Ralph R Weichselbaum

Involvement of c-Abl Tyrosine Kinase in Apoptotic Response to Anticancer Agents

The cellular response to anticancer agents that damage DNA includes cell-cycle arrest, activation of DNA repair; and induction of apoptosis. However, the signals that determine cell fate, that is, survival or apoptosis, are largely unknown. The c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated by diverse types of DNA damage. The available information supports a model in which certain sensors of DNA lesions activate the c-Abl kinase. Other findings support a proapoptotic function for the activated c-Abl kinase that is mediated by at least several downstream effectors known to be associated with the induction of apoptosis.