A novel BH3-like domain in BID is required for intramolecular interaction and autoinhibition of pro-apoptotic activity

Photoprotective activities of Lignosus rhinocerus in UV-irradiated human keratinocytes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lignosus rhinocerus, also known as Tiger Milk Mushroom has been used traditionally to treat a variety of human conditions, including asthma, diabetes, respiratory disease, skin allergy, and food poisoning. The reported activities of Lignosus rhinocerus extracts include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-asthmatic, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, neuroprotection, and immune modulation effects. However, its effect on human skin is not well documented, including human skin exposed to ultraviolet light (UV). Exposure to UV can trigger various cellular responses, including inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell death, and cellular aging.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aims to investigate the effects of methanolic extract prepared from cultured Lignosus rhinocerus (herein referred to as TM02 and its methanol extract as TM02-ME) on UV-irradiated human keratinocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Powdered stock of TM02 was dissolved and sequentially extracted with different solvents to prepare the extracts and the methanol extract was subsequently characterized based on its bio-activities on HaCaT human keratinocytes. The keratinocytes were pre-treated with the methanol extract followed by UV-irradiation. Cellular responses of the HaCaT cells such as cell viability, DNA damage, as well as gene and protein expressions that were responsive to the treatments, were characterized by using bio-assays, including reverse-transcription based PCR, Western blot, cell viability, and mitochondrial Cytochrome C release assays.

RESULTS

TM02-ME protected HaCaT cells from UV-induced DNA damage and cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of HaCaT cells with TM02-ME led to a 39% reduction of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and up-regulated the gene expression of REV1 and SPINK5 in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells when compared to the control. In addition, TM-02-ME treated HaCaT cells increased the expression of BCL-XL and BCL-2 proteins which coincided with the down-regulation of mitochondrial Cyt. C release in the UV-B irradiated HaCaT cells. The results were further supported by data that showed the stable clones of HaCaT cells stably expressed BCL-XL were resistant to UVB-induced cell death.

CONCLUSIONS

^__The results showed that TM02-ME confers photoprotective activities to UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, leading to a reduction in DNA damage and cell death as well as up-regulated the expression of REV1 and SPINK5 which are involved in DNA repair and skin barrier function, respectively. The up-regulation of pro-survival members of the BCL-2 family by TM02-ME confers protection against UVB-induced cell death.

PNMA family: Protein interaction network and cell signalling pathways implicated in cancer and apoptosis

Paraneoplastic Ma Family (PNMA) comprises a growing number of family members which share relatively conserved protein sequences encoded by the human genome and is localized to several human chromosomes, including the X-chromosome. Based on sequence analysis, PNMA family members share sequence homology to the Gag protein of LTR retrotransposon, and several family members with aberrant protein expressions have been reported to be closely associated with the human Paraneoplastic Disorder (PND). In addition, gene mutations of specific members of PNMA family are known to be associated with human mental retardation or 3-M syndrome consisting of restrictive post-natal growth or dwarfism, and development of skeletal abnormalities. Other than sequence homology, the physiological function of many members in this family remains unclear. However, several members of this family have been characterized, including cell signalling events mediated by these proteins that are associated with apoptosis, and cancer in different cell types. Furthermore, while certain PNMA family members show restricted gene expression in the human brain and testis, other PNMA family members exhibit broader gene expression or preferential and selective protein interaction profiles, suggesting functional divergence within the family. Functional analysis of some members of this family have identified protein domains that are required for subcellular localization, protein-protein interactions, and cell signalling events which are the focus of this review paper.

Distinct functional domains of PNMA5 mediate protein-protein interaction, nuclear localization, and apoptosis signaling in human cancer cells

PURPOSE

Members of paraneoplastic Ma (PNMA) family have been identified as onconeuronal antigens, which aberrant expressions in cancer cells of patients with paraneoplastic disorder (PND) are closely linked to manifestation of auto-immunity, neuro-degeneration, and cancer. The purpose of present study was to determine the role of PNMA5 and its functional relationship to MOAP-1 (PNMA4) in human cancer cells.

METHODS

PNMA5 mutants were generated through deletion or site-directed mutagenesis and transiently expressed in human cancer cell lines to investigate their role in apoptosis, subcellular localization, and potential interaction with MOAP-1 through apoptosis assays, fluorescence microscopy, and co-immunoprecipitation studies, respectively.

RESULTS

Over-expressed human PNMA5 exhibited nuclear localization pattern in both MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Deletion mapping and mutagenesis studies showed that C-terminus of PNMA5 is responsible for nuclear localization, while the amino acid residues (391KRRR) within the C-terminus of PNMA5 are required for nuclear targeting. Deletion mapping and co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that PNMA5 interacts with MOAP-1 and N-terminal domain of PNMA5 is required for interaction with MOAP-1. Furthermore, co-expression of PNMA5 and MOAP-1 in MCF-7 cells significantly enhanced chemo-sensitivity of MCF-7 to Etoposide treatment, indicating that PNMA5 and MOAP-1 interact synergistically to promote apoptotic signaling in MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that PNMA5 promotes apoptosis signaling in HeLa and MCF-7 cells and interacts synergistically with MOAP-1 through its N-terminal domain to promote apoptosis and chemo-sensitivity in human cancer cells. The C-terminal domain of PNMA5 is required for nuclear localization; however, both N-and C-terminal domains of PNMA5 appear to be required for pro-apoptotic function.

Redefining the BH3 Death Domain as a 'Short Linear Motif'

B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)-related proteins control programmed cell death through a complex network of protein–protein interactions mediated by BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) domains. Given their roles as dynamic linchpins, the discovery of novel BH3-containing proteins has attracted considerable attention. However, without a clearly defined BH3 signature sequence the BCL-2 family has expanded to include a nebulous group of nonhomologous BH3-only proteins, now justified by an intriguing twist. We present evidence that BH3s from both ordered and disordered proteins represent a new class of short linear motifs (SLiMs) or molecular recognition features (MoRFs) and are diverse in their evolutionary histories. The implied corollaries are that BH3s have a broad phylogenetic distribution and could potentially bind to non-BCL-2-like structural domains with distinct functions.

BCL-2 family interactions are mediated by evolutionarily diverse BH3 motifs to regulate apoptosis. Given their key roles, BH3 mimetics are in clinical trials as cancer therapies.

