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Query: UNIPROT:P42574 (caspase-3)
 45,978 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Smac/DIABLO, HtrA2/Omi, and caspase-9 play key roles in the initiation of apoptosis. The inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are believed to bind to the N-terminal IAP binding motifs of the mature (proteolytically processed) forms of Smac, HtrA2, and caspase-9. However, we show here that BRUCE/Apollon, a 528-kDa IAP whose degradation promotes apoptosis, associates with their precursors as well as the mature forms by binding to regions in addition to the IAP binding motif. Through these associations, BRUCE promotes the degradation of Smac and inhibits the activity of caspase-9 but not the effector caspase, caspase-3. In response to apoptotic stimuli, BRUCE is degraded by proteasomes and/or cleaved by caspases and HtrA2 depending on the specific stimulus and the cell type. These results suggest that the ability of BRUCE to antagonize both the precursor and mature forms of Smac and caspase-9 is an important mechanism for the prevention of apoptosis under normal conditions.
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PMID:The membrane-associated inhibitor of apoptosis protein, BRUCE/Apollon, antagonizes both the precursor and mature forms of Smac and caspase-9. 1550 51

In the present study, we determined whether a pan caspase inhibitor could prevent or attenuate heat-induced germ cell apoptosis. Groups of five adult (8 wk old) C57BL/6 mice pretreated with vehicle (DMSO) or Quinoline-Val-Asp (Ome)-CH2-O-Ph (Q-VD-OPH), a new generation broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, were exposed once to local testicular heating (43 degrees C for 15 min) and killed 6 h later. The inhibitor (40 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 1 h before local testicular heating. Germ cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and quantitated as number of apoptotic germ cells per 100 Sertoli cells at stages XI-XII. Compared with controls (16.8 +/- 3.1), mild testicular hyperthermia within 6 h resulted in a marked activation (277.3 +/- 21.6) of germ cell apoptosis, as previously reported by us. Q-VD-OPH at this dose markedly inhibited caspase 3 activation and significantly prevented (by 67.0%) heat-induced germ cell apoptosis. Q-VD-OPH-mediated rescue of germ cells was independent of cytosolic translocation of mitochondrial cytochrome c and DIABLO. Electron microscopy further revealed normal appearance of these rescued cells. Similar protection from heat-induced germ cell apoptosis was also noted after pretreatment with minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline that effectively inhibits cytochrome c release and, in turn, caspase activation. Collectively, the present study emphasizes the role of caspases in heat-induced germ cell apoptosis.
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PMID:Functional role of caspases in heat-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. 1550 30

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in a wide variety of malignant cell lines, in contrast to normal cells, but with considerable heterogeneity in response. Death receptor-mediated apoptosis may be attenuated by a variety of different mechanisms, including phosphorylation-based signaling pathways. We have demonstrated that casein kinase I can attenuate TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human cell lines derived from colon adenocarcinoma (HT29 and HCT8) and pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (JR1). Inhibition of casein kinase I (CKI) phosphorylation events in HT29, HCT8, and JR1 cells by CKI-7 dramatically increased apoptosis after exposure to TRAIL, in the absence of apoptosis induced by TRAIL treatment alone. CKI inhibition enhanced the recruitment of Fas-associated death domain and procaspase-8 to the death-inducing signaling complex after TRAIL treatment and enhanced cleavage of procaspase-8 at the death-inducing signaling complex. In HT29 cells studied further, rapid cleavage of caspase-8, caspase-3, Bid, and the caspase substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase occurred when CKI-7 and TRAIL were combined. Overexpression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, or mutant DN-Fas-associated death domain protected HT29 cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the presence of the CKI inhibitor. In addition, TRAIL combined with CKI-7 promoted the release of cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO, HtrA2/Omi, and AIF from the mitochondria and down-regulated the expression of XIAP and c-IAP1. Small hairpin RNAs directed against CKI revealed that the CKIalpha isoform contributed significantly to the inhibition of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that CKIalpha plays an antiapoptotic role through the generation of phosphorylated sites at the level of the death-inducing signaling complex, thereby conferring resistance to caspase cleavage mediated by TRAIL.
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PMID:Casein kinase I attenuates tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-induced apoptosis by regulating the recruitment of fas-associated death domain and procaspase-8 to the death-inducing signaling complex. 1552 Feb 13

Transient global ischemia induces a delayed rise in intracellular Zn2+, which may be mediated via glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2)-lacking AMPA receptors (AMPARs), and selective, delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons. The molecular mechanisms underlying Zn2+ toxicity in vivo are not well delineated. Here we show the striking finding that intraventricular injection of the high-affinity Zn2+ chelator calcium EDTA (CaEDTA) at 30 min before ischemia (early CaEDTA) or at 48-60 hr (late CaEDTA), but not 3-6 hr, after ischemia, afforded robust protection of CA1 neurons in approximately 50% (late CaEDTA) to 75% (early CaEDTA) of animals. We also show that Zn2+ acts via temporally distinct mechanisms to promote neuronal death. Early CaEDTA attenuated ischemia-induced GluR2 mRNA and protein downregulation (and, by inference, formation of Zn2+-permeable AMPARs), the delayed rise in Zn2+, and neuronal death. These findings suggest that Zn2+ acts at step(s) upstream from GluR2 gene downregulation and implicate Zn2+ in transcriptional regulation and/or GluR2 mRNA stability. Early CaEDTA also blocked mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases/direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein-binding protein with low pI), caspase-3 activity (but not procaspase-3 cleavage), p75NTR induction, and DNA fragmentation. These findings indicate that CaEDTA preserves the functional integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane and arrests the caspase death cascade. Late injection of CaEDTA at a time when GluR2 is downregulated and caspase is activated inhibited the delayed rise in Zn2+, p75NTR induction, DNA fragmentation, and cell death. The finding of neuroprotection by late CaEDTA administration has striking implications for intervention in the delayed neuronal death associated with global ischemia.
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PMID:Late calcium EDTA rescues hippocampal CA1 neurons from global ischemia-induced death. 1552 75

We investigated the expression of XIAP (X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) and Smac/DIABLO, a newly identified mitochondrial apoptogenig molecule in the hippocampus following transient global ischemia. Transient global ischemia produced by two-vessel occlusion triggers the delayed neuronal death of CA1 neurons in the hippocampus. We demonstrate that CA1 neuronal loss induced by ischemia (10 min) is preceded by a selective and marked elevation of catalytically active caspase-3 in these neurons, indicative of apoptosis. XIAP (X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) gene family that, in addition to suppressing cell death by inhibition of caspases, is involved in an increasing number of signalling cascades. The present study shows alterations in the levels of XIAP and of Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondrial activator of caspase) after cerebral ischemia. The protein levels of XIAP and the number of XIAP-positive cells were regulated by cerebral ischemia in a strictly time and region dependent manner. The largest change in XIAP-IR was observed in the CA1 sub field, which is the most vulnerable area of hippocampus. The mitochondrial expression level of Smac/DIABLO increased during reperfusion. Smac/DIABLO expression was associated with alteration of the XIAP levels and the appearance of activated form of caspase-3 within the hippocampus during reperfusion in spatial and temporal manners.
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PMID:Regulation of XIAP and Smac/DIABLO in the rat hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia. 1556 14

2-(8-Hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-oxo-1Eta-2-benzopyran-3-yl)propionic acid (NM-3) is a small molecule isocoumarin derivative that has recently entered clinical trials as an orally bioavailable anticancer agent. NM-3 induces lethality of human carcinoma cells by both apoptotic and nonapoptotic mechanisms and potentiates the effects of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. The present studies have evaluated the effects of NM-3 on human multiple myeloma (MM) cells. The results demonstrate that NM-3 potentiates dexamethasone-induced killing of both dexamethasone-sensitive MM1.S and dexamethasone-resistant RPMI8226 and U266 MM cells. We show that NM-3 enhances dexamethasone-induced release of the mitochondrial apoptogenic factors cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. The results also demonstrate that NM-3 enhances dexamethasone-induced activation of the intrinsic caspase-9->caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. In concert with these results, NM-3 potentiates dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of MM1.S cells. Moreover, NM-3 acts synergistically with dexamethasone in inducing apoptosis of the dexamethasone-resistant RPMI8226 and U266 MM cells. These findings indicate that NM-3 may be effective in combination with dexamethasone in the treatment of MM.
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PMID:2-(8-Hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-oxo-1H-2-benzopyran-3-yl)propionic acid, a small molecule isocoumarin, potentiates dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of human multiple myeloma cells. 1557 55

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) uses its second baculovirus IAP repeat domain (BIR2) to inhibit the apoptotic executioner caspase-3 and -7. Structural studies have demonstrated that it is not the BIR2 domain itself but a segment N-terminal to it that directly targets the activity of these caspases. These studies failed to demonstrate a role of the BIR2 domain in inhibition. We used site-directed mutagenesis of BIR2 and its linker to determine the mechanism of executioner caspase inhibition by XIAP. We show that the BIR2 domain contributes substantially to inhibition of executioner caspases. A surface groove on BIR2, which also binds to Smac/DIABLO, interacts with a neoepitope generated at the N-terminus of the caspase small subunit following activation. Therefore, BIR2 uses a two-site interaction mechanism to achieve high specificity and potency for inhibition. Moreover, for caspase-7, the precise location of the activating cleavage is critical for subsequent inhibition. Since apical caspases utilize this cleavage site differently, we predict that the origin of the death stimulus should dictate the efficiency of inhibition by XIAP.
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PMID:XIAP inhibits caspase-3 and -7 using two binding sites: evolutionarily conserved mechanism of IAPs. 1565 Jul 47

