RhoA signaling in phorbol ester-induced apoptosis

Zee-Fen Chang, Hsiao-Hui Lee
2006 Journal of Biomedical Science  
Exposure of cells to phorbol ester activates protein kinase C (PKC) to induce apoptosis or differentiation, depending on the cellular context. In erythroblastic cell lines, TF-1 and D2, upregulation of the RhoA signaling promotes phorbol ester-induced apoptosis through activating Rho-associated kinase (ROCK)/ phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC), thus generating membrane contraction force. As a result, cell adhesion is inhibited and death receptor-mediated death pathway is activated in
more » ... ese cells with a concurrent changes in nucleocytoplasmic signaling for protein trafficking. A microtubule-regulated GEF-H1, which is a specific RhoA activator, was identified to contribute to RhoA activation in these cells. Thus, a cytoskeleton-regulated RhoA signaling cooperates with PKC activation constitutes a cellular context to determine the cell fate in response to phorbol ester stimulation.
doi:10.1007/s11373-005-9056-4 pmid:16496227 fatcat:ceqnliethvhl7njfxwor4dj3qm