The DNA damage-induced decrease of Bcl-2 is secondary to the activation of apoptotic effector caspases.

Apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents or radiation mainly proceeds through death receptor-independent caspase activation. The release of mitochondrial apoptogenic proteins, such as cytochrome c, into the cytoplasm leading to Apaf1-dependent activation of caspase-9 is a key event in this pathway. The permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane is regulated by the various pro- and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and it is thought that DNA damage triggers apoptosis through the downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Using murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) deficient and proficient in Apaf1, we show that DNA-damaging agents and radiation lead to a decline in Bcl-2 protein only in wt…