Author
Curt L. Milliman
Bio: Curt L. Milliman is an academic researcher from Washington University in St. Louis. The author has contributed to research in topics: Apoptosis & Mitochondrion. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 6 publications receiving 15626 citations.
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: Overexpressed Bax accelerates apoptotic death induced by cytokine deprivation in an IL-3-dependent cell line and counters the death repressor activity of B cl-2, suggesting a model in which the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines survival or death following an apoptotic stimulus.
6,193 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that Bcl-2 is an integral inner mitochondrial membrane protein of relative molecular mass 25,000 (25k) being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death independent of promoting cell division.
Abstract: The t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation of human follicular B-cell lymphoma juxtaposes the bcl-2 gene with the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. The bcl-2 immunoglobulin fusion gene is markedly deregulated resulting in inappropriately elevated levels of bcl-2 RNA and protein. Transgenic mice bearing a bcl-2 immunoglobulin minigene demonstrate a polyclonal expansion of resting yet responsive IgM-IgD B cells which display prolonged cell survival but no increase in cell cycling. Moreover, deregulated bcl-2 extends the survival of certain haematopoietic cell lines following growth-factor deprivation. By using immunolocalization studies we now demonstrate that Bcl-2 is an integral inner mitochondrial membrane protein of relative molecular mass 25,000 (25k). Overexpression of Bcl-2 blocks the apoptotic death of a pro-B-lymphocyte cell line. Thus, Bcl-2 is unique among proto-oncogenes, being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death independent of promoting cell division.
3,773 citations
TL;DR: A model in which Bcl-2 regulates an antioxidant pathway at sites of free radical generation is proposed in which it protected cells from H2O2- and menadione-induced oxidative deaths and suppressed lipid peroxidation completely.
3,452 citations
TL;DR: While BID appears to be required for the release of cytochrome c in the TNF death pathway, the release is likely not required for cell death, as other aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction still transpired and cells died nonetheless.
1,069 citations
TL;DR: This work used interactive cloning to identify Bid, which encodes a novel death agonist that heterodimerizes with either agonists (BAX) or antagonists (BCL-2), and favors a model in which BID represents a death ligand for the membrane-bound receptor BAX.
Abstract: The BCL-2 family of proteins consists of both antagonists (e.g., BCL-2) and agonists (e.g., BAX) that regulate apoptosis and compete through dimerization. The BH1 and BH2 domains of BCL-2 are required to heterodimerize with BAX and to repress cell death; conversely, the BH3 domain of BAX is required to heterodimerize with BCL-2 and to promote cell death. To extend this pathway, we used interactive cloning to identify Bid, which encodes a novel death agonist that heterodimerizes with either agonists (BAX) or antagonists (BCL-2). BID possesses only the BH3 domain, lacks a carboxy-terminal signal-anchor segment, and is found in both cytosolic and membrane locations. BID counters the protective effect of BCL-2. Moreover, expression of BID, without another death stimulus, induces ICE-like proteases and apoptosis. Mutagenesis revealed that an intact BH3 domain of BID was required to bind the BH1 domain of either BCL-2 or BAX. A BH3 mutant of BID that still heterodimerized with BCL-2 failed to promote apoptosis, dissociating these activities. In contrast, the only BID BH3 mutant that retained death promoting activity interacted with BAX, but not BCL-2. This BH3-only molecule supports BH3 as a death domain and favors a model in which BID represents a death ligand for the membrane-bound receptor BAX.
1,008 citations
Cited by
More filters
TL;DR: There is growing evidence that aging involves, in addition, progressive changes in free radical-mediated regulatory processes that result in altered gene expression.
Abstract: At high concentrations, free radicals and radical-derived, nonradical reactive species are hazardous for living organisms and damage all major cellular constituents. At moderate concentrations, how...
9,131 citations
TL;DR: The basic components of the death machinery are reviewed, how they interact to regulate apoptosis in a coordinated manner is described, and the main pathways that are used to activate cell death are discussed.
Abstract: Apoptosis - the regulated destruction of a cell - is a complicated process. The decision to die cannot be taken lightly, and the activity of many genes influence a cell's likelihood of activating its self-destruction programme. Once the decision is taken, proper execution of the apoptotic programme requires the coordinated activation and execution of multiple subprogrammes. Here I review the basic components of the death machinery, describe how they interact to regulate apoptosis in a coordinated manner, and discuss the main pathways that are used to activate cell death.
7,255 citations
TL;DR: Mutation of the active site of caspase-9 attenuated the activation of cazase-3 and cellular apoptotic response in vivo, indicating that casp enzyme-9 is the most upstream member of the apoptotic protease cascade that is triggered by cytochrome c and dATP.
7,231 citations
TL;DR: In multicellular organisms, homeostasis is maintained through a balance between cell proliferation and cell death, and recent evidence suggests that alterations in cell survival contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases.
Abstract: In multicellular organisms, homeostasis is maintained through a balance between cell proliferation and cell death. Although much is known about the control of cell proliferation, less is known about the control of cell death. Physiologic cell death occurs primarily through an evolutionarily conserved form of cell suicide termed apoptosis. The decision of a cell to undergo apoptosis can be influenced by a wide variety of regulatory stimuli. Recent evidence suggests that alterations in cell survival contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of human diseases, including cancer, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Treatments designed to specifically alter the apoptotic threshold may have the potential to change the natural progression of some of these diseases.
6,462 citations
TL;DR: Overexpressed Bax accelerates apoptotic death induced by cytokine deprivation in an IL-3-dependent cell line and counters the death repressor activity of B cl-2, suggesting a model in which the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines survival or death following an apoptotic stimulus.
6,193 citations