Folia Biologica
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Charles University 

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Fol. Biol. 2002, 48, 15-27

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2002048010015

Protooncogene Bcl-2 Induces Apoptosis in Several Cell Lines

M. Kalbáčová, M. Vrbacký, Z. Humlová, Zora Mělková

Department of Pathological Physiology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Received June 2001
Accepted September 2001

Using a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing protooncogene Bcl-2, we demonstrate opposite effects of the expressed Bcl-2 in two cell lines: apoptosis induction in BSC-40 cells and apoptosis prevention in HeLa G cells. The apparent molecular weight of the expressed Bcl-2, its amounts and its effects on the mitochondrial membrane potential are comparable in both cell lines, suggesting that the consequences of Bcl-2 expression depend on the cellular environment. To further support these findings we demonstrate the pro-apoptotic effect of the expressed Bcl-2 in several other cell lines.

Funding

The work was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic - project No. 310/96/0514, the Grant Agency of Charles University - project No. 232/95, the Grant Agency of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic - project No. NC5463-3, and the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic - project No. VZ111100003.

References

35 live references