Abstract
The DNA fragmentation factor 45 (DFF45) is a subunit of a heterodimeric DNase complex critical for the induction of DNA fragmentation in vitro. To understand the in vivo role of DFF45 in programmed cell death, we measured the expression of DFF45 during mouse development and compared DNA fragmentation and viability of DFF45-deficient cells with wild-type control cells after activation of apoptosis. We found that DFF45 is ubiquitously expressed throughout mouse development. Moreover, DFF45-deficient thymocytes are resistant to DNA fragmentation with in vivo dexamethasone treatment. Furthermore, primary thymocytes from DFF45 mutant mice are also more resistant to apoptosis than wild-type control cells on exposure to several apoptotic stimuli. Dying DFF45-deficient thymocytes exhibit different morphology than wild-type control cells in that they show reduced degree of chromatin condensation, absent nuclear fragmentation, intranuclear cytoplasmic invagination, and striking nuclear chromatin conglutination after release from disintegrating cells. These results indicate that DFF45 is essential during normal apoptosis.
Highlights
Programmed cell death or apoptosis is a highly regulated physiological process critical in development and homeostasis [1,2,3,4]
DNA fragmentation factor 45 (DFF45)-deficient thymocytes are resistant to DNA fragmentation after in vivo dexamethasone treatment
These results indicate that DFF45 is essential during normal apoptosis, and its mutation could have adverse effects in vivo
Summary
Programmed cell death or apoptosis is a highly regulated physiological process critical in development and homeostasis [1,2,3,4]. DFF45-deficient thymocytes are resistant to DNA fragmentation after in vivo dexamethasone treatment. Primary thymocytes from DFF45 mutant mice exhibit more resistance to apoptosis than wild-type control cells after exposure to several apoptotic stimuli.
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