Mengxue Zeng, Kun Wang, Qingcui Wu, Jingjin Ding, Dan Xie, Xiangbing Qi, Feng Shao
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Caspase-2, a highly conserved member of the caspase family, is considered an initiator caspase that triggers apoptosis in response to some cellular stresses. Previous studies suggest that an intracellular multi-protein complex PIDDosome, induced by genotoxic stress, serves as a platform for caspase-2 activation. However, due to caspase-2's inability to process effector caspases, the mechanism underlying caspase-2-mediated cell death upon PIDDosome activation remains unclear. Here we conducted an unbiased genome-wide genetic screen and identified that the Bcl2 family protein BID is required for PIDDosome-induced, caspase-2-mediated apoptosis. PIDDosome-activated caspase-2 directly and functionally processes BID to signal the mitochondrial pathway for apoptosis induction. Additionally, a designed chemical screen identified a compound, HUHS015, that specifically activates caspase-2-mediated apoptosis. HUHS015-stimulated apoptosis also requires BID but is independent of the PIDDosome. Through extensive structure-activity relationship efforts, we identified a derivative with a potency of ~ 60 nmol/L in activating caspase-2-mediated apoptosis. The HUHS015-series of compounds act as efficient agonists that directly target the interdomain linker in caspase-2, representing a new mode of initiator caspase activation. Human and mouse caspase-2 differ in two crucial residues in the linker, rendering a selectivity of the agonists for human caspase-2. The caspase-2 agonists are valuable tools to explore the physiological roles of caspase-2-mediated cell death and a base for developing small-molecule drugs for relevant diseases.
期刊介绍:
Protein & Cell is a monthly, peer-reviewed, open-access journal focusing on multidisciplinary aspects of biology and biomedicine, with a primary emphasis on protein and cell research. It publishes original research articles, reviews, and commentaries across various fields including biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, oncology, protein science, structural biology, and translational medicine. The journal also features content on research policies, funding trends in China, and serves as a platform for academic exchange among life science researchers.