Microcin J25-Ga induces apoptosis in mammalian cells by inhibiting mitochondrial RNA-polymerase

NIKLISON CHIROU MV; DUPUY F; SAAVEDRA L; HEBERT E; BANCHIO C; MINAHK C; MORERO R

PEPTIDES

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2011 vol. 32 p. 832 - 834

0196-9781

MccJ25, an antimicrobial peptide,was unable to cause apoptosis of COS-7 cells in spite of inducing reactive-oxygen species overproduction as well as cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria. Surprisingly, MccJ25-Ga,an amidated variant of MccJ25 that displays similar anti-mitochondrial effects, did induce apoptosis in COS7.The only difference found between the activities of these peptides was the unpredicted inhibition of mitochondrial RNA synthesis by MccJ25-Ga. These results led us to hypothesize that both mitochondrial RNA polymerase and mitochondrial membrane might be the molecular targets of MccJ25-Ga in mitochondria and this combined effect may lead to apoptosis.