Abstract
Exogenously added granulysin was reported to
kill mammalian target cells. The sites of actions
and molecular mechanisms of granulysin in target
cell killing, however, are presently unclear. We
here examine the effects of granulysin with the target
HeLa cells transiently expressed with GFPfused
9 kDa granulysin. Endogenously expressed
GFP-fused granulysin was preferentially localized
in the nucleus and induced apoptotic cell death
accompanying with phosphatidylserine translocation
and nuclear condensation in a caspase-independent
manner. These results suggest that granulysin
enters the nucleus of target cells and
induces apoptosis.
