Nitric oxide synthase activation and oxidative stress, but not intracellular zinc dyshomeostasis, regulate ultraviolet B light-induced apoptosis.

Aims: To investigate the role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and intracellular free zinc ion (Zn(2+)) in regulation of ultraviolet B light (UVB)-induced cell damage and apoptosis.

Main Methods: Real-time confocal microscopy measurement was used to determine the changes of intracellular free zinc concentration under different conditions. Cell apoptotic death was determined using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated-annexin V (ANX5)/PI labeling followed by flow cytometry.

The roles of translation initiation regulation in ultraviolet light-induced apoptosis.

Ultraviolet light (UV) inhibits translation initiation through activation of kinases that phosphorylate the alpha-subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha). Two eIF2alpha kinases, PERK and GCN2, are known to phosphorylate the Serine-51 of eIF2alpha in response to UV-irradiation. In this report, we present evidence that phosphorylation of eIF2alpha plays a role in UV-induced apoptosis.