The discovery of novel BH3-only proteins represents a major endeavor in the cell death field. As a result, BH3 motifs are reportedly present in a nebulous conglomerate of different proteins, both structured and intrinsically disordered.

There is no rigorous definition of a BH3 motif. Currently available BH3 signatures are diverse and elusive for predicting new functional BH3-containing proteins.

Redefining the BH3 motif as a new type of short linear motif (SLiM) or molecular recognition feature (MoRF) reconciles many puzzling features of this motif and opens up new avenues for research.

Hyperosmotic Shock Engages Two Positive Feedback Loops through Caspase-3-dependent Proteolysis of JNK1-2 and Bid

Hyperosmotic shock induces early calpain activation, Smac/DIABLO release from the mitochondria, and p38/JNK activation in Xenopus oocytes. These pathways regulate late cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Here, we show that JNK1-1 and JNK1-2 are activated early by osmostress, and sustained activation of both isoforms accelerates the apoptotic program. When caspase-3 is activated, JNK1-2 is proteolyzed at Asp-385 increasing the release of cytochrome c and caspase-3 activity, thereby creating a positive feedback loop. Expression of Bcl-xL markedly reduces hyperosmotic shock-induced apoptosis. In contrast, expression of Bid induces rapid caspase-3 activation, even in the absence of osmostress, which is blocked by Bcl-xL co-expression. In these conditions a significant amount of Bid in the cytosol is mono- and bi-ubiquitinated. Caspase-3 activation by hyperosmotic shock induces proteolysis of Bid and mono-ubiquitinated Bid at Asp-52 increasing the release of cytochrome c and caspase-3 activation, and thus creating a second positive feedback loop. Revealing the JNK isoforms and the loops activated by osmostress could help to design better treatments for human diseases caused by perturbations in fluid osmolarity.

tBid undergoes multiple conformational changes at the membrane required for Bax activation

Bid is a Bcl-2 family protein that promotes apoptosis by activating Bax and eliciting mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP). Full-length Bid is cleaved in response to apoptotic stimuli into two fragments, p7 and tBid (p15), that are held together by strong hydrophobic interactions until the complex binds to membranes. The detailed mechanism(s) of fragment separation including tBid binding to membranes and release of the p7 fragment to the cytoplasm remain unclear. Using liposomes or isolated mitochondria with fluorescently labeled proteins at physiological concentrations as in vitro models, we report that the two components of the complex quickly separate upon interaction with a membrane. Once tBid binds to the membrane, it undergoes slow structural rearrangements that result in an equilibrium between two major tBid conformations on the membrane. The conformational change of tBid is a prerequisite for interaction with Bax and is, therefore, a novel step that can be modulated to promote or inhibit MOMP. Using automated high-throughput image analysis in cells, we show that down-regulation of Mtch2 causes a significant delay between tBid and Bax relocalization in cells. We propose that by promoting insertion of tBid via a conformational change at the mitochondrial outer membrane, Mtch2 accelerates tBid-mediated Bax activation and MOMP. Thus the interaction of Mtch2 and tBid is a potential target for therapeutic control of Bid initiated cell death.

Human herpesvirus 8 interferon regulatory factor-mediated BH3-only protein inhibition via Bid BH3-B mimicry

Viral replication efficiency is in large part governed by the ability of viruses to counteract pro-apoptotic signals induced by infection of host cells. For HHV-8, viral interferon regulatory factor-1 (vIRF-1) contributes to this process in part via inhibitory interactions with BH3-only protein (BOP) Bim, recently identified as an interaction partner of vIRF-1. Here we recognize that the Bim-binding domain (BBD) of vIRF-1 resembles a region (BH3-B) of Bid, another BOP, which interacts intramolecularly with the functional BH3 domain of Bid to inhibit it pro-apoptotic activity. Indeed, vIRF-1 was found to target Bid in addition to Bim and to interact, via its BBD region, with the BH3 domain of each. In functional assays, BBD could substitute for BH3-B in the context of Bid, to suppress Bid-induced apoptosis in a BH3-binding-dependent manner, and vIRF-1 was able to protect transfected cells from apoptosis induced by Bid. While vIRF-1 can mediate nuclear sequestration of Bim, this was not the case for Bid, and inhibition of Bid and Bim by vIRF-1 could occur independently of nuclear localization of the viral protein. Consistent with this finding, direct BBD-dependent inactivation by vIRF-1 of Bid-induced mitochondrial permeabilization was demonstrable in vitro and isolated BBD sequences were also active in this assay. In addition to Bim and Bid BH3 domains, BH3s of BOPs Bik, Bmf, Hrk, and Noxa also were found to bind BBD, while those of both pro- and anti-apoptotic multi-BH domain Bcl-2 proteins were not. Finally, the significance of Bid to virus replication was demonstrated via Bid-depletion in HHV-8 infected cells, which enhanced virus production. Together, our data demonstrate and characterize BH3 targeting and associated inhibition of BOP pro-apoptotic activity by vIRF-1 via Bid BH3-B mimicry, identifying a novel mechanism of viral evasion from host cell defenses.

Viruses possess mechanisms of subverting host cell defenses against infection and virus replication; these mechanisms are essential to the virus life cycle. Here, we identify and characterize a novel mechanism of HHV-8 mediated inhibition of virus-induced programmed cell death (apoptosis). This function is specified by viral interferon regulator factor homologue vIRF-1, which binds to and directly inhibits pro-death activities of so-called BH3-only proteins (BOPs), induced and activated by stress signals such as those occurring in infected cells. The BH3 domains of BOPs mediate their pro-apoptotic functions, and it is these domains that are targeted by vIRF-1, via a region resembling a BH3-interacting and -inhibitory domain, termed BH3-B, present in one of the vIRF-1 targeted BOPs, Bid. The targeted BOP BH3 domains share characteristic and conserved features. As shown previously for Bim, depletion of Bid leads to enhanced HHV-8 productive replication, demonstrating that Bid, also, is a biologically significant negative regulator of virus replication and suggesting that its control by vIRF-1 is of functional importance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of viral targeting and inhibition of BOP activity via Bid BH3-B mimicry; our studies therefore expand the known mechanisms of viral evasion from antiviral defenses of the host.

