Structure of the apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 bound to ADP

Apoptosis is executed by caspases, which undergo proteolytic activation in response to cell death stimuli. The apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) controls caspase activation downstream of mitochondria. During apoptosis, Apaf-1 binds to cytochrome c and in the presence of ATP/dATP forms an apoptosome, leading to the recruitment and activation of the initiator caspase, caspase-9 (ref. 2). The mechanisms underlying Apaf-1 function are largely unknown. Here we report the 2.2-A crystal structure of an ADP-bound, WD40-deleted Apaf-1, which reveals the molecular mechanism by which Apaf-1 exists in an inactive state before ATP binding. The amino-terminal caspase recruitment domain packs against a three-layered alpha/beta fold, a short helical motif and a winged-helix domain, resulting in the burial of the caspase-9-binding interface. The deeply buried ADP molecule serves as an organizing centre to strengthen interactions between these four adjoining domains, thus locking Apaf-1 in an inactive conformation. Apaf-1 binds to and hydrolyses ATP/dATP and their analogues. The binding and hydrolysis of nucleotides seem to drive conformational changes that are essential for the formation of the apoptosome and the activation of caspase-9.     

Calpain的激活与鱼藤酮导致的细胞凋亡

在缺氧或呼吸链抑制剂存在条件下,细胞的呼吸链受到抑制,线粒体的功能受到直接干扰,细胞色素C通过线粒体的外膜特异性通道进入细胞浆内,启动了procaspase-3等一系列凋亡因子,细胞发生与线粒体相关的凋亡。另一方面,因线粒体的功能被抑制,细胞内的钙离子浓度升高,calpain被激活并裂解细胞膜蛋白及细胞内的生物化学分子,促进了细胞凋亡的发生。鱼藤酮作为线粒体呼吸链complexI的抑制剂可导致细胞凋亡,其凋亡途径不仅与caspase介导的机制有关,还有可能与calpain有关。     

Interaction of c-Abl and p73alpha and their collaboration to induce apoptosis.

c-Abl, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is activated by agents that damage DNA. This activation results in either arrest of the cell cycle in phase G1 or apoptotic cell death, both of which are dependent on the kinase activity of c-Abl. p73, a member of the p53 family of tumour-suppressor proteins, can also induce apoptosis. Here we show that the apoptotic activity of p73alpha requires the presence of functional, kinase-competent c-Abl. Furthermore, p73 and c-Abl can associate with each other, andthis binding is mediated by a PxxP motif in p73 and the SH3 domain of c-Abl. We find that p73 is a substrate of the c-Abl kinase and that the ability of c-Abl to phosphorylate p73 is markedly increased by gamma-irradiation. Moreover, p73 is phosphorylated in vivo in response to ionizing radiation. These findings define a pro-apoptotic signalling pathway involving p73 and c-Abl.     

The CED-4-homologous protein FLASH is involved in Fas-mediated activation of caspase-8 during apoptosis

Fas is a cell-surface receptor molecule that relays apoptotic (cell death) signals into cells. When Fas is activated by binding of its ligand, the proteolytic protein caspase-8 is recruited to a signalling complex known as DISC by binding to a Fas-associated adapter protein. A large new protein, FLASH, has now been identified by cloning of its complementary DNA. This protein contains a motif with oligomerizing activity whose sequence is similar to that of the Caenorhabditis elegans protein CED-4, and another domain (DRD domain) that interacts with a death-effector domain in caspase-8 or in the adapter protein. Stimulated Fas binds FLASH, so FLASH is probably a component of the DISC signalling complex. Transient expression of FLASH activates caspase-8, whereas overexpression of a truncated form of FLASH containing only one of its DRD or CED-4-like domains does not allow activation of caspase-8 and Fas-mediated apoptosis to occur. Overexpression of full-length FLASH blocks the anti-apoptotic effect of the adenovirus protein E1B19K. FLASH is therefore necessary for the activation of caspase-8 in Fas-mediated apoptosis.     

The prolyl isomerase Pin1 is a regulator of p53 in genotoxic response

p53 is activated in response to various genotoxic stresses resulting in cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. It is well documented that DNA damage leads to phosphorylation and activation of p53 (refs 1-3), yet how p53 is activated is still not fully understood. Here we report that DNA damage specifically induces p53 phosphorylation on Ser/Thr-Pro motifs, which facilitates its interaction with Pin1, a member of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase. Furthermore, the interaction of Pin1 with p53 is dependent on the phosphorylation that is induced by DNA damage. Consequently, Pin1 stimulates the DNA-binding activity and transactivation function of p53. The Pin1-mediated p53 activation requires the WW domain, a phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro motif interaction module, and the isomerase activity of Pin1. Moreover, Pin1-deficient cells are defective in p53 activation and timely accumulation of p53 protein, and exhibit an impaired checkpoint control in response to DNA damage. Together, these data suggest a mechanism for p53 regulation in cellular response to genotoxic stress.     

Pleiotropic defects in lymphocyte activation caused by caspase-8 mutations lead to human immunodeficiency

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is controlled by aspartate-specific cysteine proteases called caspases. In the immune system, apoptosis counters the proliferation of lymphocytes to achieve a homeostatic balance, which allows potent responses to pathogens but avoids autoimmunity. The CD95 (Fas, Apo-1) receptor triggers lymphocyte apoptosis by recruiting Fas-associated death domain (FADD), caspase-8 and caspase-10 proteins into a death-inducing signalling complex. Heterozygous mutations in CD95, CD95 ligand or caspase-10 underlie most cases of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), a human disorder that is characterized by defective lymphocyte apoptosis, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and autoimmunity. Mutations in caspase-8 have not been described in ALPS, and homozygous caspase-8 deficiency causes embryonic lethality in mice. Here we describe a human kindred with an inherited genetic deficiency of caspase-8. Homozygous individuals manifest defective lymphocyte apoptosis and homeostasis but, unlike individuals affected with ALPS, also have defects in their activation of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and natural killer cells, which leads to immunodeficiency. Thus, caspase-8 deficiency in humans is compatible with normal development and shows that caspase-8 has a postnatal role in immune activation of naive lymphocytes.     

人工合成非肽类Caspase-3抑制剂的研究进展

半胱氨酸蛋白酶（Caspase）家族是代表着一类细胞内的蛋白酶系统,在介导细胞凋亡扮演着重要的角色[1].细胞凋亡的发生是一个复杂Caspase家族引导的蛋白酶级联反应过程,尽管对于不同的细胞或不同信号传导途径诱发的凋亡过程中参与的Caspase有所不同,但Caspase-3是细胞凋亡蛋白酶级联反应的必经之路,也是凋亡的关键酶和执行者.而由Caspase调控的细胞凋亡的不正常激活是引起人体机能紊乱的一些疾病的主要根源,例如肿瘤、自身免疫性疾病、病毒性感染以及各种神经退行性疾病等.所以针对Caspases-3的抑制剂将可能是上述疾病的一种非常有效的治疗药物.由于天然的Caspase抑制剂和人工合成肽类Caspase抑制剂在特异性,透膜性,体内稳定性和活性等方面的不足,人们便开始了对人工合成非肽类抑制剂的研究.本文对近年来人工合成非肽类Caspase-3抑制剂的研究进展情况作一综述.     

Fas在云芝糖肽诱导HL-60细胞凋亡中的作用

目的：探讨云芝糖肽（PSP）诱导HL-60细胞凋亡的Fas死亡受体信号转导途径．方法：观察PSP处理后HL-60细胞的形态变化,并采用流式细胞仪及免疫印迹检测细胞Fas,FADD蛋白的表达及Caspase-8凋亡酶的激活．结果：100,400g／mLPSP处理HL-60细胞48h后,细胞出现明显凋亡特征,同时伴随Caspase-8酶原被激活和Fas抗原的表达量增加,表现为剂量依赖关系．400g／mLPSP处理36h时Caspase-8酶原开始被剪切激活,48h时激活更为显著．各实验组FADD的表达量基本没有变化．结论：Fas死亡受体信号可能参与了PSP诱导HL-60细胞凋亡．     

Endonuclease G is an apoptotic DNase when released from mitochondria.

Nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA is a hallmark of apoptosis (programmed cell death), and results from the activation of nucleases in cells undergoing apoptosis. One such nuclease, DNA fragmentation factor (DFF, a caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease (CAD) and its inhibitor (ICAD)), is capable of inducing DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation after cleavage by caspase-3 (refs 2,3,4). However, although transgenic mice lacking DFF45 or its caspase cleavage site have significantly reduced DNA fragmentation, these mice still show residual DNA fragmentation and are phenotypically normal. Here we report the identification and characterization of another nuclease that is specifically activated by apoptotic stimuli and is able to induce nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA in fibroblast cells from embryonic mice lacking DFF. This nuclease is endonuclease G (endoG), a mitochondrion-specific nuclease that translocates to the nucleus during apoptosis. Once released from mitochondria, endoG cleaves chromatin DNA into nucleosomal fragments independently of caspases. Therefore, endoG represents a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway initiated from the mitochondria.     

