Apoptosis induced by the fungal pathogen gliotoxin requires a triple phosphorylation of Bim by JNK

05.07.2013

Geissler A, Haun F, Frank DO, Wieland K, Simon MM, Idzko M, Davis RJ, Maurer U, Borner C.

Cell Death Differ. 2013 Oct;20(10):1317-29.

We show that gliotoxin (GT) and the supernatant of Aspergillus fumigatus (but not its GT-defective mutant) activate the JNK pathway and require a co-operative JNK-mediated BimEL phosphorylation at three sites (S100, T112 and S114) to induce apoptosis in mouse fibroblasts, human bronchial and mouse alveolar epithelial cells. This finding better defines Bim activation during apoptosis and may help to develop new therapeutics against Aspergillosis, an often deadly opportunistic disease of immunocompromised patients.

BIOSS

Apoptosis induced by the fungal pathogen gliotoxin requires a triple phosphorylation of Bim by JNK