Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.22.36 (caspase-1)
 6,285 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Members of the ICE/Ced-3 gene family are likely effector components of the cell death machinery. Here, we characterize a novel member of this family designated ICE-LAP6. By phylogenetic analysis, ICE-LAP6 is classified into the Ced-3 subfamily which includes Ced-3, Yama/CPP32/apopain, Mch2, and ICE-LAP3/Mch3/CMH-1. Interestingly, ICE-LAP6 contains an active site QACGG pentapeptide, rather than the QACRG pentapeptide shared by other family members. Overexpression of ICE-LAP6 induces apoptosis in MCF7 breast carcinoma cells. More importantly, ICE-LAP6 is proteolytically processed into an active cysteine protease by granzyme B, an important component of cytotoxic T cell-mediated apoptosis. Once activated, ICE-LAP6 is able to cleave the death substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase into signature apoptotic fragments.
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PMID:ICE-LAP6, a novel member of the ICE/Ced-3 gene family, is activated by the cytotoxic T cell protease granzyme B. 866 94

Phylogenetic analysis of the CED-3/ICE family of cysteine proteases suggests the existence of a subfamily most related to the Caenorhabditis elegans death gene ced-3 and includes Yama (CPP32, apopain), LAP3 (Mch3, CMH1), and Mch2. Here, we show that Mch2 is processed from its zymogen form to a proteolytically active dimeric species during execution of the apoptotic program and by the cytotoxic T cell death protease granzyme B. Additionally, like Yama and LAP3, Mch2 functions downstream of the death inhibitors Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and CrmA. Importantly, Mch2, but not Yama or LAP3, is capable of cleaving lamin A to its signature apoptotic fragment, indicating that Mch2 is an apoptotic laminase.
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PMID:The CED-3/ICE-like protease Mch2 is activated during apoptosis and cleaves the death substrate lamin A. 866 80

Members of the ICE/CED-3 protease family appear to play an essential role in programmed cell death process. In this paper the chromosomal localization of the human genes CPP32, Mch2, Mch3 and Ich-1 is reported, obtained by Radiation Hybrid Mapping. CPP32 was assigned to chromosome 4q33-q35.1, Mch2 to chromosome 4q25-q26, Mch3 to chromosome 10q25.1-q25.2 and Ich-1 to chromosome 7q35. Ich-1 was found to map very close to the marker WI-9353. The possible overlapping of the two independent locus assignments is considered. The genomic distribution of these genes is discussed, with particular reference to the co-location with some human genetic diseases all characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance and by similar malformative features.
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PMID:Chromosomal localization of the human genes, CPP32, Mch2, Mch3, and Ich-1, involved in cellular apoptosis. 878 Jul 21

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killers (NK) cells provide immune surveillance against viruses and neoplasms, and play a central role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, AIDS and graft rejection. Thus, it is important to understand the precise molecular mechanism(s) whereby cytotoxic lymphocytes destroy susceptible target cells. Granule-mediated cytotoxicity requires a combination of both perforin and granzyme B. Perforin polymerizes to form transmembrane channels and presumably allows granzyme B access to target cell substrates, which until recently, were unknown. One clue to the identity of the physiological substrate(s) activated by granzyme B comes from its unusual specificity for cleaving synthetic substrates after aspartate residues. Members of the ICE/CED-3 family of cysteine proteases are prime candidates as they are important apoptotic effectors and are expressed as zymogens, which can be processed to form active heterodimeric enzymes after cleavage at specific aspartate residues. Previous studies have shown that granzyme B proteolytically activates the cell death effector Yama/CPP32/apopain (referred to here as Yama). Here we report that granzyme B also activates ICE-LAP3/Mch3/CMH-1 (referred to here as ICE-LAP3), which, along with Yama and Mch2, forms a subset of the ICE/CED-3 family of cysteine proteases most closely related to the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene, CED-3. Importantly, Jurkat T cells incubated with granzyme B and a sublytic concentration of perforin undergo apoptosis, which is preceded by the activation of endogenous ICE-LAP3. Thus, we propose that granzyme B mediates apoptosis by directly engaging the target cell's death effector machinery, which is probably composed of an arsenal of intracellular, CED-3-like cysteine proteases.
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PMID:Cytotoxic T-cell-derived granzyme B activates the apoptotic protease ICE-LAP3. 880 7