Dynamic interaction of cBid with detergents, liposomes and mitochondria

The BH3-only protein Bid plays a key role in the induction of mitochondrial apoptosis, but its mechanism of action is still not completely understood. Here we studied the two main activation events of Bid: Caspase-8 cleavage and interaction with the membrane bilayer. We found a striking reversible behaviour of the dissociation-association events between the Bid fragments p15 and p7. Caspase-8 cleavage does not induce per se separation of the two Bid fragments, which remain in a stable complex resembling the full length Bid. Detergents trigger a complete dissociation, which can be fully reversed by detergent removal in a range of protein concentrations from 100 µM down to 500 nM. Incubation of cBid with cardiolipin-containing liposomes leads to partial dissociation of the complex. Only p15 (tBid) fragments are found at the membrane, while p7 shows no tendency to interact with the bilayer, but complete removal of p7 strongly increases the propensity of tBid to become membrane-associated. Despite the striking structural similarities of inactive Bid and Bax, Bid does not form oligomers and reacts differently in the presence of detergents and membranes, highlighting clear differences in the modes of action of the two proteins. The partial dissociation of cBid triggered by the membrane is suggested to depend on the strong and specific interaction between p15 and p7. The reversible disassembly and re-assembly of the cBid molecules at the membrane was as well proven by EPR using spin labeled cBid in the presence of isolated mitochondria. The observed dynamic dissociation of the two Bid fragments could allow the assistance to the pore-forming Bax to occur repeatedly and may explain the proposed “hit-and-run" mode of action of Bid at the bilayer.

Bid can mediate a pro-apoptotic response to etoposide and ionizing radiation without cleavage in its unstructured loop and in the absence of p53

BH3-only protein Bid is a key player in death receptor-induced apoptosis, because it provides the link with the mitochondrial route for caspase activation. In this pathway, Bid is activated upon cleavage by caspase-8. Its BH3 domain-containing carboxy-terminal fragment subsequently provokes mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization by Bak/Bax activation. Bid has also been implicated in the apoptotic response to ionizing radiation (IR) and the topoisomerase inhibitor etoposide, anti-cancer regimens that cause double-strand (ds)DNA breaks. We confirm the existence of this pathway and show that it is p53-independent. However, the degree of Bid participation in the apoptotic response to dsDNA breaks depends on the nature of cell transformation. We used Bid-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) lines that were reconstituted with Bid to control the cellular background and demonstrated that the Bid-dependent apoptotic pathway induced by IR and etoposide operates in MEFs that are transformed by SV40, but is not evident in E1A/Ras-transformed MEFs. The Bid-dependent apoptotic response in p53-deficient SV40-transformed MEFs contributed to clonogenic execution of the cells, implying relevance for treatment outcome. In these cells, Bid acted in a conventional manner in that it required its BH3 domain to mediate apoptosis in response to IR and etoposide, and triggered apoptotic execution by indirect activation of Bak/Bax, mitochondrial permeabilization and caspase-9 activation. However, the mechanism of Bid activation was unconventional, because elimination of all known or suspected cleavage sites for caspases or other proteolytic enzymes and even complete elimination of its unstructured cleavage loop left Bid's pro-apoptotic role in the response to IR and etoposide unaffected.

Overexpression of peroxisomal testis-specific 1 protein induces germ cell apoptosis and leads to infertility in male mice

Peroxisomal testis-specific 1 gene (Pxt1) is the only male germ cell-specific gene that encodes a peroxisomal protein known to date. To elucidate the role of Pxt1 in spermatogenesis, we generated transgenic mice expressing a c-MYC-PXT1 fusion protein under the control of the PGK2 promoter. Overexpression of Pxt1 resulted in induction of male germ cells' apoptosis mainly in primary spermatocytes, finally leading to male infertility. This prompted us to analyze the proapoptotic character of mouse PXT1, which harbors a BH3-like domain in the N-terminal part. In different cell lines, the overexpression of PXT1 also resulted in a dramatic increase of apoptosis, whereas the deletion of the BH3-like domain significantly reduced cell death events, thereby confirming that the domain is functional and essential for the proapoptotic activity of PXT1. Moreover, we demonstrated that PXT1 interacts with apoptosis regulator BAT3, which, if overexpressed, can protect cells from the PXT1-induced apoptosis. The PXT1-BAT3 association leads to PXT1 relocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In summary, we demonstrated that PXT1 induces apoptosis via the BH3-like domain and that this process is inhibited by BAT3.

Bid: a Bax-like BH3 protein

Bid, a pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, was initially discovered through binding to both pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. During apoptosis, Bid can be cleaved not only by caspase-8 during death receptor apoptotic signaling, but also by other caspases, granzyme B, calpains and cathepsins. Protease-cleaved Bid migrates to mitochondria where it induces permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane that is dependent on the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and/or Bak, and thus Bid acts as a sentinel for protease-mediated death signals. Although sequence analysis suggests that Bid belongs to the BH3-only subgroup of the Bcl-2 family, structural and phylogenetic analysis suggests that Bid may be more related to multi-BH region proteins such as pro-apoptotic Bax. Analysis of membrane binding by protease-cleaved Bid reveals mechanistic similarities with the membrane binding of Bax. For both proteins, membrane binding is characterized by relief of N-terminal inhibition of sequences promoting migration to membranes, insertion into the bilayer of the central hydrophobic hairpin helices and exposure of the BH3 region. These findings implicate Bid as a BH3-only protein that is both structurally and functionally related to multi-BH region Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bax.

