Specific degradation of keratin in Xenopus laevis egg extracts undergoing apoptosis

Cytochrome c activates apoptosis specific protease XCPP32 when being added to Xenopus laevis egg extracts, and induces apoptosis in this cell-free system. During apoptosis, cyto-skeleton proteins in egg extracts are degraded. Western blot assay indicates that 42-ku acidic keratin in egg extracts has been degraded by XCPP32. The degradation of 42-ku keratin may be crucial in apoptosis.