Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P42574 (caspase-3)
45,978 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The prevention of apoptosis by Zn2+ has generally been attributed to its inhibition of an endonuclease acting in the late phase of apoptosis. In this study we investigated the effect of Zn2+ on an earlier event in the apoptotic process, the proteolysis of the "death substrate" poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Pretreatment of intact Molt4 leukemia cells with micromolar concentrations of Zn2+ caused an inhibition of PARP proteolysis induced by the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide. Using a cell-free system consisting of purified bovine PARP as a substrate and an apoptotic extract or recombinant caspase-3 as the PARP protease, Zn2+ inhibited PARP proteolysis in the low micromolar range. To rule out an effect of Zn2+ on PARP, a protein with two zinc finger domains, we used recombinant caspase-3 and a chromogenic tetrapeptide substrate containing the caspase-3 cleavage site. In this system, Zn2+ inhibited caspase-3 with an IC50 of 0.1 microM. These results identify caspase-3 as a novel target of Zn2+ inhibition in apoptosis and suggest a regulatory role for Zn2+ in modulating the upstream apoptotic machinery.
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PMID:Zinc is a potent inhibitor of the apoptotic protease, caspase-3. A novel target for zinc in the inhibition of apoptosis. 922 15

The inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins, originally identified in baculoviruses, regulate programmed cell death in a variety of organisms. IAPs inhibit specific enzymes (caspases) in the death cascade and contain one to three modules of a common 70-amino-acid motif called the BIR domain. Here we describe the nuclear magnetic resonance structure of a region encompassing the second BIR domain (BIR2) of a human IAP family member, XIAP (also called hILP or MIHA). The structure of the BIR domain consists of a three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet and four alpha-helices and resembles a classical zinc finger. Unexpectedly, conserved amino acids within the linker region between the BIR1 and BIR2 domains were found to be critical for inhibiting caspase-3. The absence or presence of these residues may explain the differences in caspase inhibition observed for different truncated and full-length IAPs. Our data further indicate that these residues may bind to the active site and that the BIR domain may interact with an adjacent site on the enzyme.
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PMID:NMR structure and mutagenesis of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein XIAP. 1054 11

The inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) regulate the caspase family of cysteine proteases, which play an important role in the execution of programmed cell death. Human X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent inhibitor of caspases-3, -7, and -9. Here we show that the Bir3 domain is the minimal region of XIAP that is needed for potent caspase-9 inhibition. The three-dimensional structure of the Bir3 domain of XIAP, determined by NMR spectroscopy, resembles a classical zinc finger and consists of five alpha-helices, a three-stranded beta-sheet, and a zinc atom chelated to three cysteines and one histidine. The structure of the Bir3 domain is similar to that of the Bir2 domain of XIAP but differs from the previously determined structure of the Bir3 domain of MIHB. Based on site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified the regions of the Bir3 domain of XIAP that are important for inhibiting caspase-9. Despite the structural similarities of the Bir2 and Bir3 domain of XIAP, a different set of residues were found to be critical for inhibiting the individual caspases. These results suggest that XIAP inhibits caspase-3 and caspase-9 in a different manner.
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PMID:NMR structure and mutagenesis of the third Bir domain of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein XIAP. 1093 9

The truncated glucocorticoid receptor mutant gene 465* codes for a protein that is interrupted by a frame-shift mutation in the second zinc finger of the natural DNA binding domain. Thus, 465* represents the natural amino acid sequence 1-465 followed by 21 novel amino acids starting at position 466. The entire ligand binding domain is missing. Prior studies have shown that transient transfection of the glucocorticoid-resistant leukemic T-cell clone ICR-27 with a plasmid expressing 465* rapidly reduces the number of viable cells. This response does not require activation by a steroid, and a hybrid protein consisting of green fluorescent protein fused to 465* is found primarily in the cytoplasm. In the present study, we present evidence that the decrease in cell number is due to a form of cell death that bears many of the classic characteristics of apoptosis. Expression of the 465* protein can be detected a few hours after electroporation and is followed by activation of caspase-3 as well as reduction of the mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential. The caspase-3 inhibitor ZVAD-fmk blocks 465*-dependent cell death when added acutely after electroporation, but fails to do so later. We conclude that the novel 465* gene causes cell death by apoptosis.
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PMID:The pathway of leukemic cell death caused by glucocorticoid receptor fragment 465*. 1164 Aug 81