The hepatitis C virus core protein contains a BH3 domain that regulates apoptosis through specific interaction with human Mcl-1

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is known to modulate apoptosis and contribute to viral replication and pathogenesis. In this study, we have identified a Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain in the core protein that is essential for its proapoptotic property. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that the core protein interacts specifically with the human myeloid cell factor 1 (Mcl-1), a prosurvival member of the Bcl-2 family, but not with other prosurvival members (Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-w). Moreover, the overexpression of Mcl-1 protects against core-induced apoptosis. By using peptide mimetics, core was found to release cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria when complemented with Bad. Thus, core is a bona fide BH3-only protein having properties similar to those of Noxa, a BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family that binds preferentially to Mcl-1. There are three critical hydrophobic residues in the BH3 domain of the core protein, and they are essential for the proapoptotic property of the core protein. Furthermore, the genotype 1b core protein is more effective than the genotype 2a core protein in inducing apoptosis due to a single-amino-acid difference at one of these hydrophobic residues (residue 119). Replacing this residue in the J6/JFH-1 infectious clone (genotype 2a) with the corresponding amino acid in the genotype 1b core protein produced a mutant virus, J6/JFH-1(V119L), which induced significantly higher levels of apoptosis in the infected cells than the parental J6/JFH-1 virus. Furthermore, the core protein of J6/JFH-1(V119L), but not that of J6/JFH-1, interacted with Mcl-1 in virus-infected cells. Taken together, the core protein is a novel BH3-only viral homologue that contributes to the induction of apoptosis during HCV infection.

Vitamin D3 induces autophagy of human myeloid leukemia cells

Vitamin D3 causes potent suppression of various cancer cells; however, significant supraphysiological concentrations of this compound are required for antineoplastic effects. Current combinatorial therapies with vitamin D3 are restricted to differentiation effects. It remains uncertain if autophagy is involved in vitamin D3 inhibition on leukemia cells. Here we show that besides triggering differentiation and inhibiting apoptosis, which was previously known, vitamin D3 triggers autophagic death in human myeloid leukemia cells. Inhibiting differentiation does not efficiently diminish vitamin D3 suppression on leukemia cells. Vitamin D3 up-regulates Beclin1, which binds to class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase to trigger autophagy. Vitamin D3 phosphorylates Bad in its BH3 domain, resulting in disassociation of the apoptotic Bad-Bcl-xL complex and association of Bcl-xL with Beclin1 and ultimate suppression of apoptotic signaling. Knockdown of Beclin1 eliminates vitamin D3-induced autophagy and inhibits differentiation but activates apoptosis, suggesting that Beclin1 is required for both autophagy and differentiation, and autophagy cooperates with differentiation but excludes apoptosis, in which Beclin1 acts as an interface for these three different cascades. Moreover, additional up-regulation of autophagy, but not apoptosis, dramatically improves vitamin D3 inhibition on leukemia cells. These findings extend our understanding of the action of vitamin D3 in antineoplastic effects and the role of Beclin1 in regulating multiple cellular cascades and suggest a potentially promising strategy with a significantly better antileukemia effect.

Apoptosis induction by Bid requires unconventional ubiquitination and degradation of its N-terminal fragment

Bcl-2 family member Bid is subject to autoinhibition; in the absence of stimuli, its N-terminal region sequesters the proapoptotic Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3) domain. Upon proteolytic cleavage in its unstructured loop, Bid is activated, although structural data reveal no apparent resulting conformational change. We found that, upon Bid cleavage, the N-terminal fragment (tBid-N) is ubiquitinated and degraded, thus freeing the BH3 domain in the C-terminal fragment (tBid-C). Ubiquitination of tBid-N is unconventional because acceptor sites are neither lysines nor the N terminus. Chemical approaches implicated thioester and hydroxyester linkage of ubiquitin and mutagenesis implicated serine and possibly threonine as acceptor residues in addition to cysteine. Acceptor sites reside predominantly but not exclusively in helix 1, which is required for ubiquitination and degradation of tBid-N. Rescue of tBid-N from degradation blocked Bid's ability to induce mitochondrial outer membrane permeability but not mitochondrial translocation of the cleaved complex. We conclude that unconventional ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of tBid-N is required to unleash the proapoptotic activity of tBid-C.

Proline cis-trans isomerization controls autoinhibition of a signaling protein

Autoinhibition is being widely used in nature to repress otherwise constitutive protein activities and is typically regulated by extrinsic factors. Here we show that autoinhibition can be controlled by an intrinsic intramolecular switch afforded by prolyl cis-trans isomerization. We find that a proline on the linker tethering the two SH3 domains of the Crk adaptor protein interconverts between the cis and trans conformation. In the cis conformation, the two SH3 domains interact intramolecularly, thereby forming the basis of an autoinhibitory mechanism. Conversely, in the trans conformation Crk exists in an extended, uninhibited conformation that is marginally populated but serves to activate the protein upon ligand binding. Interconversion between the cis and trans, and, hence, of the autoinhibited and activated conformations, is accelerated by the action of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases. Proline isomerization appears to make an ideal switch that can regulate the kinetics of activation, thereby modulating the dynamics of signal response.

tBid mediated activation of the mitochondrial death pathway leads to genetic ablation of the lens in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus is a well proven model for a wide variety of developmental studies, including cell lineage. Cell lineage in Xenopus has largely been addressed by injection of tracer molecules or by micro-dissection elimination of blastomeres. Here we describe a genetic method for cell ablation based on the use of tBid, a direct activator of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In mammalian cells, cross-talk between the main apoptotic pathways (the mitochondrial and the death domain protein pathways) involve the pro-death protein BID, the active form of which, tBID, results from protease truncation and translocation to mitochondria. In transgenic Xenopus, restricting tBID expression to the lens-forming cells enables the specific ablation of the lens without affecting the development of other eye structures. Thus, overexpression of tBid can be used in vivo as a tool to eliminate a defined cell population by apoptosis in a developing organism and to evaluate the degree of autonomy or the inductive effects of a specific tissue during embryonic development.

Bid, a BH3-only multi-functional molecule, is at the cross road of life and death

Bid, BH3-interacting domain death agonist, was initially cloned based in its ability to interact with both Bcl-2 and Bax. Bid contains only the BH3 domain, which is required for its interaction with the Bcl-2 family proteins and for its pro-death activity. Bid is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage by caspases, calpains, Granzyme B and cathepsins. Bid is important to cell death mediated by these proteases and thus is the sentinel to protease-mediated death signals. Protease-cleaved Bid is able to induce multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions, including the release of the inter-membrane space proteins, cristae reorganization, depolarization, permeability transition and generation of reactive oxygen species. Thus Bid is the molecular linker bridging various peripheral death pathways to the central mitochondria pathway. Recent studies further indicate that Bid may be more than just a killer molecule. Deletion of Bid inhibits carcinogenesis in the liver, although this genetic alteration promotes tumorigenesis in the myeloid cells. This is likely related to the function of Bid to promote cell cycle progression into S phase. Bid could be also involved in the maintenance of genomic stability by engaging at mitosis checkpoint. These novel findings indicate that this BH3-only Bcl-2 family protein has a diverse array of functions that are important to both the life and death of the cell.

