1. Academic Validation
  2. PUMA induces the rapid apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells

PUMA induces the rapid apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells

  • Mol Cell. 2001 Mar;7(3):673-82. doi: 10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00213-1.
J Yu 1 L Zhang P M Hwang K W Kinzler B Vogelstein
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA.
Abstract

Through global profiling of genes that were expressed soon after p53 expression, we identified a novel gene termed PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of Apoptosis). The protein encoded by PUMA was found to be exclusively mitochondrial and to bind to Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) through a BH3 domain. Exogenous expression of PUMA resulted in an extremely rapid and profound Apoptosis that occurred much earlier than that resulting from exogenous expression of p53. Based on its unique expression patterns, p53 dependence, and biochemical properties, PUMA may be a direct mediator of p53-associated Apoptosis.

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