Signalling events during radiation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes

The mechanisms of signal triggering, enhancement and transduction during radiation-induced apoptosis of the thymocytes are discussed. Apoptosis is triggered by aggregation of receptors accompanied by activation of protein tyrosine kinases. The receptor aggregation is caused by radiation-induced cross-links. The signal is transduced to the gene from protein tyrosine kinase through Ras-proteins, protein kinase C, and transcription factors. The necessity of the lipoxygenase gene expression and synthesis of this enzyme for support and enhancement of the apoptotic signal is postulated.