Characterization of a human Bid homologue protein from Gallus gallus

Bid protein, a member of the "BH3-only" subgroup of Bcl-2 family, plays a critical role in mammalian apoptosis regulation. In this study, we have cloned the chicken Bid gene, which encodes a 193 amino acid protein and shares 40% homology with human and mouse Bid proteins. Bid sequence comparison emphasises the conservation of both the functional domain BH3 and the proteolytic cleavage sites. An induction of apoptosis by chicken Bid and the cleavage of the protein, after TNFalpha treatment, were also demonstrated. In addition, mRNA Bid expression was detected along all embryo stages and tissues examined, suggesting a role for this protein in the developmental process. This is the first report demonstrating the functionality of a "BH3-only" protein in chicken.

Phylogenomics of Life-Or-Death Switches in Multicellular Animals: Bcl-2, BH3-Only, and BNip Families of Apoptotic Regulators

In this report, we conducted a comprehensive survey of Bcl-2 family members, a divergent group of proteins that regulate programmed cell death by an evolutionarily conserved mechanism. Using comparative sequence analysis, we found novel sequences in mammals, nonmammalian vertebrates, and in a number of invertebrates. We then asked what conclusions could be drawn from phyletic distribution, intron/exon structures, sequence/structure relationships, and phylogenetic analyses within the updated Bcl-2 family. First, multidomain members having a sequence pattern consistent with the conservation of the Bcl-X(L)/Bax/Bid topology appear to be restricted to multicellular animals and may share a common ancestry. Next, BNip proteins, which were originally identified based on their ability to bind to E1B 19K/Bcl-2 proteins, form three independent monophyletic branches with different evolutionary history. Lastly, a set of Bcl-2 homology 3-only proteins with unrelated secondary structures seems to have evolved after the origin of Metazoa and exhibits diverse expansion after speciation during vertebrate evolution.

Bcl-XL disrupts death-inducing signal complex formation in plasma membrane induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation

Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) causes cellular injury and death. The cell death pathways induced by H/R remain incompletely understood. H/R can induce Bid and Bax mitochondrial translocation and cytochrome c release. Using mouse lung endothelial cells (MLEC), we examined the role of Bcl-X(L), an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-related protein, in H/R-induced cell death. The expression of Bcl-X(L) protected MLEC against H/R-induced cell death by blocking Bax and Bid translocation and inhibiting mitochondrial cytochrome c release. Bcl-X(L) expression inhibited caspase-8 cleavage and death-inducing signal complex (DISC) formation in plasma membrane. By isolating mitochondrial, nuclear, and Golgi fractions, we found that H/R induced DISC formation in these organelles. Bcl-X(L) expression inhibited DISC formation in the nuclear and Golgi fractions relative to LacZ-infected controls. In contrast, DISC formation was elevated in the mitochondrial fraction of Bcl-X(L)-infected cells. GRASP65, a Golgi-associated protein, physically associated with Fas and caspase-8; Bcl-X(L) expression decreased these associations. Bcl-X(L) expression also up-regulated FLIP, a caspase-8 inhibitor. In conclusion, Bcl-X(L) may inactivate caspase-8 by decreasing DISC formation in the plasma membrane, nucleus, and Golgi complex while diverting DISC formation to the mitochondria. The inhibitory effects of Bcl-X(L) on DISC formation may play significant roles in protecting endothelial cells from H/R-induced cell death.

Specific cleavage of Mcl-1 by caspase-3 in tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in Jurkat leukemia T cells

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces programmed cell death through the caspase activation cascade and translocation of cleaved Bid (tBid) by the apical caspase-8 to mitochondria to induce oligomerization of multidomain Bax and Bak. However, the roles of prosurvival Bcl-2 family proteins in TRAIL apoptosis remain elusive. Here we showed that, besides the specific cleavage and activation of Bid by caspase-8 and caspase-3, TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells required the specific cleavage of Mcl-1 at Asp-127 and Asp-157 by caspase-3, while other prototypic antiapoptotic factors such as Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) seemed not to be affected. Mutation at Asp-127 and Asp-157 of Mcl-1 led to cellular resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In sharp contrast to cycloheximide-induced Mcl-1 dilapidation, TRAIL did not activate proteasomal degradation of Mcl-1 in Jurkat cells. We further established for the first time that the C-terminal domain of Mcl-1 became proapoptotic as a result of caspase-3 cleavage, and its physical interaction and cooperation with tBid, Bak, and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel 1 promoted mitochondrial apoptosis. These results suggested that removal of N-terminal domains of Bid by caspase-8 and Mcl-1 by caspase-3 enabled the maximal mitochondrial perturbation that potentiated TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Bid-cardiolipin interaction at mitochondrial contact site contributes to mitochondrial cristae reorganization and cytochrome C release

Release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space is critical to apoptosis induced by a variety of death stimuli. Bid is a BH3-only prodeath Bcl-2 family protein that can potently activate this efflux. In the current study, we investigated the mitochondrial localization of Bid and its interactions with mitochondrial phospholipids, focusing on their relationships with Bid-induced cytochrome c release. We found that Bid binding to the mitochondria required only three of its eight helical structures (alpha4-alpha6), but not the BH3 domain, and the binding could not be inhibited by the antideath molecule Bcl-x(L). Membrane fractionations indicated that tBid bound to mitochondrial outer membranes at both contact and noncontact sites. Bid could interact with specific cardiolipin species on intact mitochondria as identified by mass spectrometry. Like the binding to the mitochondria, this interaction could not be blocked by the mutation in the BH3 domain or by Bcl-x(L.) However, a cardiolipin-specific dye, 10-N-nonyl acridine orange, could preferentially suppress Bid binding to the mitochondrial contact site and inhibit Bid-induced mitochondrial cristae reorganization and cytochrome c release. These findings thus suggest that interactions of Bid with mitochondrial cardiolipin at the contact site can contribute significantly to its functions.

