Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
10
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-9-16
pubmed:abstractText
Caspase activation resulting from cytochrome c release from the mitochondria is an essential component of the mechanism of apoptosis initiated by a range of factors. The activation of Bid by caspase-8 in this pathway promotes further cytochrome c release, thereby completing a positive feedback loop of caspase activation. Although the identity of the caspases necessary for caspase-8 activation in this pathway are known, it is still unclear which protease directly cleaves caspase-8. In order to identify the factor responsible we undertook a biochemical purification of caspase-8 cleaving activity in cytosolic extracts to which cytochrome c had been added. Here we report that caspase-6 is the only soluble protease in cytochrome c activated Jurkat cell extracts that has significant caspase-8 cleaving activity. Furthermore the caspase-6 that we purified was sufficient to induce Bid dependent cytochrome c releasing activity in cell extracts. Inhibition of caspase-6 activity in cells significantly inhibited caspase-8 cleavage and apoptosis, therefore establishing caspase-6 as a major activator of caspase-8 in vivo and confirming that this pathway can have a critical role in promotion of apoptosis. We also show that caspase-6 is inactive until the short prodomain is removed. We suggest that the requirement for two distinct cleavage steps to activate an effector caspase may represent an effective mechanism for restriction of spontaneous caspase activation and aberrant entry into apoptosis.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/CASP6 protein, human, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/CASP8 protein, human, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/CASP9 protein, human, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Carrier Proteins, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Caspase 6, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Caspase 8, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Caspase 9, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Caspases, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Cytochrome c Group, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Endopeptidases, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/FADD protein, human, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/chemical/Macromolecular Substances
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
1350-9047
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
9
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1046-56
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Amino Acid Sequence, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Apoptosis, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-COS Cells, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Carrier Proteins, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Caspase 6, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Caspase 8, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Caspase 9, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Caspases, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Cytochrome c Group, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Cytosol, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Endopeptidases, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Eukaryotic Cells, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Fas-Associated Death Domain Protein, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Jurkat Cells, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Macromolecular Substances, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Mitochondria, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Mutation, pubmed-meshheading:12232792-Protein Structure, Tertiary
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Caspase-6 is the direct activator of caspase-8 in the cytochrome c-induced apoptosis pathway: absolute requirement for removal of caspase-6 prodomain.
pubmed:affiliation
Signal Transduction Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PX, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article