title: Conversion of Bcl-2 to a Bax-like death effector by caspases.
abstract: Caspases are a family of cysteine proteases implicated in the biochemical and morphological changes that occur during apoptosis (programmed cell death). The loop domain of Bcl-2 is cleaved at Asp34 by caspase-3 (CPP32) in vitro, in cells overexpressing caspase-3, and after induction of apoptosis by Fas ligation and interleukin-3 withdrawal. The carboxyl-terminal Bcl-2 cleavage product triggered cell death and accelerated Sindbis virus-induced apoptosis, which was dependent on the BH3 homology and transmembrane domains of Bcl-2. Inhibitor studies indicated that cleavage of Bcl-2 may further activate downstream caspases and contribute to amplification of the caspase cascade. Cleavage-resistant mutants of Bcl-2 had increased protection from interleukin-3 withdrawal and Sindbis virus-induced apoptosis. Thus, cleavage of Bcl-2 by caspases may ensure the inevitability of cell death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Clem
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravi
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kastan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hardwick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019556:COS Cells; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D002460:Cell Line; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000502:physiology; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D009154:Mutation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012845:Sindbis Virus / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007377:Interleukin-3; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases