We observed that interaction of secondary necrotic (sn) cells with human serum or plasma leads to loss of DNA staining. The decrease turned out to be a result of nucleosome release and was specific for apoptotic cells as necrotic cells did not show this phenomenon. We named this activity in plasma nucleosome releasing factor (NRF). NRF activity was completely inhibited by trypsin inhibitors suggesting that a serine protease is involved. Upon testing a number of plasma candidate serine proteases we found that plasmin did have NRF activity. However, plasminogen-deficient plasma still had NRF activity indicating that NRF is not plasmin. We conclude that a yet unidentified plasma serine protease is involved in removal of nucleosomes from sn cells.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2007.10.037DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

serine protease
12
necrotic cells
12
nrf activity
12
plasma nucleosome
8
nucleosome releasing
8
releasing factor
8
factor nrf
8
removal nucleosomes
8
secondary necrotic
8
protease involved
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!