4种含RGD的短肽对细胞粘附作用的影响

从两方面对比研究了4种含Arg-Gly-Asp(RGD)的细胞粘附肽RGD,RGDS,RGD-(NH₂)₂即RGE-NH_{2和RGDS-NH2对细胞粘附的影响. 一方面研究了固定在聚乙交酯丙交酯共聚物（PLGA）膜上的4种细胞粘附肽通过其细胞定向作用对大肠癌细胞（HCT-8）和人成骨肉瘤细胞（OS732）细胞粘附性 的促进作用; 另一方面研究了外源性细胞粘附肽对HCT-8和OS732在纤维连接蛋白（FN）上粘附的竞争性抑制作用. 结果发现,除了RGD-(NH2)2,其他3种肽都具有明显抑制细胞粘附的作用且具有一定的浓度依赖关系,其中以RGDS和RGDS-NH2的能力最强,RGD稍弱. 对于HCT-8细胞,3种肽的最大抑制率分别为53.3%, 56.3%,37.5%;而对OS732细胞,3种肽的最大抑制率分别为50.9%,49.8%,34%.}     

BAX activation is initiated at a novel interaction site

BAX is a pro-apoptotic protein of the BCL-2 family that is stationed in the cytosol until activated by a diversity of stress stimuli to induce cell death. Anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2 counteract BAX-mediated cell death. Although an interaction site that confers survival functionality has been defined for anti-apoptotic proteins, an activation site has not been identified for BAX, rendering its explicit trigger mechanism unknown. We previously developed stabilized alpha-helix of BCL-2 domains (SAHBs) that directly initiate BAX-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. Here we demonstrate by NMR analysis that BIM SAHB binds BAX at an interaction site that is distinct from the canonical binding groove characterized for anti-apoptotic proteins. The specificity of the human BIM-SAHB-BAX interaction is highlighted by point mutagenesis that disrupts functional activity, confirming that BAX activation is initiated at this novel structural location. Thus, we have now defined a BAX interaction site for direct activation, establishing a new target for therapeutic modulation of apoptosis.     

Structural and biochemical basis of apoptotic activation by Smac/DIABLO

Apoptosis (programmed cell death), an essential process in the development and homeostasis of metazoans, is carried out by caspases. The mitochondrial protein Smac/DIABLO performs a critical function in apoptosis by eliminating the inhibitory effect of IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins) on caspases. Here we show that Smac/DIABLO promotes not only the proteolytic activation of procaspase-3 but also the enzymatic activity of mature caspase-3, both of which depend upon its ability to interact physically with IAPs. The crystal structure of Smac/DIABLO at 2.2 A resolution reveals that it homodimerizes through an extensive hydrophobic interface. Missense mutations inactivating this dimeric interface significantly compromise the function of Smac/DIABLO. As in the Drosophila proteins Reaper, Grim and Hid, the amino-terminal amino acids of Smac/DIABLO are indispensable for its function, and a seven-residue peptide derived from the amino terminus promotes procaspase-3 activation in vitro. These results establish an evolutionarily conserved structural and biochemical basis for the activation of apoptosis by Smac/DIABLO.     

Catalytic activity of the caspase-8-FLIP(L) complex inhibits RIPK3-dependent necrosis

Caspase-8 has two opposing biological functions--it promotes cell death by triggering the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis, but also has a survival activity, as it is required for embryonic development, T-lymphocyte activation, and resistance to necrosis induced by tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and related family ligands. Here we show that development of caspase-8-deficient mice is completely rescued by ablation of receptor interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3). Adult animals lacking both caspase-8 and RIPK3 display a progressive lymphoaccumulative disease resembling that seen with defects in CD95 or CD95-ligand (also known as FAS and FASLG, respectively), and resist the lethal effects of CD95 ligation in vivo. We have found that caspase-8 prevents RIPK3-dependent necrosis without inducing apoptosis by functioning in a proteolytically active complex with FLICE-like inhibitory protein long (FLIP(L), also known as CFLAR), and this complex is required for the protective function.     

Study on the enzymatic activity of Caspase-3 in response to alginic acid decomposing bacteria in Laminaria japonica Aresch.（Phaeophyta）

Caspase-3 is the major factor in apoptosis triggered by various stimuli, and plays a critical role during the apoptosis process. By using CaspGLOWTM fluorescein active caspase-3 staining method, caspase-3 enzymatic activities were detected in response to alginic acid bacteria in Laminaria japonica sporophytic tissues. Results showed that caspase-3 enzymatic activities were observed at 5 min after the infection. Caspase-3 enzymatic activity increased with the infection time, and had a tendency of moving from the infection site to outside. By applying caspase-specific peptide inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, caspase-3 activation could be effectively abolished in the infected tissues. Our results indicate that programmed cell death (PCD) may be involved in the infected Laminaria japonica sporophytic tissues, and provide the evidence that defense mechanisms in algae may have similar caspase cascade events in animals.