The p53-activated gene PAG608, which encodes a nuclear zinc finger protein, is a p53-inducible gene that contributes to p53-mediated apoptosis. However, the mechanisms by which PAG608 is involved in the apoptosis of neuronal cells are still obscure. In this study, we demonstrated that expression of p53 was induced by 100 microm 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), accompanied by increased PAG608 expression in PC12 cells. On the other hand, transient or permanent transfection of antisense PAG608 cDNA into PC12 cells significantly prevented apoptotic cell death induced by 100 microm 6-OHDA or 200 microm hydrogen peroxide but not by 250 microm 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion. The 6-OHDA-induced activation of caspase-3, DNA fragmentation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and induction of p53 and Bax were also prevented in PC12 cells that stably expressed antisense PAG608 cDNA. These results suggest that PAG608 is associated with the apoptotic pathway induced by these oxidative stress-generating reagents, upstream of the collapse in the mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12 cells. Interestingly, transient transfection with PAG608 cDNA increased p53 expression in both PC12 cells and B65 cells, indicating that PAG608 induced by p53 is able to induce p53 expression in these cells inversely. Furthermore, transient transfection of a truncated mutant PAG608 cDNA, lacking the first zinc finger domain, inhibited 6-OHDA-induced cell death and altered the nuclear and nucleolar localization of wild-type PAG608 in PC12 cells. These results suggest that PAG608 may induce or regulate p53 expression and translocate to the nucleus and nucleolus using its first zinc finger domain during oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of catecholamine-containing cells.
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PMID:The p53-activated gene, PAG608, requires a zinc finger domain for nuclear localization and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. 1219 12

We have identified a novel RING-B-box-coiled-coil (RBCC) protein (MAIR for macrophage-derived apoptosis-inducing RBCC protein) that consists of an N-terminal RING finger, followed by a B-box zinc finger, a coiled-coil domain, and a B30.2 domain. MAIR mRNA was expressed widely in mouse tissues and was induced by macrophage colony-stimulating factor in murine peritoneal and bone marrow macrophages. MAIR protein initially showed a granular distribution predominantly in the cytoplasm. The addition of zinc to transfectants containing MAIR cDNA as part of a heavy metal-inducible vector caused apoptosis of the cells characterized by cell fragmentation; a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential; activation of caspase-7, -8, and -9, but not caspase-3; and DNA degradation. We also found that the RING finger and coiled-coil domains were required for MAIR activity by analysis with deletion mutants.
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PMID:Cloning and characterization of a novel RING-B-box-coiled-coil protein with apoptotic function. 1269 37

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 is a highly abundant nuclear enzyme implicated in transcription, DNA replication, and DNA repair through binding of nascent RNA and interactions with various factors. We found that purified fractions of recombinant human poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 expressed in Escherichia coli possess yet another activity, a Mg(2+)-dependent DNA supercoil relaxation activity. Cleavage of recombinant poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 by caspase-3, an apoptotic protease, reduced this activity, as did the removal of either of the two zinc finger motifs located in the N-terminal DNA-binding domain of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. In addition, this activity was separated from E. coli topoisomerase I by gel-filtration column chromatography, suggesting that this activity is specifically associated with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. Because this relaxation activity did not require ATP and was resistant to VP16, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, this activity is closer to that of topoisomerase I. However, the supercoiled DNA relaxation activity associated with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 is distinct from that of human or E. coli topoisomerase I, as this activity could not completely remove superhelical tensions from plasmid DNA. Thus, we referred to this activity as topoisomerase I-like activity. This Mg(2+)-dependent DNA supercoil relaxation activity was found to be sensitive to camptothecin, a mammalian topoisomerase I inhibitor.
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PMID:Camptothecin-sensitive relaxation of supercoiled DNA by the topoisomerase I-like activity associated with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1. 1471 57

