Abstract.
Fas-associated factor 1 (Faf1) has been described as a Fas-binding pro-apoptotic protein and as a component of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Faf1 is able to potentiate Fas-induced apoptosis in several cell lines, although its specific functions are still not clear. Here we show that Faf1 is highly expressed in several areas of the developing telencephalon. Its expression pattern appears to be dynamic at different embryonic stages and to be progressively confined within limited territories. To decipher the specific role of Faf1 in developing brain, we used cDNA over-expression and mRNA down-regulation experiments to modulate Faf1 expression in telencephalic neural precursor cells, and we showed that in neural cell death Faf1 acts as a Fas-independent apoptotic enhancer. Moreover, we found that Faf1 protein level is down-regulated during apoptosis in a caspase- and Apaf1-dependent manner.
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Received 11 February 2008; received after revision 28 March 2008; accepted 21 April 2008
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Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0 ), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
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De Zio, D., Ferraro, E., D’Amelio, M. et al. Faf1 is expressed during neurodevelopment and is involved in Apaf1-dependent caspase-3 activation in proneural cells. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 1780–1790 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8075-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8075-5