Molecular signaling mechanisms of apoptosis in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer

Figure 1 Molecular signaling mechanisms of apoptosis. Schematic representation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways that lead to activation of caspase cascade and programmed cell death.

Figure 2 Mechanism of DNA mismatch repair. Figure shows how DNA mismatch repair system (MutS and MutL) detects DNA mismatches as well as insertion/deletion mutations during DNA replication and repairs it with the help of the DNA mismatch repair system.

Figure 3 Relationship of mismatch repair proteins with apoptosis. This diagram depicts possible relationship between DNA mismatch repair proteins and HNPCC, and its possible link with apoptosis. MMR: DNA mismatch repair; ATR: Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein; ATM: Ataxia telangiectasia mutated; HNPCC: Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.

Figure 4 Possible link of the expression of mismatch repair proteins MLH1 and MSH2 with apoptosis. A differential expression of MSH2 and MLH1 mismatch repair proteins in SW480, HCT116 and LoVo colorectal carcinoma cell lines (A). These cells also show variation in etoposide induced apoptosis (B) suggesting a possible link of mismatch repair proteins and apoptosis.