Emphysema and bronchitis are major components of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pleomorphic adenoma gene like-2 (PLAGL2), a zinc finger DNA-binding protein, is a transcription factor of the surfactant protein C (SP-C) promoter. Using an inducible transgenic mouse model, PLAGL2 and SP-C were ectopically expressed in lung epithelial cells of terminal bronchiole including the bronchoalveolar duct junction (BADJ), where only few cells express both genes under normal conditions. Ectopic PLAGL2 was also expressed in alveolar type II cells of induced mice. The overexpression of PLAGL2 was associated with the development of air space enlargement in the distal airways of adult mice. Defective alveolar septa and degraded airway fragments were found in the lesions of emphysematous lungs, indicating chronic airway destruction. Female mice were particularly sensitive to the effects of PLAGL2 overexpression with more dramatic emphysematous changes compared with male mice. In addition, analysis of the respiratory system mechanics in the mice indicated that the induction of PLAGL2 resulted in a significant increase in respiratory system compliance. Both TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 analyses showed that apoptotic activity was increased in epithelial cells within the emphysematous lesions as well as at the BADJ. Our results indicate that increased cell injury and/or death could be caused directly by the upregulation of PLAGL2 downstream gene, bNip3, a preapoptotic molecule that dimerizes with Bcl-2, or indirectly by the aberrant expression of SP-C-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in epithelial cells. Finally, increased expression of PLAGL2 in alveolar epithelial cells correlated with the development of emphysema in the lung of COPD patients. In summary, our data from both animal and human studies support a novel pathogenic role of PLAGL2 in pulmonary emphysema, a critical aspect of severe COPD.
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PMID:PLAGL2 expression-induced lung epithelium damages at bronchiolar alveolar duct junction in emphysema: bNip3- and SP-C-associated cell death/injury activity. 1957 21

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a multi-substrate cytoplasmic enzyme that regulates many important biological processes. Recently, some reports have implicated HDAC6 in viral infection. However, nothing is known about its regulation in virus-infected cells. The data presented here for the first time demonstrate the caspase-3-mediated cleavage of HDAC6 in influenza A virus (IAV)-infected cells. HDAC6 polypeptide contains the caspase-3 cleavage motif DMAD-S at the C-terminus, and is a caspase-3 substrate. The cleavage removes most of the C-terminal ubiquitin-binding zinc finger domain from HDAC6, which could be significant for HDAC6's role in IAV-induced apoptosis in infected cells.
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PMID:Influenza A virus-induced caspase-3 cleaves the histone deacetylase 6 in infected epithelial cells. 1959

Inadequate apoptosis contributes to synovial hyperplasia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent study shows that low expression of Puma might be partially responsible for the decreased apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Slug, a highly conserved zinc finger transcriptional repressor, is known to antagonize apoptosis of hematopoietic progenitor cells by repressing Puma transactivation. In this study, we examined the expression and function of Slug in RA FLS. Slug mRNA expression was measured in the synovial tissue (ST) and FLS obtained from RA and osteoarthritis patients. Slug and Puma mRNA expression in FLS by apoptotic stimuli were measured by real-time PCR analysis. FLS were transfected with control siRNA or Slug siRNA. Apoptosis was quantified by trypan blue exclusion, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 assay. RA ST expressed higher level of Slug mRNA compared with osteoarthritis ST. Slug was significantly induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but not by exogenous p53 in RA FLS. Puma induction by H2O2 stimulation was significantly higher in Slug siRNA-transfected FLS compared with control siRNA-transfected FLS. After H2O2 stimulation, viable cell number was significantly lower in Slug siRNA-transfected FLS compared with control siRNA-transfected FLS. Apoptosis enhancing effect of Slug siRNA was further confirmed by ELISA that detects cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments and caspase-3 assay. These data demonstrate that Slug is overexpressed in RA ST and that suppression of Slug gene facilitates apoptosis of FLS by increasing Puma transactivation. Slug may therefore represent a potential therapeutic target in RA.
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PMID:Slug suppression induces apoptosis via Puma transactivation in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes treated with hydrogen peroxide. 2041 52


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