Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Tools to Study the Role of Architectural Protein HMGB1 in the Processing of Helix Distorting, Site-specific DNA Interstrand Crosslinks
Published on: November 10, 2016
Oxidation of the alarmin high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) during apoptosis
Vilma Urbonaviciute1, Silke Meister, Barbara G Fürnrohr
1IZKF, Research Group N2, Nikolaus Fiebiger Center of Molecular Medicine, University Hospital Erlangen, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Abstract:
The architectural chromosomal protein high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) acts as an alarmin when released from cells. It is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. HMGB1 can undergo post-translational modifications including oxidation. However, the mechanisms and functional relevance of HMGB1 oxidation are not yet understood. Increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported during apoptosis and necrosis. Hence, we investigated the oxidative status of HMGB1 in dead cells. Immunoblot analyses under reducing and non-reducing conditions revealed that HMGB1 is oxidized in dead cells. Moreover, tagging of oxidized cysteine residues by a maleimide moiety linked to polyethylene glycol showed that HMGB1 passively released from primary and secondary necrotic cells was predominantly oxidized. Also HMGB1 in plasma of patients with systemic lupus was reversibly oxidized. In conclusion, HMGB1 undergoes reversible oxidative modifications at cysteine residues during cell death, which may modulate its biological properties.
More Related Videos
10:24Defining Hsp33's Redox-regulated Chaperone Activity and Mapping Conformational Changes on Hsp33 Using Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 7, 2018
07:14A Flow Cytometry-based Assay for Measuring Mitochondrial Membrane Potential in Cardiac Myocytes After Hypoxia/Reoxygenation
Published on: July 13, 2018
Related Concept Videos
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Apoptosis
Caspases
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...