Three novel Bid proteins generated by alternative splicing of the human Bid gene

Bid, a BH3-only Bcl-2 protein, is activated by proteolytic cleavage exposing the BH3 domain, which then induces apoptosis by interacting with pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (e.g. Bax and Bak) at the mitochondrial surface. The arrangement of domains within Bid suggested that Bid function might be regulated in part by alternative splicing. We have determined the gene structure of human Bid and identified a number of novel exons. We have also demonstrated endogenous mRNA and protein expression for three novel isoforms of Bid, generated using these exons. Bid(S) contains the N-terminal regulatory domains of Bid without the BH3 domain; Bid(EL) corresponds to full-length Bid with additional N-terminal sequence; and Bid(ES) contains only the Bid sequence downstream of the BH3 domain. Expression of these isoforms is regulated during granulocyte maturation. In functional studies Bid(EL) induces apoptosis, whereas Bid(S) abrogates the pro-apoptotic effects of truncated Bid and inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis. Bid(ES) induces apoptosis but is also able to partially inhibit the pro-apoptotic effects of truncated Bid. These three novel endogenously expressed isoforms of Bid are distinct in their expression, their cellular localization, and their effects upon cellular apoptosis. Differential expression of these novel Bid isoforms may regulate the function of Bid following cleavage and thus influence the fate of cells exposed to a range of pro-apoptotic stimuli.

Antiapoptotic effect of EGF on mouse hepatocytes associated with downregulation of proapoptotic Bid protein

Growth factors have been shown to protect cells from a variety of apoptotic stimuli. In the liver, the Fas system is thought to be very important in the genesis of hepatocyte apoptosis. Others have already shown the importance of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) pathway and of increased Bcl-xl expression in the antiapoptotic effect of growth factors on hepatocytes. We investigated the effect of EGF on Bid, a BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family and a major player in the transduction of the Fas apoptotic signal. Hepatocyte apoptosis was induced in vitro with a purified anti-mouse Fas antibody. The effect of EGF on Bid protein expression was studied on those cultures. EGF dose dependently reduced the expression of Bid protein in primary mouse hepatocyte cultures independently of Fas stimulation. This decrease was not the result of the degradation of Bid into its active p15 fragment. Treating cells with a specific inhibitor of the EGF receptor autophosphorylation completely abolished the decrease in Bid expression afforded by EGF. Treatment with LY-294002, a PI3-kinase blocker, partly reverted the effect of EGF. When apoptosis was induced in Bid-deficient hepatocytes, EGF lost its capacity to protect cells against this type of cell death. These results show that EGF decreases the expression of Bid protein and suggest that the effect of EGF on Bid is one of the mechanisms of the antiapoptotic effect of EGF.

Autoinhibitory domains: modular effectors of cellular regulation

Autoinhibitory domains are regions of proteins that negatively regulate the function of other domains via intramolecular interactions. Autoinhibition is a potent regulatory mechanism that provides tight "on-site" repression. The discovery of autoinhibition generates valuable clues to how a protein is regulated within a biological context. Mechanisms that counteract the autoinhibition, including proteolysis, post-translational modifications, as well as addition of proteins or small molecules in trans, often represent central regulatory pathways. In this review, we document the diversity of instances in which autoinhibition acts in cell regulation. Seven well-characterized examples (e.g., sigma(70), Ets-1, ERM, SNARE and WASP proteins, SREBP, Src) are covered in detail. Over thirty additional examples are listed. We present experimental approaches to characterize autoinhibitory domains and discuss the implications of this widespread phenomenon for biological regulation in both the normal and diseased states.

Promyelocytic leukemia protein sensitizes tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the NF-kappaB survival pathway

The promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is a growth/tumor suppressor essential for induction of apoptosis by diverse apoptotic stimuli. The mechanism by which PML regulates cell death remains unclear. In this study we found that ectopic expression of PML potentiates cell death by apoptosis in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-resistant cell line U2OS and other cell lines. Treatment with TNFalpha significantly sensitized these cells to apoptosis in a p53-independent manner. PML/TNFalpha-induced cell death is associated with DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase-3, -7, and -8, and degradation of DNA fragmentation factor/inhibitor of CAD. PML/TNFalpha-induced cell death could be blocked by the caspase-8 inhibitors CrmA and c-FLIP but not by Bcl-2. These findings indicate that this cell death event is initiated through the death receptor-dependent apoptosis pathway. PML is a transcriptional repressor of NF-kappaB by interacting with RelA/p65 and prevents its binding to the cognate enhancer through the C terminus. Coimmunoprecipitation and double-color immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that PML physically interacts with RelA/p65 in vivo and the two proteins colocalized at the endogenous levels. Overexpression of NF-kappaB rescued cell death induced by PML/TNFalpha. Furthermore, PML(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblasts are more resistant to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Together this study defines a novel mechanism by which PML induces apoptosis through repression of the NF-kappaB survival pathway.

Role of PI3-kinase-dependent Bad phosphorylation and altered transcription in cytokine-mediated neutrophil survival

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-dependent phosphorylation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bad has been proposed as an important regulator of apoptotic cell death. To understand the importance of this pathway in nontransformed hematopoietic cells, we have examined the effect of survival cytokines on PI3-kinase activity and Bad expression and phosphorylation status in human neutrophils. Granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) both reduced the rate of apoptosis in neutrophils cultured in vitro for 20 hours. Coincubation with the PI3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, which in parallel experiments abolished GM-CSF-primed, fMLP-stimulated superoxide anion production and GM-CSF-stimulated PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) accumulation, inhibited the GM-CSF and TNF-alpha survival effect. In contrast, the MAP kinase kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 and the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 had only a marginal effect on GM-CSF-mediated neutrophil survival. GM-CSF substantially increased Bad phosphorylation at Ser112 and Ser136 and increased the cytosolic accumulation of Bad. GM-CSF also regulated Bad at a transcription level with a marked decrease in mRNA levels at 4 hours. TNF-alpha caused a biphasic effect on the rate of morphologic apoptosis, which corresponded to an early increase, and a late inhibition, of Bad mRNA levels. LY294002 inhibited GM-CSF- and TNF-alpha-mediated changes in Bad phosphorylation and mRNA levels. These data suggest that the survival effect of GM-CSF and TNF-alpha in neutrophils is caused by a PI3-kinase-dependent phosphorylation and cytosolic translocation of Bad, together with an inhibition of Bad mRNA levels. This has important implications for the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis in vivo.

