Activation of mitogen activated protein kinase in dolichyl phosphate-induced apoptosis in U937 cells

Exogenous dolichyl phosphate (Dol-P) induced apoptosis in the human monoblastic leukemia cell line U937 within 4 hours. Phosphorylation of p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) increased prior to DNA fragmentation. MAP kinase activation occurred within 5 min, and the maximum response was observed at 30 min. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase by herbimycin A resulted in complete inhibition of DNA fragmentation and partial inhibition of cell death. These results suggested that Dol-P-induced apoptosis is mediated by the MAP kinase cascade. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.