Members of the IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) family function as anti-apoptotic proteins by binding directly to caspase-3, -7, and -9 to inhibit their activities. During apoptosis, the activities of IAPs are relieved by a second mitochondria-derived caspase activator, named Smac/DIABLO. Some IAPs have a C-terminal RING finger domain that has been identified as the essential motif for the activity of ubiquitin ligase (E3). Here we show that X-linked IAP (XIAP) mediates the polyubiquitination of caspase-9 and Smac. The large subunit of mature caspase-9 was polyubiquitinated by XIAP in vitro, while procaspase-9 was not. Furthermore, the polyubiquitinated form of caspase-9 accumulated in an XIAP-dependent manner in intact cells. The ubiquitination of caspase-9 was significantly inhibited in the presence of mature Smac, whereas XIAP was also found to promote the polyubiquitination of cytosolic Smac both in vitro and in intact cells. These ubiquitination reactions require the RING finger domain of XIAP. These findings suggest that XIAP functions as ubiquitin ligase toward mature caspase-9 and Smac to inhibit apoptosis.
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PMID:X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis functions as ubiquitin ligase toward mature caspase-9 and cytosolic Smac/DIABLO. 1574 26

Sulforaphane, a constituent of many edible cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, effectively suppresses proliferation of cancer cells in culture and in vivo by causing apoptosis induction, but the sequence of events leading to cell death is poorly defined. Here, we show that multidomain proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bak play a critical role in apoptosis induction by sulforaphane. This conclusion is based on the following observations: (a) sulforaphane treatment caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in the protein levels of both Bax and Bak and conformational change and mitochondrial translocation of Bax in SV40-transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) derived from wild-type mice to trigger cytosolic release of apoptogenic molecules (cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO), activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and ultimately cell death; (b) MEFs derived from Bax or Bak knockout mice resisted cell death by sulforaphane, and (c) MEFs derived from Bax and Bak double knockout mice exhibited even greater protection against sulforaphane-induced cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and apoptosis compared with wild-type or single knockout cells. Interestingly, sulforaphane treatment also caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in the protein level of Apaf-1 in wild-type, Bax-/-, and Bak-/- MEFs but not in double knockout, suggesting that Bax and Bak might regulate sulforaphane-mediated induction of Apaf-1 protein. A marked decline in the protein level of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis on treatment with sulforaphane was also observed. Thus, it is reasonable to postulate that sulforaphane-induced apoptosis is amplified by a decrease in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis level, which functions to block cell death by inhibiting activities of caspases. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that Bax and Bak proteins play a critical role in initiation of cell death by sulforaphane.
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PMID:Bax and Bak are required for apoptosis induction by sulforaphane, a cruciferous vegetable-derived cancer chemopreventive agent. 1575 4

Apoptosis has been implicated in the regulation of denervation-induced muscle atrophy. However, the activation of apoptotic signal transduction during muscle denervation has not been fully elucidated. The present study examined the apoptotic responses to denervation in rat gastrocnemius muscle. Following 14 days of denervation, the extent of apoptotic DNA fragmentation as determined by a cytosolic nucleosome ELISA was increased by 100% in the gastrocnemius muscle. RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses indicated that Bax was dramatically upregulated while Bcl-2 was modestly increased; however, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was significantly increased in denervated muscles relative to control muscles. Analyses of ELISA and immunoblots from mitochondria-free cytosol extracts showed a significant increase in mitochondria-associated apoptotic factors, including cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). In addition to the upregulation of caspase-3 and -9 mRNA, pro-/cleaved caspase protein and proteolytic activity levels, the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) protein level was downregulated. The cleaved product of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was detected in muscle samples following denervation. Although we did not find a difference in the inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation-2 (Id2) and c-Myc protein contents between the denervated and control muscles, the protein content of tumour suppressor p53 was significantly increased in both the nuclear and the cytosolic fractions with denervation. Moreover, denervation increased the protein content of HSP70, whereas the MnSOD (a mitochondrial isoform of superoxide dismutase) protein content was diminished, which indicated that denervation might have induced cellular and/or oxidative stress. Our data show that mitochondria-associated apoptotic signalling is upregulated during muscle denervation. We interpret these findings to indicate that apoptosis has a physiologically important role in regulating denervation-induced muscle atrophy.
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PMID:Mitochondria-associated apoptotic signalling in denervated rat skeletal muscle. 1577 33


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