Calpain-mediated Bid cleavage and calpain-independent Bak modulation: two separate pathways in cisplatin-induced apoptosis

Calpain is a ubiquitous protease with potential involvement in apoptosis. We report that in human melanoma cells, cisplatin-induced calpain activation occurs early in apoptosis. Calpain activation and subsequent apoptosis were inhibited by calpeptin and PD150606, two calpain inhibitors with different modes of action. Furthermore, cisplatin induced cleavage of the BH3-only protein Bid, yielding a 14-kDa fragment similar to proapoptotic, caspase-cleaved Bid. However, Bid cleavage was inhibited by inhibitors of calpain, but not by inhibitors of caspases or of cathepsin L. Recombinant Bid was cleaved in vitro by both recombinant calpain and by lysates of cisplatin-treated cells. Cleavage was calpeptin sensitive, and the cleavage site was mapped between Gly70 and Arg71. Calpain-cleaved Bid induced cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria. While calpeptin did not affect cisplatin-induced modulation of Bak to its proapoptotic conformation, a dominant-negative mutant of MEKK1 (dnMEKK) inhibited Bak modulation. dnMEKK did not, however, block Bid cleavage. The combination of dnMEKK and calpeptin had an additive inhibitory effect on apoptosis. In summary, calpain-mediated Bid cleavage is important in drug-induced apoptosis, and cisplatin induces at least two separate apoptotic signaling pathways resulting in Bid cleavage and Bak modulation, respectively.

The carboxy terminal C-tail of BNip3 is crucial in induction of mitochondrial permeability transition in isolated mitochondria

BNip3 is a member of Bcl-2 family proteins that displays proapoptotic activity. It contains Bcl-2 homology (BH) 3 and single carboxy terminal membrane-anchoring domain (TM), which targets to specific intracellular organelles, especially to mitochondria. Mitochondria play significant roles in apoptosis by releasing apoptogenic factors through large conductance channel known as permeability transition pore (PTP). Although BNip3 associates with mitochondria when overexpressed, apoptotic pathways including mitochondrial cascade and functional domains of BNip3 are still unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that recombinant BNip3 (rBNip3) induces mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) and cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria, which are inhibited by the PT inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA). We further show that carboxy terminal tail of BNip3, but not BH3, is essential for the induction of PT and cytochrome c release on the base of mutational analysis. Moreover, addition of carboxy terminal c-tail to TM substitution mutant, which did not induce the PT and cytochrome c release, restored PT-inducing activity. Taken together, our results suggest that BNip3 exerts proapoptotic activity through PT induction and that carboxy terminal c-tail is crucial for it.

The Caenorhabditis elegans sex-determining protein FEM-2 and its human homologue, hFEM-2, are Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphatases that promote apoptosis

In Caenorhabditis elegans, fem-1, fem-2, and fem-3 play pivotal roles in sex determination. Recently, a mammalian homologue of the C. elegans sex-determining protein FEM-1, F1Aalpha, has been described. Although there is little evidence to link F1Aalpha to sex determination, F1Aalpha and FEM-1 both promote apoptosis in mammalian cells. Here we report the identification and characterization of a human homologue of the C. elegans sex-determining protein FEM-2, hFEM-2. Similar to FEM-2, hFEM-2 exhibited PP2C phosphatase activity and associated with FEM-3. hFEM-2 shows striking similarity (79% amino acid identity) to rat Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase phosphatase (rCaMKPase). hFEM-2 and FEM-2, but not PP2Calpha, were demonstrated to dephosphorylate CaM kinase II efficiently in vitro, suggesting that hFEM-2 and FEM-2 are specific phosphatases for CaM kinase. Furthermore, hFEM-2 and FEM-2 associated with F1Aalpha and FEM-1 respectively. Overexpression of hFEM-2, FEM-2, or rCaMKPase all mediated apoptosis in mammalian cells. The catalytically active, but not the inactive, forms of hFEM-2 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, which was blocked by Bcl-XL or a dominant negative mutant of caspase-9. Taken together, our data suggest that hFEM-2 and rCaMKPase are mammalian homologues of FEM-2 and they are evolutionarily conserved CaM kinase phosphatases that may have a role in apoptosis signaling.

Granzyme B induces BID-mediated cytochrome c release and mitochondrial permeability transition

Many cell death pathways converge at the mitochondria to induce release of apoptogenic proteins and permeability transition, resulting in the activation of effector caspases responsible for the biochemical and morphological alterations of apoptosis. The death receptor pathway has been described as a triphasic process initiated by the activation of apical caspases, a mitochondrial phase, and then the final phase of effector caspase activation. Granzyme B (GrB) activates apical and effector caspases as well as promotes cytochrome c (cyt c) release and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. We investigated how GrB affects mitochondria utilizing an in vitro cell-free system and determined that cyt c release and permeability transition are initiated by distinct mechanisms. The cleavage of cytosolic BID by GrB results in truncated BID, initiating mitochondrial cyt c release. BID is the sole cytosolic protein responsible for this phenomenon in vitro, yet caspases were found to participate in cyt c release in some cells. On the other hand, GrB acts directly on mitochondria in the absence of cytosolic S100 proteins to open the permeability transition pore and to disrupt the proton electrochemical gradient. We suggest that GrB acts by two distinct mechanisms on mitochondria that ultimately lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular demise.

MAP-1, a novel proapoptotic protein containing a BH3-like motif that associates with Bax through its Bcl-2 homology domains

A novel Bax-associating protein, named MAP-1 (Modulator of Apoptosis), has been identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen. MAP-1 contains a BH3-like (BH: Bcl-2 homology) motif and mediates caspase-dependent apoptosis in mammalian cells when overexpressed. MAP-1 homodimerizes and associates with the proapoptotic Bax and the prosurvival Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) of the Bcl-2 family in vitro and in vivo in mammalian cells. Mutagenesis analyses revealed that the BH3-like domain in MAP-1 is not required for its association with Bcl-X(L) but is required for association with Bax and for mediating apoptosis. Interestingly, in contrast to other Bax-associating proteins such as Bcl-X(L) and Bid, which require the BH3 and BH1 domains of Bax, respectively, for binding, the binding of MAP-1 to Bax appears to require all three BH domains (BH1, BH2, and BH3) of Bax, because point mutation of the critical amino acid in any one of these domains is sufficient to abolish its binding to MAP-1. These data suggest that MAP-1 mediates apoptosis through a mechanism that involves binding to Bax.

