the novel human gene, nuclear apoptosis-inducing factor 1, induces apoptosis

Bingfeng Lv1, Taiping Shi, Xinyu Wang

  • 1Lab of Medical Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Health Science Center, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.

The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|December 28, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A new human gene, nuclear apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (NAIF1), has been identified. Overexpression of NAIF1 inhibits cell growth and triggers apoptosis, highlighting its role in programmed cell death.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, is vital in physiological and pathological processes.
  • Understanding the genetic regulation of apoptosis is crucial for disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clone and characterize a novel human gene, NAIF1, involved in inducing apoptosis.
  • To investigate the cellular localization and functional effects of NAIF1 overexpression.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cloning and characterization of human NAIF1.
  • Northern blot analysis for mRNA expression.
  • Cellular localization studies (nucleus).
  • Overexpression studies in cells to assess apoptosis induction, cell growth inhibition, mitochondrial membrane potential, and caspase-3 activation.

Main Results:

  • Identified and characterized the novel human gene NAIF1, located on chromosome 9q34.11.
  • NAIF1 encodes a 327-amino acid protein with a homeodomain-like region and nuclear localization signals.
  • NAIF1 is conserved across species and shows wide tissue expression, predominantly localizing to the nucleus.
  • Overexpression of NAIF1 inhibited cell growth, induced apoptosis, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and activated caspase-3.

Conclusions:

  • NAIF1 is a novel nuclear protein that functions as an apoptosis inducer upon overexpression.
  • The discovery of NAIF1 provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating programmed cell death.

More Related Videos

Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells10:06

Engineering Artificial Factors to Specifically Manipulate Alternative Splicing in Human Cells

Published on: April 26, 2017

Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics12:28

Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics

Published on: January 11, 2019

Related Concept Videos

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...