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Mitochondrial Release of Caspase-2 and -9 during the Apoptotic Process

Mitochondrial Release of Caspase-2 and -9 during the Apoptotic Process The barrier function of mitochondrial membranes is perturbed early during the apoptotic process. Here we show that the mitochondria contain a caspase-like enzymatic activity cleaving the caspase substrate Z-VAD.afc, in addition to three biological activities previously suggested to participate in the apoptotic process: (a) cytochrome c ; (b) an apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) which causes isolated nuclei to undergo apoptosis in vitro; and (c) a DNAse activity. All of these factors, which are biochemically distinct, are released upon opening of the permeability transition (PT) pore in a coordinate, Bcl-2–inhibitable fashion. Caspase inhibitors fully neutralize the Z-VAD.afc–cleaving activity, have a limited effect on the AIF activity, and have no effect at all on the DNase activities. Purification of proteins reacting with the biotinylated caspase substrate Z-VAD, immunodetection, and immunodepletion experiments reveal the presence of procaspase-2 and -9 in mitochondria. Upon induction of PT pore opening, these procaspases are released from purified mitochondria and become activated. Similarly, upon induction of apoptosis, both procaspases redistribute from the mitochondrion to the cytosol and are processed to generate enzymatically active caspases. This redistribution is inhibited by Bcl-2. Recombinant caspase-2 and -9 suffice to provoke full-blown apoptosis upon microinjection into cells. Altogether, these data suggest that caspase-2 and -9 zymogens are essentially localized in mitochondria and that the disruption of the outer mitochondrial membrane occurring early during apoptosis may be critical for their subcellular redistribution and activation. Bcl-2 caspase mitochondria permeability transition programmed cell death Footnotes S.A. Susin and H.K. Lorenzo contributed equally to this work. Abbreviations used in this paper: afc 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin AIF apoptosis-inducing factor ATA aurinetricarboxylic acid Atr atractyloside BA bongkrekic acid CAD caspase-activated DNAse CsA cyclosporin A DEX dexamethasone ΔΨm mitochondrial transmembrane potential DFF DNA fragmentation factor fmk fluoromethylketone PT permeability transition PTPC PT pore complex RT room temperature Z- N -benzyloxycarbonyl Submitted: 11 August 1998 Revision received 28 October 1998 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journal of Experimental Medicine Rockefeller University Press

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References (76)

Publisher
Rockefeller University Press
Copyright
© 1999 Rockefeller University Press
ISSN
0022-1007
eISSN
1540-9538
DOI
10.1084/jem.189.2.381
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The barrier function of mitochondrial membranes is perturbed early during the apoptotic process. Here we show that the mitochondria contain a caspase-like enzymatic activity cleaving the caspase substrate Z-VAD.afc, in addition to three biological activities previously suggested to participate in the apoptotic process: (a) cytochrome c ; (b) an apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) which causes isolated nuclei to undergo apoptosis in vitro; and (c) a DNAse activity. All of these factors, which are biochemically distinct, are released upon opening of the permeability transition (PT) pore in a coordinate, Bcl-2–inhibitable fashion. Caspase inhibitors fully neutralize the Z-VAD.afc–cleaving activity, have a limited effect on the AIF activity, and have no effect at all on the DNase activities. Purification of proteins reacting with the biotinylated caspase substrate Z-VAD, immunodetection, and immunodepletion experiments reveal the presence of procaspase-2 and -9 in mitochondria. Upon induction of PT pore opening, these procaspases are released from purified mitochondria and become activated. Similarly, upon induction of apoptosis, both procaspases redistribute from the mitochondrion to the cytosol and are processed to generate enzymatically active caspases. This redistribution is inhibited by Bcl-2. Recombinant caspase-2 and -9 suffice to provoke full-blown apoptosis upon microinjection into cells. Altogether, these data suggest that caspase-2 and -9 zymogens are essentially localized in mitochondria and that the disruption of the outer mitochondrial membrane occurring early during apoptosis may be critical for their subcellular redistribution and activation. Bcl-2 caspase mitochondria permeability transition programmed cell death Footnotes S.A. Susin and H.K. Lorenzo contributed equally to this work. Abbreviations used in this paper: afc 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin AIF apoptosis-inducing factor ATA aurinetricarboxylic acid Atr atractyloside BA bongkrekic acid CAD caspase-activated DNAse CsA cyclosporin A DEX dexamethasone ΔΨm mitochondrial transmembrane potential DFF DNA fragmentation factor fmk fluoromethylketone PT permeability transition PTPC PT pore complex RT room temperature Z- N -benzyloxycarbonyl Submitted: 11 August 1998 Revision received 28 October 1998

Journal

The Journal of Experimental MedicineRockefeller University Press

Published: Jan 18, 1999

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