Leakage and aggregation of phospholipid vesicles induced by the BH3-only Bcl-2 family member, BID

BID is a BH3 domain-only member of the Bcl-2 family that acts as an apoptotic agonist in programmed cell death. After cleavage by caspase-8, the N-terminal of BID (N-BID) stays in the cytosol while the C-terminal of BID (C-BID) translocates to mitochondria, leading to cytochrome c release in vivo and in vitro. We have previously reported that BID or truncated BID (tBID) can induce the release of entrapped trypsin and cytochrome c from large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). Further studies have been performed and are presented here; the results demonstrate that C-BID, like BID and tBID, induces vesicle leakage, whereas N-BID or the BID mutants BID (D59A) and BID (G94E) fail to have any significant effects. The affinity of the above-mentioned proteins for soybean phospholipid LUVs (SLUVs) decreased in an order similar to their leakage-inducing capability: tBID > BID > BID (D59A), while N-BID and BID (G94E) were unable to bind to the vesicles at all. BID-induced leakage was dependent on the lipid composition of vesicles. Acidic phospholipid (e.g. phosphatidic acid or phosphatidylglycerol) was necessary for BID-induced leakage while the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine or cholesterol reduced the leakage. It was also found C-BID is better able to penetrate the soybean phospholipid monolayer than BID or tBID. A further finding was that tBID, but not full-length BID, could stimulate the aggregation of SLUVs. Finally, Bcl-x(L), an apoptotic antagonist in programmed cell death, can prevent the aggregation of LUVs induced by tBID, but not the release of entrapped trypsin. It is postulated that two separate domains of tBID are responsible for inducing leakage and aggregation of phospholipid vesicles.

The destabilization of lipid membranes induced by the C-terminal fragment of caspase 8-cleaved bid is inhibited by the N-terminal fragment

Bid is a proapoptotic, BH3-domain-only member of the Bcl-2 family. In Fas-induced apoptosis, Bid is activated through cleavage by caspase 8 into a 15.5-kDa C-terminal fragment (t(c)Bid) and a 6.5 kDa N-terminal fragment (t(n)Bid). Following the cleavage, t(c)Bid translocates to the mitochondria and promotes the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol by a mechanism that is not understood. Here we report that recombinant t(c)Bid can act as a membrane destabilizing agent. t(c)Bid induces destabilization and breaking of planar lipid bilayers without appearance of ionic channels; its destabilizing activity is comparable with that of Bax and at least 30-fold higher than that of full-length Bid. Consistently, t(c)Bid, but not full-length Bid, permeabilizes liposomes at physiological pH. The destabilizing effect of t(c)Bid on liposomes and planar bilayers is independent of the BH3 domain. In contrast, mutations in the BH3 domain impair t(c)Bid ability to induce cytochrome c release from mitochondria. The permeabilizing effect of t(c)Bid on planar bilayers, liposomes, and mitochondria can be inhibited by t(n)Bid. In conclusion, our results suggest a dual role for Bid: BH3-independent membrane destabilization and BH3-dependent interaction with other proteins. Moreover, the dissociation of Bid after cleavage by caspase 8 represents an additional step at which apoptosis may be regulated.

Oligodeoxynucleotide 5mers containing a 5'-CpG induce apoptosis through a mitochondrial mechanism in T lymphocytic leukaemia cells

A chimeric methylphosphonodiester/phosphodiester 15mer oligodeoxynucleotide of randomly selected sequence was observed to rapidly induce apoptosis in MOLT-4 and Jurkat E6 T lymphocytic leukaemia cells following intracytoplasmic delivery. A series of further methylphosphonate substitutions and mutations and truncations of the oligodeoxynucleotide served to establish that the phosphodiester-linked sequence CGGTA present in the 15mer was responsible for this biological activity. End-protected CpG oligodeoxy-nucleotide 5mers of sequence type CGNNN exhibited a range of apoptosis-inducing potencies, with CGTTA being the most active. The latter was shown to significantly reduce the rate of RNA synthesis in MOLT-4 cells within 1 h; DNA laddering and redistribution of phosphatidylserine to the outer surface of the plasma membrane were marked by 160 min and mitochondrial transmembrane potential collapsed over roughly the same time scale. Pro-caspase 8 was reduced within 130 min and the proteolytically activated caspase 8 substrate Bid was also down by this time, implicating release of cytochrome c from mitochondria by the active 15 kDa fragment of Bid. Substantial proteolytic activation of pro-caspase 3 was relatively delayed. These findings support a mitochondrial amplification mechanism for apoptosis triggered by CpG 5mers.

F1Aalpha, a death receptor-binding protein homologous to the Caenorhabditis elegans sex-determining protein, FEM-1, is a caspase substrate that mediates apoptosis

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved process that is critical for tissue homeostasis and development including sex determination in essentially all multicellular organisms. Here, we report the cloning of an ankyrin repeat-containing protein, termed F1Aalpha, in a yeast two-hybrid screen using the cytoplasmic domain of Fas (CD95/APO-1) as bait. Amino acid sequence analysis indicates that F1Aalpha has extensive homology to the sex-determining protein FEM-1 of the Caenorhabditis elegans, which is required for the development of all aspects of the male phenotype. F1Aalpha associates with the cytoplasmic domains of Fas and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, two prototype members of the "death receptor" family. The F1Aalpha protein also oligomerizes. Overexpression of F1Aalpha induces apoptosis in mammalian cells, and co-expression of Bcl-XL or the dominant negative mutants of either FADD or caspase-9 blocks this effect. Deletion analysis revealed the center region of F1Aalpha, including a cluster of five ankyrin repeats to be necessary and sufficient for maximum apoptotic activity, and the N-terminal region appears to regulate negatively this activity. Furthermore, F1Aalpha is cleaved by a caspase-3-like protease at Asp(342), and the cleavage-resistant mutant is unable to induce apoptosis upon overexpression. F1Aalpha is therefore a member of a growing family of death receptor-associated proteins that mediates apoptosis.