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Progress in studies on the DEK protein and its involvement in cellular apoptosis

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Abstract

DEK protein is an ubiquitous phosphorylated nuclear protein. Specific binding of DEK to DNA could change the topology of DNA and then affect the gene activity of the underlying DNA sequences. It is speculated that there might be some potential relationship between the stress reaction of cells and DEK proteins. The phosphorylation status of DEK protein is altered during death-receptor-mediated cell apoptosis. Both phosphorylation and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation could promote the release of DEK from apoptotic nuclei to extracellular environment, and in this case DEK becomes a potential autoantigen of some autoimmune diseases. The available evidence powerfully suggests that DEK protein is closely relevant to apoptosis. The overexpression of DEK protein has dual function in cell apoptosis, in terms of inhibiting or triggering cell apoptosis.

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  1. College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044, China

    Ying Hua, HongGang Hu & XiangLei Peng

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  2. HongGang Hu
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Correspondence to HongGang Hu.

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Supported by the Science and Technology Foundation of Beijing Jiaotong University (Grant Nos. 2006RC035 and 2007XM047).

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Hua, Y., Hu, H. & Peng, X. Progress in studies on the DEK protein and its involvement in cellular apoptosis. SCI CHINA SER C 52, 637–642 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-009-0088-2

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