Zinc Finger And BTB Domain Containing Protein 38 (ZBTB38)

Zbtb38 was highly expressed in C2C12 mouse myoblasts, and that its expression decreased upon serum starvation-induced apoptosis. Knockdown of Zbtb38 by small interfering RNA also induced apoptosis in C2C12 cells, which was associated with activation of caspases Casp3, Casp7, and Casp9 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Zbtb38 knockdown in p53 -/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts also activated Casp3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, suggesting that Zbtb38 knockdown-associated apoptosis was dependent on mitochondria but independent of p53. Knockdown of Zbtb38 in mouse fibroblasts did not induce apoptosis directly, but sensitized these cells to apoptosis triggered by ultraviolet light or actinomycin D, suggesting that apoptosis due to Zbtb38 inhibition is cell type-specific.