Affiliations: Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology and Tumour
Genetics, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Munich,
Germany | UMR CNRS 6551 Universit´ de Caen, France
Note: [] Institute of Mammalian Genetics, Animal Facilities, GSF-National
Research Center for Environment and Health, D- 85764 Neuherberg, Germany. Tel.:
+49 89 3187 2298; Fax: +49 89 3187 3321; E-mail: brielmeier@gsf.de
Abstract: Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) cells are highly sensitive to suboptimal
growth conditions and undergo apoptosis when seeded at low cell density or
reduced serum concentration. Irradiated fibroblasts or a mix of pruvate,
α-thioglycerol, and bathocuproine disulfonate can
protect BL cells from apoptosis induced by lowering cell density or serum
concentration by promoting cystine uptake in the cells. The availability of
cystine is the limiting factor for glutathione biosynthesis in BL cells and
thus for the ability of the cells to cope with oxidative stress. We have set up
an expression cloning strategy to clone genes that protect BL cells from
apoptosis induced by low cell density and/or serum. Using this approach we have
cloned among others the cDNA for Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione
Peroxidase (PHGPx).