The Fas/APO-1-receptor associated cysteine protease Mch5 (MACH/FLICE) is believed to be the enzyme responsible for activating a protease cascade after Fas-receptor ligation, leading to cell death. The Fas-apoptotic pathway is potently inhibited by the cowpox serpin CrmA, suggesting that Mch5 could be the target of this serpin. Bacterial expression of proMch5 generated a mature enzyme composed of two subunits, which are derived from the pre-cursor proenzyme by processing at Asp-227, Asp-233, Asp-391, and Asp-401. We demonstrate that recombinant Mch5 is able to process/activate all known ICE/Ced-3-like cysteine proteases and is potently inhibited by CrmA. This contrasts with the observation that Mch4, the second FADD-related cysteine protease that is also able to process/activate all known ICE/Ced-3-like cysteine proteases, is poorly inhibited by CrmA. These data suggest that Mch5 is the most upstream protease that receives the activation signal from the Fas-receptor to initiate the apoptotic protease cascade that leads to activation of ICE-like proteases (TX, ICE, and ICE-relIII), Ced-3-like proteases (CPP32, Mch2, Mch3, Mch4, and Mch6), and the ICH-1 protease. On the other hand, Mch4 could be a second upstream protease that is responsible for activation of the same protease cascade in CrmA-insensitive apoptotic pathways.
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PMID:Molecular ordering of the Fas-apoptotic pathway: the Fas/APO-1 protease Mch5 is a CrmA-inhibitable protease that activates multiple Ced-3/ICE-like cysteine proteases. 896 78

Employing the degenerate primer-dependent polymerase chain reaction approach used recently to clone human Mch2, we have identified and cloned the insect Spodoptera frugiperda target of the baculovirus antiapoptotic protein p35. This protein named Sf caspase-1 belongs to the family of caspases and is highly related to human Mch3 and CPP32 in sequence and specific activity. The proenzyme of Sf caspase-1 is 299 amino acids in length and can undergo autocatalytic processing in Escherichia coli to an active enzyme heterocomplex. Autoprocessing occurs at Asp-28, Asp-184, and Asp-195 to generate the large p19/p18 and small p12 subunits. Sf caspase-1 is able to induce apoptosis in Sf9 cells and is capable of cleaving p35 to similar sized fragments as observed with extracts from p35 null mutant baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. Sf caspase-1 activity is potently inhibited by p35, suggesting that it is an important target of this antiapoptotic protein. Finally, the Sf9 nuclear immunophilin FKBP46 was identified as a death-associated substrate for Sf caspase-1.
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PMID:Spodoptera frugiperda caspase-1, a novel insect death protease that cleaves the nuclear immunophilin FKBP46, is the target of the baculovirus antiapoptotic protein p35. 899 5

The activity of ICE-like proteases or caspases is essential for apoptosis. Multiple caspases participate in apoptosis in mammalian cells but how many caspases are involved and what is their relative contribution to cell death is poorly understood. To identify caspases activated in apoptotic cells, we developed an approach to simultaneously detect multiple active caspases. Using tumor cells as a model, we have found that CPP32 (caspase 3) and Mch2 (caspase 6) are the major active caspases in apoptotic cells, and are activated in response to distinct apoptosis-inducing stimuli and in all cell lines analyzed. Both CPP32 and Mch2 are present in apoptotic cells as multiple active species. In a given cell line these species remained the same irrespective of the apoptotic stimulus used. However, the species of CPP32 and Mch2 detected varied between cell lines, indicating differences in caspase processing. The strategy described here is widely applicable to identify active caspases involved in apoptosis.
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PMID:Multiple species of CPP32 and Mch2 are the major active caspases present in apoptotic cells. 917 42

In the present study, we demonstrate that rat kidney contains caspase activity that was markedly inhibited by specific peptide inhibitors of caspases but not by inhibitors of Ser, Cys, Asp, or metalloproteinases. Using primers based on the nucleotide sequence of known members of Ced-3/interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE) family from human origin, we have identified by reverse-transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses that rat kidney transcribes the genes for caspase-1 (ICE), caspase-2 (Nedd2), caspase-3 (CPP32), and caspase-6 (Mch2). RT-PCR products, when subcloned and sequenced, provided full-length cDNAs for ICE (1,209 bp) and CPP32 (786 bp) and partial cDNA products for Mch2 (561 bp) and Nedd2 (811 bp). The sequence analysis of the caspase cDNAs showed conserved catalytic site QACRG as well as Asp cleavage site. Rat kidneys subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury revealed differential expression of caspases with marked increase in CPP32 and ICE mRNA and proteins during reperfusion, transient increase in Nedd2 mRNA and proteins during ischemia and the early period of reperfusion, and little change in Mch2 expression during the ischemia or reperfusion period. The altered expression suggests that caspases may act in concert in a cascade and may play an important role in ischemic acute renal failure.
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PMID:Identification of gene family of caspases in rat kidney and altered expression in ischemia-reperfusion injury. 953 Feb 76

