Implication of mitochondrial involvement in apoptotic activity of fragile histidine triad gene: Application of synchronous luminescence spectroscopy

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) tumor suppressor gene incorporates the common human chromosomal fragile site at 3p14.2. The structure and expression of the FHIT gene are frequently altered in many cancers. The tumor suppressor activity of the FHIT gene has been previously demonstrated as potentially involving apoptotic induction. Here, mitochondria are implicated as being involved in the apoptotic activity of the FHIT gene. A number of morphological and biochemical events, including the disruption of the inner mitochondrial transmembrane potential ((delta)(psi)m) and the release of apoptogenic cytochrome c protein into the cytoplasm, are characteristic features of the apoptotic program. The proapoptotic activity of the FHIT gene is studied by investigating the loss of (delta)(psi)m in mitochondria and translocation of cytochrome c. Synchronous luminescence (SL) spectroscopy is applied to measure mitochondrial incorporation of rhodamine 123 for direct analysis of alterations in the mitochondrial (delta)(psi)m. The SL methodology is based on synchronous excitation in which the excitation and emission wavelengths are scanned simultaneously while a constant wavelength interval is maintained between the excitation and emission monochromators. An enhanced collapse of (delta)(psi)m in apoptotically induced FHIT expressing cells compared to FHIT negative cells is observed. The loss of (delta)(psi)m is greatly restricted in the presence of the apoptotic inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Cytoplasmic translocation of cytochrome c in the FHIT expressing cells as an early event in apoptosis is also demonstrated. It is concluded that Fhit protein expression maintained apoptotic function by altering the (delta)(psi)m and by enhancing cytochrome c efflux from the mitochondria.