Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2003-3-6
pubmed:abstractText
Apoptosis is orchestrated by the concerted action of caspases, activated in a minimal two-step proteolytic cascade. Existing data suggests that apical caspases are activated by adaptor-mediated clustering of inactive zymogens. However, the mechanism by which apical caspases achieve catalytic competence in their recruitment/activation complexes remains unresolved. We explain that proximity-induced activation of apical caspases is attributable to dimerization. Internal proteolysis does not activate these apical caspases but is a secondary event resulting in partial stabilization of activated dimers. Activation of caspases-8 and -9 occurs by dimerization that is fully recapitulated in vitro by kosmotropes, salts with the ability to stabilize the structure of proteins. Further, single amino acid substitutions at the dimer interface abrogate the activity of caspases-8 and -9 introduced into recipient mammalian cells. We propose a unified caspase activation hypothesis whereby apical caspases are activated by dimerization of monomeric zymogens.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
1097-2765
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
11
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
529-41
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2003
pubmed:articleTitle
A unified model for apical caspase activation.
pubmed:affiliation
The Program in Apoptosis and Cell Death Research, Burnham Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't