FLASH is an essential component of Cajal bodies.

BARCAROLI D, DINSDALE D, NEALE MH, BONGIORNO-BORBONE L, RANALLI M, MUNARRIZ E, SAYAN AE, MCWILLIAM JM, SMITH TM, FAVA E, KNIGHT RA, MELINO G, DE LAURENZI V.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

NATL ACAD SCIENCES

Año: 2006 vol. 3 p. 14802 - 14807

0027-8424

Cajal bodies are small nuclear organelles with a number of nuclear functions. Here we show that FLICE-associated huge protein (FLASH), originally described as a component of the apoptosis signaling pathway, is mainly localized in Cajal bodies and is essential for their structure. Reduction in FLASH expression by short hairpin RNA results in disruption of the normal architecture of the Cajal body and relocalization of its components. Because the function of FLASH in the apoptosis receptor signaling pathway has been strongly questioned, we have now identified a clear function for this protein.