Cancer Institute A national cancer institute
designated cancer center

Amato J. Giaccia

Publication Details

  • Inhibition of the anti-apoptotic PI(3)K/Akt/Bad pathway by stress.

    Zundel W, Giaccia A. Genes Dev. 1998; 12 (13): 1941-6

    The initiation of apoptosis often transpires in the presence of agents that regulate cell survival. This study evaluated the effects of stress-induced ceramide on the anti-apoptotic activity of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase [PI(3)K] pathway. PI(3)K activity is directly down-regulated by stress-induced ceramide in a dose-dependent manner with rapid kinetics and high specificity. Ceramide inhibition of PI(3)K is dependent on acid-sphingomyelinase. Down-regulation of PI(3)K by ceramide results in inhibition of the kinase Akt and decreased phosphorylation of the death effector Bad. Thus, ceramide levels could act as a general apoptotic rheostat controlling cell survival by regulating PI(3)K anti-apoptotic effector mechanisms.

    PubMedID: 9649498

Stanford Medicine Resources:

Footer Links: