FIG 11.

A proposed model for MEV NS1-induced mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis. MEV infection induces apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. The full-length MEV NS1 protein induces apoptosis through activating the mitochondrial pathway through indirectly activating p38 MAPK by phosphorylation at threonine 180 and tyrosine 182. The activated p38 MAPK then directly activates p53 via phosphorylation at serines 15 and 20, thereby decreasing Bcl-2 expression and increaing Bax expression, which motivates mitochondrial damage and progression of apoptosis.