Caspase activation and dependence on caspases has been observed in different paradigms of apoptotic cell death in vivo and in vitro. The present study examines the role of caspases in ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis in the developing cerebellum of rats subjected to a single dose (2-Gy gamma rays) of whole-body irradiation at postnatal day 3. Radiation-induced apoptosis in the external granule cell layer, as defined by the presence of cells by extremely condensed, often fragmented nucleus, which were stained with the method of in situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation, first appeared at 3 h and peaked at 6 h following irradiation. Increased expression of the precursors of caspase 1 (ICE), 2 (Nedd2), 3 (CPP32), 6 (Mch2), and 8 (Mch5 and FLICE), and increased expression of active caspase 3, as revealed by immunohistochemistry, were observed in the external granule cell layer of the cerebellum. Radiation-induced apoptosis was accompanied by an increase in the expression of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) fragment of about 89 kD, as revealed by Western blots of cerebellar homogenates. This was not associated with modifications of protein kinase Cdelta and Lamin B. Concomitant injection in the culmen of the cerebellum in irradiated rats of high doses of Y-VAD-cmk, DEV-fmk, or IETD-fmk resulted in decreased expression of the PARP fragment in cerebellar homogenates. This was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of active caspase 3, as shown by immunohistochemistry. These observations suggest caspase activation following ionizing radiation. However, no differences in the number and morphological and biochemical characteristics of apoptotic cells, including strong nuclear and cytoplasmic c-Jun/AP-1 (N) expression, were observed between irradiated and both irradiated and caspase inhibitor-treated rats. Taken together, these observations suggest that the caspases examined are not essential for radiation-induced apoptosis in the developing cerebellum.
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PMID:Role of caspases in ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis in the developing cerebellum. 1059 Jan 78

Caspases play crucial roles in the inflammatory response and in the cell pathway leading to apoptosis. Caspase 1 (ICE), 2 (Nedd2), 3 (CPP32), 6 (Mch2) and 8 (Mch5, FLICE) expression was examined using immunohistochemistry in the brains of rats and gerbils following systemic administration of kainic acid (KA). The distribution of caspase expression was compared with the distribution of c-Fos expression, a transcription factor that is produced in response to the excitotoxic insult. Strong caspase 2 immunoreactivity was found in microglia up to 6 h following KA administration. Focal strong expression of caspases 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 was observed in astrocytes and neurons, from 12 to 48 h after KA injection, in areas in which a number of neurons were committed to die. This distribution was in contrast with the generalised distribution of c-Fos expression following KA administration. Only a minority of neurons in the entorhinal cortex, amygdala and hilus, but a majority of neurons in selected thalamic nuclei, exhibited strong caspase expression in KA-treated rats. Similar findings, although minimised, were observed in KA-treated gerbils. Double-labelling caspase immunohistochemistry and in situ end-labelling of nuclear DNA fragmentation disclosed co-localisation of strong caspase expression and nuclear DNA breaks in a small percentage of neurons but no co-localisation in astrocytes. Western blots of entorhinal cortex and neocortex homogenates showed cleavage of certain caspase substrates in KA-treated rats. The intensity of the bands corresponding to lamin B and protein kinase C-delta was decreased in the entorhinal cortex following KA administration. Several bands appeared in the entorhinal cortex and neocortex paragraph signin Western blots processed for the demonstration of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), thus indicating that other proteases, in addition to caspases, cleaved PARP following KA administration. Taken together, these findings indicate that KA excitotoxicity triggers caspase expression which, although predominant in regions subjected to irreversible cell damage, has only a weak association with the presence of nuclear DNA breaks and neuron cell death. Although these results suggest caspase activation, further studies have to be performed to elucidate whether caspase activation plays a crucial role in KA excitotoxicity.
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PMID:Differential c-Fos and caspase expression following kainic acid excitotoxicity. 1066 66


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